Spot the Difference: Function versus Toxicity in Amyloid Fibrils

Trends Biochem Sci. 2020 Aug;45(8):635-636. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.04.007. Epub 2020 May 3.

Abstract

In a recent study, Hervas et al. extracted Orb2 fibrils, that are involved in long-term memory formation, from Drosophila brains, characterised their function, and determined their structure using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The fibrils show a remarkable resemblance to amyloid β (Aβ) fibrils associated with Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the subtle difference between functional and dysfunctional amyloid.

Keywords: Alzheimer; CPEB; Orb2; amyloid; cryo-electron microscopy; memory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid*
  • Animals
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Drosophila

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides