Aluminum and Alzheimer's disease: Model studies

Model tangles, 13 amino acid sequences and 17 amino acid sequences (NF-M13, NF-M17) have been synthesized and phosphorylated. Circular dichroism studies of their interaction with Ca2+ and Al3+ have demonstrated the formation of beta-pleated sheets. The Ca2+ effect can be reversed with citric acid. By the study of synthetic mutants, it has been shown that Al3+ binds to COO-, OH of Ser and the PO3H of SerPO(3)H. The beta-sheet formation caused by Al3+ can be reversed by silicates. beta A4 was converted to beta-sheets by Al3+, which was also reversed by the addition of silicates. It was suggested that silicates be considered for therapeutic use to delay the onset of plaques and tangles in Alzheimer's disease.