amyloid beta (aβ or abeta) is a peptide of 36–43 amino acids that is processed from the amyloid precursor protein. while best known as a component of amyloid plaques in association with alzheimer's disease, evidence has been found that aβ is a highly multifunctional peptide with significant non-pathological activity(1). aβ is the main component of deposits found in the brains of patients with alzheimer's disease. brain aβ is elevated in patients with sporadic alzheimer’s disease. aβ is the main constituent of brain parenchymal and vascular amyloid, it contributes to cerebrovascular lesions and is neurotoxic(2).figure1 formula of amyloid β-peptide (12-28) (human)figure2 signal pathway of amyloid β
1. Lahiri DK, Maloney B (September 2010). "Beyond the signaling effect role of amyloid–β42 on the processing of AβPP, and its clinical implications". Exp. Neurol. 225 (1): 51–4.2. Hardy J, Duff K, Hardy KG, Perez-Tur J, Hutton M (September 1998). "Genetic dissection of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: amyloid and its relationship to tau". Nat. Neurosci. 1 (5): 355–8.
