Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2025
Modeling Amyloid-β42 Toxicity and Neurodegeneration in Adult Zebrafish Brain
Published on: October 25, 2017
Fibril-induced neurodegenerative disorders in an Aβ-mutant Drosophila model: therapeutic targeting using ammonium
Sudipa Manna1, Puja Karmakar, Bikash Kisan
1Radiation & Photochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India. bkac@barc.gov.in jyotim@barc.gov.in.
Abstract:
The ability of polyanionic molybdate to inhibit and degrade protein fibrils both in vitro (insulin protein) and in vivo (Drosophila fly model) has been demonstrated. We establish the disappearance of fibrillar structures and recovery from neurodegenerative disorders in molybdate-treated Aβ42-mutant Drosophila flies as compared to the untreated ones, corroborating the therapeutic ability of ammonium molybdate towards the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Insights
Polyanionic molybdate effectively breaks down harmful protein fibrils in lab tests and in a fly model of neurodegenerative disease. Ammonium molybdate shows therapeutic potential for Alzheimer
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neuroscience
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Protein misfolding and fibril formation are hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
- Developing effective inhibitors and degraders of these toxic protein aggregates is a critical therapeutic challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of polyanionic molybdate in inhibiting and degrading protein fibrils.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of ammonium molybdate in a relevant in vivo model of Alzheimer's disease.
Main Methods:
- In vitro studies using insulin protein fibrils.
- In vivo experiments utilizing a Drosophila fly model expressing Aβ42 mutations.
Main Results:
- Polyanionic molybdate demonstrated the ability to inhibit and degrade protein fibrils in vitro.
- Molybdate treatment led to the disappearance of fibrillar structures in Drosophila flies.
- Aβ42-mutant flies treated with molybdate showed recovery from neurodegenerative symptoms compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Polyanionic molybdate effectively targets and eliminates pathogenic protein aggregates.
- Ammonium molybdate exhibits significant therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease treatment.
