Two new compounds could reveal hidden drivers of Alzheimer’s disease
Vanderbilt researchers created the first selective compound designed to inhibit TAOK-1, a poorly understood protein connected to Alzheimer’s disease. They also discovered a second compound that activates the entire TAOK protein family, offering scientists an unexpected new research tool. Together, the compounds could reveal hidden disease mechanisms and point toward new treatment strategies.
Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disorder that affects more than seven million individuals in the United States, remains a challenging condition to treat or prevent. Despite decades of research, scientists continue to struggle with fully understanding the underlying biology of the disease. A recent study published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience describes the development of two novel compounds that could potentially shed light on hidden drivers of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers from Vanderbilt University's Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (WCNDD) created a collection of related molecules, each with a slightly different structure. By evaluating how these compounds affected a protein called TAOK-1, they discovered VU6083859, which selectively inhibits the protein. Additionally, they found VU6080195, which surprisingly activates all three proteins in the TAOK family, rather than inhibiting them.
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