alpha-synuclein-derived peptides

Alpha-synuclein-derived peptides represent a therapeutic and diagnostic class of molecules designed to target the pathological aggregation of the alpha-synuclein protein, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). These peptides are typically short sequences derived from the alpha-synuclein protein itself, often targeting the non-amyloid component (NAC) region responsible for fibril formation. They can function as active immunotherapies (vaccines), such as the AFFITOPE series, which mimic the protein's epitopes to induce a specific antibody response, or as aggregation inhibitors that competitively bind to monomeric or oligomeric alpha-synuclein to prevent the transition into toxic insoluble aggregates. Clinical candidates like UB-312 and PD01A have demonstrated the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and engage their target, aiming to slow or halt disease progression by reducing the burden of toxic alpha-synuclein species.

Other names

alpha-synuclein mimetic peptidesalpha-synuclein aggregation inhibitorsalpha-synuclein vaccinesAFFITOPEs