Production and characterization of a single-chain antibody anti-neurotoxic oligomers of the beta-amyloid peptide, NUsc7

• Grant number: 18/00388-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal Investigator: Adriano Silva Sebollela
• Grantee: Mariane Fávero Carraro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is known by the accumulation of beta-amyloid aggregates. Amongst these aggregates, soluble oligomers are now recognized as the main neurotoxins responsible for synaptic loss and consequent dementia. However, the structure of those Abeta oligomersc(AbOs), as well as the molecular mechanism by which AbOs trigger neurotoxicity, are not completely understood. In this project we will use as research tools scFv-type artifical antibodies previuosly selected by our group, named NUscs, capable of discriminating between oligomers and monomers or insouble aggregated formed by the Abeta peptide. The goal is the production and functional characterization of one of the selected NUscs, NUsc7. We intend to identify the population of Abeta oligomers recognized by this antibody and comparing the molecular mass profile with the mass of oligomers recognized by a distinct, well characterized antibody from our set, NUsc1. We believe that NUsc7, as well as NUsc1, holds the potencial to become a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for Alzheimer's disease in the near future. (AU)