Document type
Journal articles
Document subtype
Full paper
Title
Exploring Anti-Prion Glyco-Based and Aromatic Scaffolds: A Chemical Strategy for the Quality of Life
Participants in the publication
M. T. Blazquez-Sanchez (Author)
CQB
A. M. de Matos (Author)
CQB
A. P. Rauter (Author)
Dep. Química e Bioquímica
CQB
Summary
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by protein misfolding and aggregation, affecting the brain progressively and consequently the quality of life. Alzheimer’s is also a protein misfolding disease, causing dementia in over 40 million people worldwide. There are no therapeutics able to cure these diseases. Cellular prion protein is a high-affinity binding partner of amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers, the most toxic species in Alzheimer’s pathology. These findings motivate the development of new chemicals for a better understanding of the events involved. Disease control is far from being reached by the presently known therapeutics. In this review we describe the synthesis and mode of action of molecular entities with intervention in prion diseases’ biological processes and, if known, their role in Alzheimer’s. A diversity of structures is covered, based on glycans, steroids and terpenes, heterocycles, polyphenols, most of them embodying aromatics and a structural complexity. These molecules may be regarded as chemical tools to foster the understanding of the complex mechanisms involved, and to encourage the scientific community towards further developments for the cure of these devastating diseases.
Date of Submisson/Request
2017-04-24
Date of Acceptance
2017-05-17
Date of Publication
2017-05-24
Institution
FACULDADE DE CIÊNCIAS DA UNIVERSIDADE DE LISBOA
Where published
Molecules
Publication Identifiers
ISSN - 14203049
Publisher
MDPI
Number of pages
46
Starting page
864
Document Identifiers
URL -
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules22060864
DOI -
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22060864
Rankings
SCIMAGO Q1 (2017) - 0,855 - Chemistry (miscellaneous)
Keywords
structure optimization
anti-prion compounds
amyloid
protein aggregation
Prion
Notes
This paper covers synthesis and mode of action of molecular entities with intervention in prion diseases’ biological
processes and, if known, their role in Alzheimer’s. A diversity of structures is presented, based on
glycans, steroids and terpenes, heterocycles, polyphenols, most of them embodying aromatics and a
structural complexity. These molecules may be regarded as chemical tools to foster the understanding
of the complex mechanisms involved, and to encourage the scientific community towards further
developments for the cure of these devastating diseases. I was the corresponding author of this paper.
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