Tohoku University. Research Profiles

LANGUAGE
  • Top
  • Life Sciences
  • Yeast models of familial Alzheimer disease to screen for gamma-secretase inhibitors and modulators

Yeast models of familial Alzheimer disease to screen for gamma-secretase inhibitors and modulators

update:2020-06-16
NEXT
PREV

Features

Using the yeast transcriptional activator Gal4 system, we reconstituted the production of amyloid beta (Aβ), responsible for Alzheimer disease. Aβ production could be monitored by the positive growth in the selection media or by the reporter enzyme (β-Gal). Utilizing familial Alzheimer disease mutants, we established a system to screen for mutations and chemicals that modulate gamma secretase activity and reduce toxic Aβ42.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

Our yeast system can be used to screen for chemicals, natural products, food ingredients, genes, and mutations that modulate γ-secretase activity and block Aβ42 production specifically. We hope to conduct collaboration research with a willing company for a practical application of this technology in industry.

Researchers

Graduate school of Agricultural Science

FUTAI Eugene , Associate Professor
Doctor of Agriculture

Keywords

Related Information

Publications
Eugene Futai, Sosuke Yagishita, and Shoichi Ishiura, Nicastrin is dispensable for gamma-secretase protease activity in the presence of specific mutations, J. Biol. Chem. 2009, 284, 13013-13022.
Eugene Futai, Satoko Osawa, Tesuko Cai, Tomoya Fujisawa, Shoichi Ishiura, and Taisuke Tomita, Specific mutations for presenilin 1 familial Alzheimer disease mutants modulate gamma-secretase activities, J. Biol. Chem. 2016, 291, 435-446.
List