A number of proteins in the body are capable of misfolding or otherwise becoming altered in ways that allow the formation of aggregates, solid clumps that precipitate from solution to cause harm to the normal function of cells. Those harms might be direct, or result from a surrounding biochemistry of interactions with the aggregates that generates damaging molecules, or be driven by a maladaptive inflammatory response to the presence of the protein aggregates. Much of the research related to protein aggregates is focused on the aging brain and neurodegenerative conditions, as these are largely characterized by the formation of various forms of protein aggregate, such as amyloid-β, tau, and α-s…
A Possible Approach to the Development of Therapies Targeting TDP-43 Aggregation
A number of proteins in the body are capable of misfolding or otherwise becoming altered in ways that allow the formation of aggregates, solid clumps that precipitate from solution to cause harm to the normal function of cells. Those harms might be direct, or result from a surrounding biochemistry of interactions with the aggregates that generates damaging molecules, or be driven by a maladaptive inflammatory response to the presence of the protein aggregates. Much of the research related to protein aggregates is focused on the aging brain and neurodegenerative conditions, as these are largely characterized by the formation of various forms of protein aggregate, such as amyloid-β, tau, and α-s…