Internal repeats of prion protein and A beta PP, and reciprocal similaritywith the amyloid-related proteins

We are currently interested in a group of proteins associated with the deme ntias characterized by amyloid deposition in the brain: amyloid beta protei n precursor (A beta PP) of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the abnormal isofor m of prion protein (PrP) of spongiform encephalopathies such as kuru, Creut zfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD) and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease (GSSD ). Here we show that both A beta PP and prior protein (PrP) consist of pecu liar internal repeats and share regions of sequence similarity. Further ana lysis revealed that local homology is also shared with the other proteins i nvolved in specific forms of amyloidosis - ie, the amyloid related proteins (ARP).