AnaSpec, a provider of integrated proteomics, has introduced the industry's first commercially available beta-amyloid peptides for sequences 1-44, 1-45, 1-46, 1-47, 1-48 and 1-49
Due to challenges in synthesis due to their structure, beta-amyloid peptides with sequences 1-44 to 1-48 have not been commercially available until now.
Amyloid precursor protein, APP, is predominantly processed by a-Secretase, producing a 83-amino acid C-terminal fragment, C83; while a small amount is processed by b-Secretase, producing a 99-amino acid C-terminal fragment, C99.
Subsequent cleavages of C83 and C99 by g-Secretase produce a 3-kD (p3) protein in the former and a 4-kD (beta-amyloid) protein in the latter and a CT57-59 in both fragments.
The 4-Kd consists of beta-amyloids which are 39 to 42 amino acids in length, with beta-amyloid 1-42 being the major component of amyloid plaques which accumulate in neurons of Alzheimer's diseased brains.
Novel cleavage sites (e and z) downstream of the g - cleavage site have recently been reported, which release longer beta-amyloid peptides (1-43, 1-45, 1-46 and 1-48).
These longer beta-amyloid peptides have been notoriously difficult to make, due to a C-terminus sequence composed primarily of hydrophobic amino acids.
The successful synthesis and commercialisation of these longer beta-amyloid peptides represents a significant achievement on the part of AnaSpec.
AnaSpec president, Anita Hong, noted: "Drawing on our many years of peptide synthesis experience, AnaSpec is committed to supporting the research efforts of our customers with the most innovative tools we can develop.
"With the successful commercialisation of these longer beta-amyloid peptides, we are pleased to offer an even broader selection of amyloid-related products for our customers."
