Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My partner and I have decided to changed our project and focus on beta-amyloid proteins instead. We want to know if other organisms, besides humans, contain these proteins?
Any help is greatly appreciated!

Hi Meli1795,

This is an interesting and relevant project focus, especially given the relationship between beta-amyloid proteins and Alzheimer's disease.

The Wikipedia article regarding beta-amyloid proteins has a plethora of resources listed in the bibliography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_amyloid

It appears that beta-amyloids have been found in other animals.
Here is an article looking at beta-amyloid precursors in hamster brains: http://www.pnas.org/content/85/24/9811.full.pdf

You may need to do some more research to see what other animals express these kinds of proteins.

I hope this helps you get started.

Heather

Great idea for a project. In fact the amyloid fold has been found in many other species. Things like spiders silk and fish eggs use this fold to help stabilize protein structures they are making. Even many bacteria make amyloid fibers to help them attach to surfaces. Let me know if you have further questions about your project.