36th Annual Student Research Conference
Polyphenols as Aggregation Inhibitors of Amyloid β Relating to Alzheimer’s Disease
Christine W. Chen
Dr. Bill R. Miller, Faculty Mentor
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a brain degenerative disorder resulting in memory loss and decline of the ability to function independently. It is the most common cause of dementia and a leading cause of death in the U.S. Scientists believe Alzheimer’s occurs due to the buildup of plaques on nerve cells created by the aggregation of Amyloid beta (Aβ) protein fragments, which are considered potential AD drug targets. Using computational chemistry methods, interactions between potential drug molecules and Aβ can be modeled to better understand the development of AD. This project determines the binding interactions between promising polyphenol drug molecules and Aβ using molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and analyzing the structural changes of Aβ in the presence of these polyphenols. Ultimately, this computational research aids in the mechanistic understanding of the protein-drug interactions that promote Aβ disaggregation and the development of a novel drug treatment to combat Alzheimer’s Disease.
Keywords: Alzheimer's Disease, computational chemistry, Amyloid ß, drug discovery, molecular dynamics, free energy calculations, molecular docking, neuroscience
Topic(s):Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biology
Chemistry
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 208-5
Location: MG 1000
Time: 11:15