Molecular dynamical analysis of potential dimers produced by C55 portion of the amyloid precursor protein

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects 5.5 million people in the US alone. Agglomerations of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides are theorized to be one of the causes of the disease. Aβ is created through cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), a transmembrane receptor protein, by Gamma-secretase. The cleavage leaves the part of the protein, approximately the C55 portion, in the lipid membrane. The dimerization of APP is theorized to limit the production of Aβ by preventing the binding of Gamma secretase.