Journal article

Publication year: 2001

Pages: 617-623

Journal: Biochemical Society Transactions

Volume number: 29

Issue number: 4

ISSN: 0300-5127

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0290617

Publisher: Portland Press

Abstract: 

beta-Amyloid (A beta) protein is the major constituent of senile plaques and cerebrovascular deposits characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The causal relationship between A beta and AD-specific lesions like neurodegeneration and atrophy is still not known. The present article summarizes our studies indicating that rather low concentrations of A beta significantly alter the fluidity of cell membranes and subcellular fractions from different tissues and different species including humans, as a possible initial step of its biological effects. Using different fluorescent probes our data show clearly that A beta peptides specifically disturb the acylchain layer of cell membranes in a very distinct fashion. By contrast, membrane properties at the level of the polar heads of the phospholipid bilayer at the interface with membrane proteins are much less affected.

Harvard Citation style: Müller, W., Kirsch, C. and Eckert, G. (2001) Membrane-disordering effects of beta-amyloid peptides, Biochemical Society Transactions, 29(4), pp. 617-623. https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0290617

APA Citation style: Müller, W., Kirsch, C., & Eckert, G. (2001). Membrane-disordering effects of beta-amyloid peptides. Biochemical Society Transactions. 29(4), 617-623. https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0290617