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Originally published by Katherine Fenz, Rockefeller University, on Jun 5, 2025 edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Andrew Zinin Three dimensional cryo-EM structure of VCP (blue and purple) bound to three VCPIP1 promoters (red, orange, and yellow). Credit: Kapoor lab Healthy cells are constantly breaking down proteins and building up new ones with the help of enzymes aptly named unfoldases , because they unravel proteins tagged for destruction or recycling . Now, a new electron microscopy study demonstrates how VCP, one such unfoldase , physically interacts with tag removal enzymes, called DUBs . The findings show how these two enzymes work in tandem to process proteins , and may have implications for the study of diseases such as those linked to neurodegeneration . The research is published in the Journal of Cell Biology . "VCP dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's," says first author Lauren Vostal, a graduate student in the ...

Originally published by Rice University , at https://medicalxpress.com , on April 15, 2025   Schematic diagram of RibbonFold. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2501321122 A novel artificial intelligence (AI) tool has revealed how disease-linked proteins misfold into harmful structures, a key advance in understanding neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The study , led by Mingchen Chen of the Changping Laboratory and Rice University's Peter Wolynes , i ntroduces RibbonFold , a new computational method capable of predicting the structures of amyloids —long, twisted fibers that accumulate in the brains of patients suffering from neurological decline . The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . Read more  

Originally written by Sahana Sitaraman, PhD ,   at The Sicentist, on March 31, 2025 Current biomarkers of cognitive impairment in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease perform poorly. Now, a stronger predictor emerges.   Using data from more than 3000 people, researchers have described a new and more robust protein biomarker to predict cognitive impairment in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. ©istock,  wildpixel In 1906, a 50-year-old woman in Germany died of a mysterious illness. Before her death, she presented with a combination of symptoms that stumped doctors—progressive memory loss, paranoia, confusion, and aggression. A closer look into her brain post-mortem revealed abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers. This was the first documented case of Alzheimer’s disease , described in detail by Alois Alzheimer, a clinical psychiatrist and neuroanatomist. 1 His characterization of the disease pathology is still used for diagnosis of this neurodegenerative dis...