Deposits of the protein fragment beta-amyloid may trigger a chemical modification of the protein tau, which leads to fibrous clumps inside the nerve cells of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Meyer, E.M. 1999. Selective alpha7 nicotine agonists DMXB and 40H-DMXB protect against amyloid toxicity and increase BCL-2 levels. Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. October. Miami Beach, Fla.

Wang, H.-Y., D.H.S. Lee, M.R. D’Andrea, et al. 1999. A neuronal receptor for b-amyloid peptides: Implications in Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. October. Miami Beach, Fla.

Michael R. D’Andrea
R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute
Welsh and McKean Roads
Spring House, PA 19477

Daniel Lee
R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute
Welsh and McKean Roads
Spring House, PA 19477

Edwin M. Meyer
University of Florida
Department of Pharmacology and Therapy
Box 100267
Gainesville, FL 32610-0267

Hoau-Yan Wang
R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute
Welsh and McKean Roads
Spring House, PA 19477

From Science News, Vol. 156, No. 20, November 13, 1999, p. 319. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.