To understand the development of Alzheimer's through molecular structure

Scientists at the University of Washington School of Medicine have detailedly analyzed the molecular structure of Alzheimer's disease through recombinant rat proteins. Understanding the molecular structure (and the effect of genetic mutations on the molecular structure) can help to understand the development of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases and how to prevent and treat them.

It has been recognized and supported that molecular TREM2 is related to cognitive decline and is a sign of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. In previous studies, some mutations alter the structure of TERM2, thereby increasing the risk of disease or developing Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Parkinson's syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), etc. Other TREM2 mutations with a rare genetic disease Nasu-Hakola will lead to dementia, and most patients would not outlive 50 years old.

"We do not have an accurate picture of the effects of abnormal TERM2 on neurodegeneration, but we know that inflammation is a big threat in any case. And if we can master its own protein structure and how it affects its function, we are looking for ways to set things right." said the team leader.

TREM2 is located on the surface of the immune system of small glial, and it is called the important "housekeeper" cells. By phagocytosis, it forms β amyloid protein of Alzheimer's disease and other substances. If the microglia lacks TREM2, or if TREM2 is dysfunctional, the cell steward can't perform a cleanup task.

"What TREM2 has done remains unresolved, but we know that TREM2 can't keep the brain healthy in mice," says the team leader. "Now that we have understood the molecular structure of TREM2, we can go one step further to study its role in neurodegenerative diseases."

In addition, she added that TREM2 is also associated with a number of other inflammatory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and stroke. Therefore, understanding the structure of TREM2 can be important for the understanding of systemic degenerative diseases. Flarebio offers recombinant proteins of good quality such as recombinant Itgb1.