Predicting a key difference between the fragment beta-amyloid protein and its precursor with signal processing techniques

摘要

To prevent amyloid plaque formation is to break the protein as soon as it is released from cells and before it aggregates to insoluble plaques. This might be accomplished by recognition of unusual features in the fragment that are missing in the precursor protein. The predicted RRM frequencies for beta-amyloid are: f=0.012/spl plusmn/0.002 and f=0.254/spl plusmn/0.018. The first frequency is characteristic of a functional group specific to the amyloid. The second frequency is compatible to some degree with the previous predicted frequency (f=0.293/spl plusmn/0.016) for growth factors. It is anticipated that this characteristic frequency might be associated with a growth promoting function specific to beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid precursor does not have this growth promoting frequency neither the specific amyloid frequency. On the other hand, both NGF and beta amyloid precursors have a common frequency (f=0.387/spl plusmn/0.018 and 0.404/spl plusmn/0.017) which is characteristic of neurotrophic growth factors and missing for beta amyloid protein. This predicted data supports experimental evidence that NGF could be used to protect neurons and brain cells against degeneration.