The advance, described in a study published in Advanced Science, revolves around the team’s development of molecular glue degrader compounds, which bind amyloid precursor protein and its regulatory protein together at their interface in human neurons. These compounds can direct amyloid precursor proteins into the cell’s natural disposal areas, the lysosomes, thus eliminating the proteins.
By targeting the proteins that eventually form plaques, the glue degraders could be used therapeutically to reduce the plaques’ production. A U.S. patent, “Compounds and methods to treat Alzheimer’s disease,” has been filed and published by IU.