In their cell culture model Dr. Thorsten Müller and Prof. Dr. Katrin Marcus from Ruhr-University Bochum in cooperation with the Medical Proteome Center at the RUB detected sphere structures in the nucleus of cells containing the proteins FE65 and BLM.  They made these proteins visible with fluorescent dyes in the core.

FE65 is able to migrate into the nucleus, where it Dr. Mueller plays a role in DNA duplication and repair. On the basis of the lab-cultured cells the team under the leadership of  detected that FE65 together with other proteins in the cell nucleus can unite to sphere structures, so-called "nuclear spheres".

In this phenomenon, the so-called amyloid precursor protein APP plays a central role to Alzheimer's disease. It traverses the cell membrane, its cleavage products are in connection with protein deposits, which form outside of nerve cells of Alzheimer's patients. The amyloid precursor protein anchores the protein FE65 on the membrane.

The interaction of the proteins FE65 and BLM triggered a false signal for cell division. This could explain the degeneration and death of nerve cells in Alzheimer's patients.

The researchers published their findings in "Journal of Cell Science."

For more information:
http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/biowissenschaften_chemie/so_koennte_alzheimer_entstehen_212484.html

Contact:
Dr. Thorsten Müller
Medical Proteome Center, Ruhr-University
Functional Proteomics
44780 Bochum
Tel +49 234 - 32 - 29265
E-mail: thorsten.t.mueller [at] rub.de