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Biology

Boise State University

2013

Beta amyloid

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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Proteolytic Cleavage Of Apolipoprotein E4 As The Keystone For The Heightened Risk Associated With Alzheimer’S Disease, Troy T. Rohn Jul 2013

Proteolytic Cleavage Of Apolipoprotein E4 As The Keystone For The Heightened Risk Associated With Alzheimer’S Disease, Troy T. Rohn

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by microscopic lesions consisting of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The majority of cases are defined as sporadic and are likely caused by a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. Of the genetic risk factors identified, the 34 kDa protein, apolipoprotein (apo) E4, is of significant importance as APOE4 carriers account for 65%–80% of all AD cases. Although apoE4 plays a normal role in lipoprotein transport, how it contributes to AD pathogenesis is currently unknown. One potential mechanism by which apoE4 contributes to disease risk is its propensity to …