33rd Annual Student Research Conference
Computational Investigation of Stilbenoids as Aggregation Inhibitors of Amyloid Beta in Alzheimer's Disease
Clara E. Wolf*, Alex P. Platt, Daniel J. Dyroff, Conaire C. Bradfield, and Rachel Stanfield
Dr. Bill R. Miller, Faculty Mentor
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. AD is a neurodegenerative disease that is believed to be a result of build-ups of plaques and tangles of proteins in the brain. One of the known proteins associated with AD is Amyloid Beta (AB). AB forms from incorrectly spliced Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), leading to aggregation of AB. There is no cure for AD and all treatments are palliative or manage symptoms. One class of molecules, stilbenoids or a group of polyphenols, are believed to potentially have therapeutic effects. Using computational chemistry methods, the aggregation of AB can be modeled with these potentially therapeutic compounds. This project uses Molecular Dynamics to simulate different regions of the AB fibril to understand how these different regions aid in aggregation and how different stilbenoids affect this aggregation. Altogether, 10 different compounds have been simulated thus far.
Keywords: Alzheimer's Disease, Biochemistry, Amyloid Beta, Protein Aggregation, Computational Chemistry, Drug Discovery, Polyphenols, Stilbenoids
Topic(s):Chemistry
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA