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Updated: Dec 11, 2025
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Rapid Generation of Amyloid from Native Proteins In vitro
Published on: December 5, 2013
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Functional Mammalian Amyloids and Amyloid-Like Proteins
Maria S Rubel1, Sergey A Fedotov2,3, Anastasia V Grizel2
1SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, 191002 St. Petersburg, Russia.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 23, 2020
Summary
Amyloids are protein aggregates linked to diseases like Alzheimer's, but many also perform beneficial functions. This review focuses on functional amyloids in mammals and methods to identify them.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Amyloids are protein aggregates associated with diseases like Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), and type 2 diabetes (T2D).
- Recent discoveries reveal that many amyloids, termed 'functional amyloids,' play beneficial roles in diverse organisms, from bacteria to mammals.
- These functional amyloids are implicated in vital processes including memory, hormone storage, and biofilm formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the roles of functional amyloids in mammals.
- To summarize methodologies for identifying novel amyloidogenic proteins and domains.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of functional amyloids in mammals.
- Analysis of approaches for identifying potentially amyloidogenic proteins and domains.
Main Results:
- Functional amyloids are widespread in mammals, contributing to essential biological functions.
- Various methods exist for identifying proteins and domains with amyloid-forming potential.
Conclusions:
- Amyloids have dual roles, implicated in both severe diseases and critical physiological processes.
- Understanding functional amyloids in mammals is crucial for both basic science and potential therapeutic strategies.
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