From green bacteria to human dementia: a novel model for discovering amyloid assembly inhibitors.

The formation of amyloid assemblies is associated with major human disorders. Yet no therapeutic agents presently exist to control this process. In a recent paper, a new bacterial system is described that uses a fusion of the Alzheimer's disease beta-amyloid polypeptide to the GFP. The assay detects the formation of small, soluble amyloid intermediates associated with degenerative diseases. This assay allows the researchers to use high-throughput screening methods to find inhibitors of the formation of amyloid assemblies.