American Cyanamid Company

Wyeth

Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Girija Krishnamurthy

Kristina Allen

Anthony Anisowicz

Matthew Olson

Wei Chen

The invention relates to a novel method of inexpensively synthesizing large quantities of an essentially pure, biologically active, glycosylated Dkk protein, including mammalian and human Dkk proteins (e.g., human Dkk1). The invention further relates to the synthetically produced essentially purified, glycosylated and biologically active Dkk protein, and the characteristics of the protein.

Method of synthesizing and purifying Dkk proteins and Dkk proteins obtained thereby

A method/assay for detecting various aggregated forms of amyloid peptide using amyloid-specific spectroscopic probes, such as Congo red and related analogs, is described. Such an assay could be used to assess the aggregation state of the peptide in the presence of other potential inhibitors of fibrillogenesis, providing a useful model by which to test inhibitors of aggregation in in vitro models. Results of such an assay can be useful in determining the stage at which the process of aggregation can be intervened to reduce the toxicity of amyloid peptide to neuronal cells. In specific examples, circular dichroism, UV absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy are each used to evaluate the aggregation form of &bgr;-amyloid peptide.

Methods of detection of amyloidogenic proteins

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Chestnut Ridge, NY, United States of America

Girija Krishnamurthy