pH-Dependent Fluorogenic Amyloid-Beta Reporters

Researchers at Purdue University have developed pH-dependent fluorogenic amyloid-beta reporters for the study of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglial phagocytosis of amyloid-beta peptides is a critical step in the regulation of brain homeostasis during the initiation and progression of AD. Unlike common methods to study this phenomenon, this technology is specific for amyloid-beta and functions in live cells. The reporter, an isoform of human amyloid-beta tagged with a pH-dependent fluorogenic moiety, fluoresces only upon phagocytosis in the acidic intracellular phagosomes. It clearly differentiates between phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells within live human and nonhuman microglial cells. This technology promises to aid in the discovery of new therapeutics for AD.

Advantages:

-Facilitates live cell tracking of microglial phagocytosis

-Differentiates between phagocytic and non-phagocytic microglial cells

Potential Applications:

-Development of Alzheimer's Therapeutics

Publication: Monitoring phagocytic uptake of amyloid β into glial cell lysosomes in real time.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.29.002857

TRL: 4

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: pH-dependent fluorogenic amyloid-beta reporters, Alzheimer's disease, microglial phagocytosis, live cell tracking, AD therapeutics, brain homeostasis, amyloid-beta peptides, phagocytic cells, non-phagocytic cells, glial cell lysosomes