I. Neurotoxic mechanisms of CT
In relation to the neurotoxic mechanisms and physiological
roles of C-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein
(CT), it is being intensively investigated which proteins
are involved in death signal pathway, interacting with CT
and which genes are induced after translocalization of CT
into the nucleus.
II. Pathogenic roles of a-synuclein
Pathogenic roles of -synuclein in the onset of
neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and PD are recent hot
issues in worldwide neuroscience research field. It is also
one of the important themes of our Alzheimers Dementia
Research Center. Furthermore, the normal function of -
synuclein, which is unidentified yet, is being studied,
mainly in central nervous system and immune system.
III. Development of therapeutic drugs for AD
Inhibitors of -secretase which could suppress the
production of A and CT from amyloid precursor protein
and also vaccines against A and CT, which are deposited
in AD patient's brain are being developed as new and
fundamental therapeutic strategies for AD.