Patent ID: 6331440
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: A61K,C07K,G01N

Abstract:
A method for identifying an organic compound which is capable of inhibiting the polymerization of an amyloid beta peptide, wherein said amyloid beta peptide contains the KLVFF sequence comprising the following steps:(i) producing a first reaction composition comprising an amyloid beta peptide, wherein said amyloid beta peptide contains the KLVFF sequence and further comprising a first compound having the formula:K--L--X--F (I)wherein X is one or two amino acid residues imparting to the compound of formula (I) the ability to bind to the KLVFF sequence in amyloid beta peptide with the proviso that X is not proline;wherein said first compound inhibits the polymerization of said amyloid beta peptide contained in said composition based on its binding to the amyloid beta peptide;(ii) producing a second reaction composition containing amyloid beta peptide which contains the KLVFF sequence, and further containing said first compound as recited in (i), wherein said second reaction composition is identical to the first reaction composition except for the additional presence of a second compound, which is an organic compound that is being screened for whether said organic compound binds to KLVFF in amyloid beta peptide;(iii) comparing the inhibition of polymerization of amyloid beta peptide in said first and second reaction compositions by the first compound; and(iv) determining whether the second compound inhibits the polymerization of an amyloid beta peptide containing the KLVFF sequence.