 |
 |
Green Tea Prevents Deathly Plaque Formation in Parkinson's and Alzheimer`s - First Results in the Test Tube and with Cell Models The substance ECGC (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) from green tea can redirect the deadly process which leads to the accumulation of protein aggregates in Parkinson`s and Alzheimer`s disease. EGCG modulates a cascade of protein misfolding in such a way that the formation of deadly plaques is interrupted, and harmless protein structures emerge instead. Researchers of the Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, a national research laboratory of the Helmholtz Association in Germany have made this discovery in the test tube and in cell models. The research of Dr. Dagmar Ehrnhoefer and Dr. Jan Bieschke of Professor Erich Wanker`s laboratory in Berlin-Buch has now been published in the journal Nature Structural and Molecular Biology* (http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.1437). ECGC binds directly to unfolded proteins at a very early stage and thus prevents their conversion into toxic aggregates. Instead non-toxic, unstructured round aggregates of a new type are formed, presumably by an alternative folding cascade. "These new aggregates are harmless", Dr. Bieschke is convinced. He said they took an antibody which recognizes toxic aggregates. However, this antibody is unable to bind to the newly formed protein aggregates that occur after EGCG treatment. Click here to continue... Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn