Enzymes Point Way to Potential Alzheimer's Therapies

Researchers are now isolating the enzymes that make b-amyloid, a small protein that builds up in the brains of Alzheimer9s patients, where it may kill neurons and thereby drive the relentless neurological degeneration of the disease. On page 735, molecular biologists describe a new candidate for b-secretase, an elusive enzyme that is needed to free one end of b-amyloid from its larger precursor protein. A second b-secretase candidate is due to be reported at this week9s annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Miami. If amyloid is the destructive agent in Alzheimer9s, drugs that target its production could slow or even reverse the disease9s course.