Proteins Overview is a protein. This page describes its structure, normal nervous system function, role in neurodegenerative disease, and potential as a therapeutic target.
Proteins Overview is a protein. This page describes its structure, normal nervous system function, role in neurodegenerative disease, and potential as a therapeutic target.
This section covers proteins relevant to neurodegenerative diseases, including disease-associated proteins, therapeutic targets, and biomarkers. Understanding protein function, aggregation mechanisms, and therapeutic targeting is fundamental to developing disease-modifying treatments.
Major Protein Categories
Amyloid and APP Family
[Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP](/proteins/amyloid-precursor-protein) — transmembrane protein cleaved by secretases to produce amyloid-beta. [APP](/entities/app-protein) mutations cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
[Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides](/proteins/amyloid-beta) — main component of amyloid plaques in AD. Aβ42 is more aggregation-prone than Aβ40.
[Amyloid-beta 42](/proteins/amyloid-beta-42) — Aβ isoform with higher tendency to form oligomers and plaques.
Tau Protein Family
[Tau (MAPT) ](/proteins/tau) — microtubule-associated protein that forms neurofibrillary tangles. Six tau isoforms exist in human brain.
[Phosphorylated tau](/proteins/phosphorylated-tau) — tau species with altered function in disease. Over 80 potential phosphorylation sites.
Synuclein Family
[Alpha-synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein) — Lewy body component in Parkinson's disease. 140 amino acid protein with N-terminal lipid-binding domain.
[Beta-synuclein](/proteins/beta-synuclein) — synuclein family member with protective properties against aggregation.
[Gamma-synuclein](/proteins/gamma-synuclein) — expressed in peripheral nervous system, implicated in breast cancer.
Neurodegeneration-Associated Proteins
[TDP-43](/proteins/tdp-43) — RNA-binding protein aggregating in ALS/FTD. Loss of nuclear function contributes to disease.
[FUS](/genes/fus) — TLS protein in ALS/FTD. Similar pathology to [TDP-43](/mechanisms/tdp-43-proteinopathy).
[TARDBP](/proteins/tardbp) — gene encoding TDP-43. Over 50 mutations cause familial ALS.
[SOD1](/proteins/sod1) — superoxide dismutase 1, mutated in familial ALS. First ALS gene discovered.
[Huntingtin](/proteins/huntingtin) — mutant protein in Huntington's disease. Polyglutamine expansion causes toxicity.
Neuroinflammation Proteins
[TREM2](/proteins/trem2) — triggering receptor on myeloid cells 2. AD risk variant (R47H) impairs [microglia](/cell-types/microglia-neuroinflammation) function.