"Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have clarified how spermine - a small molecule that regulates many processes in the body's cells - can guard against diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's: it renders certain proteins harmless by acting a bit like cheese on noodles, making them clump together. This discovery could help combat such diseases. The study has now been published in the journal Nature Communications."
"As people live longer, age-related disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are becoming more common. These conditions are driven by harmful buildups in the brain made of misfolded amyloid proteins. These protein structures form long, thin fibers that resemble strands of spaghetti. So far, there is no effective treatment that can reliably prevent or clear these protein deposits."
"A naturally occurring molecule in the body called spermine is offering new hope. In laboratory experiments, a team led by Jinghui Luo at the Center for Life Sciences at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI showed that spermine can extend the lifespan of small nematode worms, improve their movement as they age, and strengthen their cellular power plants, the mitochondria. The researchers saw that spermine supports the body's immune system in removing nerve-damaging amyloid protein deposits."
Spermine renders certain misfolded amyloid proteins harmless by inducing them to clump together into aggregates, described as acting like cheese on noodles. Misfolded amyloid proteins form long, thin fibers that resemble strands of spaghetti and drive neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Spermine extends lifespan and improves movement in small nematode worms, and strengthens mitochondria. Spermine supports immune removal of nerve-damaging amyloid deposits. Age-related increases in amyloid buildup contribute to rising neurodegenerative disease burden, and no reliable treatments currently prevent or clear these deposits. Spermine belongs to polyamines essential for organismal function and may underpin new therapeutic strategies.
Read at ScienceDaily
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