amyloid beta-42

Amyloid beta-42 (Aβ42) is a 42-amino acid peptide derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) through sequential proteolytic cleavage by beta-secretase (BACE1) and gamma-secretase. It is a primary component of the amyloid plaques that characterize Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Compared to the more common Aβ40 isoform, Aβ42 is significantly more prone to aggregation into neurotoxic soluble oligomers and insoluble fibrils, a process central to the amyloid cascade hypothesis. While primarily recognized as a pathological target and a diagnostic biomarker (measured in cerebrospinal fluid or via PET imaging), synthetic Aβ42 was historically developed as an active immunotherapy (vaccine) known as **AN-1792**. This program aimed to stimulate the immune system to clear amyloid plaques from the brain but was terminated in Phase 2 clinical trials due to the development of meningoencephalitis in a subset of patients. Currently, Aβ42 is extensively used as a research reagent for studying protein misfolding and neurodegeneration.

Other names

amyloid beta-protein 42Aβ(1-42)