APG 22mer

APG 22mer is a synthetic 22-nucleotide DNA aptamer designed to target and bind with high affinity to alpha-synuclein (α-syn), a protein whose aggregation is a central feature of Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. Developed through the SELEX process, APG 22mer specifically binds to the NAC (non-amyloid-beta component) region of alpha-synuclein, which is the hydrophobic core responsible for protein misfolding and fibrillization. By stabilizing the monomeric or non-toxic oligomeric forms of the protein, the aptamer prevents the conformational transition into insoluble amyloid fibrils and reduces associated neurotoxicity. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that APG 22mer can protect dopaminergic neurons from alpha-synuclein-induced cell death and inhibit the formation of intracellular protein inclusions. While it is primarily utilized as a research tool to investigate protein aggregation mechanisms, it represents a potential therapeutic lead for aptamer-based intervention in neurodegenerative diseases.

Other names

alpha-synuclein aptamer 22mer22-mer DNA aptamer APG