Gosset Molecular Classification
Peptide, Intrinsically Disordered Protein
Other Names
Amyloid beta 42, Abeta 1-42, Aβ42, AB1-42
Disease Roles
Amyloid beta peptide 1-42 Overview
Amyloid beta peptide 1-42 (Aβ(1-42)) is a 42-amino acid peptide that is a major component of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease. It exists as an intrinsically disordered protein under physiological conditions but aggregates into neurotoxic oligomers and fibrils. Aβ(1-42) is a key target for therapeutic intervention and a biomarker for diagnosis and progression monitoring.
Mechanism of Action
Inhibition of aggregation; disruption of fibril formation; reduction of plaque burden
Biological Functions
Synaptic function regulation (physiological, low concentrations)
Neurotoxicity (pathological, high concentrations)
Amyloid plaque formation
Oligomer formation
Disease Associations
Alzheimer's Disease
Neurodegenerative disease
Safety Considerations
- Potential for off-target effects due to structural similarity with other proteins.
- Immunogenicity of anti-Aβ antibodies.
- Lack of clinical efficacy in some trials targeting Aβ.
Associated Biomarkers
| Biomarker |
|---|
| Amyloid plaques (imaging) |
| Soluble Aβ(1-42) levels |