A genetically modified protein in goat's milk will slow the spread of Alzheimer's

Kay Award to a student from the Hebrew University for the research 

A new approach. Erez Podoli (Photo: Sasson Thiram)

Although over the years various drugs have been developed to alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, no real drug has yet been found to stop the progression of the incurable degenerative disease. Alzheimer's causes the premature destruction of nerve cells in the brain stem, the gradual loss of memory, logic and personality (insanity) and finally death.

Erez Podoli, a PhD student in biological chemistry at the Hebrew University, developed a new approach aimed at creating a natural brain defense against the spread of the disease. He carried out the research under the guidance of Prof. Hermona Sorek, dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Prof. Oded Livna, head of the Wolfson Center for Structural Biology at the Institute of Life Sciences. In recognition of his groundbreaking work, Podoli was awarded the prestigious Kay Award today, Wednesday June 6, 2007, during the 70th session of the Board of Trustees of the Hebrew University.

More than 12 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease, a number that is expected to double within 25 years due to the increase in life expectancy. Alzheimer's patients develop toxic brain deposits (plaques) consisting of amyloid-beta peptide that spreads as fibers in the brain and destroys nerve cells. (A peptide is a short chain of amino acids).   

Most of the drugs developed so far to treat the symptoms of the disease are designed to improve nerve function, suppress inflammatory reactions, block or reduce oxidative stress in the brain or reduce intellectual damage. But a way to stop the spread of toxic brain deposits (plaques) has not yet been found.

Podoli, 34, a native of New York, and his colleagues tried to create a blocker against the toxic effects of amyloid-beta fibers using a natural protein engineered in their laboratory called butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The concentration of the protein in the brain naturally increases with age, a fact that in the past did not receive special attention, but for the researchers appeared to be important for the development of Alzheimer's. The researchers are trying to isolate sections of the protein and thereby increase its effect on brain fibers.

Under laboratory conditions, the researchers were able to prove that BChE extracted from human blood as well as various segments of a synthetic protein can inhibit the formation of amyloid-beta fibers. However, supply limitations and health risks reduce the value of BChE derived from human blood.

A breakthrough was achieved when the American company PharmAthene Inc produced BChE from humans in the milk of genetically modified goats. Pharmathen received the license to develop the project from Yisham, the research development company of the Hebrew University. As part of the collaboration between Hebrew University researchers and society, Podoli and his colleagues were able to show that BChE extracted from goat's milk binds to amyloid-beta fibers and slows their development. The researchers hope that BChE produced in transgenic goats' milk or synthetic segments of this protein will become drugs or disease preventives to delay the development of Alzheimer's disease. In the near future, it is planned to continue the research that will lead to clinical trials in humans.

The Kay Award ceremony for innovative developments has been held at the Hebrew University every year since 1994. Yitzhak Kay from England, a prominent industrialist in the pharmaceutical industry, founded the practice of awarding awards to encourage university faculty and students to develop innovative methods with commercial potential that will benefit the university and society.