New Sterols Clear Amyloid Protein Aggregates in Cataracts

Some types of cataract involve the formation of amyloid deposits in the lens of the eye made up of damaged crystallin. Researchers have made progress of late in finding sterols that clear this form of amyloid. This is of general interest as there are many types of amyloid that form in tissues in increasing amounts with advancing age, some of which are clearly linked to the pathology of specific age-related conditions. Progress towards effective means of clearance for any one amyloid might turn out to be the starting point for the development of a broader technology platform for therapies, so it is worth paying attention. Here is an update on the development of sterol compounds targeting crystallin amyloid: In order for our lenses to function well, a permanent, finite reservoir of crystallins must maintain both the transparency of fiber cells and their flexibility, as the eyes' muscles constantly stretch and relax the lens to allow us to focus on objects at different distances. The crystallins accomplish these duties with the help of aptly named proteins known as chaperones, which act "kind of like antifreeze, keeping crystallins soluble in a delicate equilibrium that's in place for decades and decades." This state-of-affairs is "delicate" because pathological, clumped-together configurations of crystallins are far more stable than properly folded, healthy forms, and fiber-cell chaperones must continually resist the strong tendency of crystallins to clump. A similar process u...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs