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Forschungszentrum Jülich - Research in Jülich 2_2012

Research in Jülich 2|201218 Faulty Folding – Catas- trophic Consequences Correct shapes matter if proteins are to fulfil their respective functions. If they are not properly folded, molecules may clump together and cause cells to die. This hap- pens in a number of brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. An interna- tional team of researchers headed by Dr. Philipp Neudecker from Forschungszentrum Jülich and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf have now observed with unprece- dented accuracy a decisive step at the beginning of this process. Their finding were reported in the renowned journal Science in April 2012. W hen a new protein is formed, amino acids are initially thread- ed together like a string of pearls. However, this chain of protein building blocks immediately starts to fold up until it forms a three-dimensional structure. Within a few seconds, the amino acid string thus becomes either an enzyme, a muscle protein, an anti- body, or one of a plethora of other pro- teins that fulfil a variety of tasks in our body. When a molecule required for signal transmission in the cell folds up, it pass- es through short-lived intermediates, which can transform either into correctly shaped proteins, or sometimes a defec- tive version with a tendency to join up

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