1-L Transcription in Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is a very complex disease and better explanations and models are needed to understand how neurons are affected and microglia are activated. A new model of Alzheimer’s disease is presented here, the β-amyloid peptide is considered an important RNA recognition/binding peptide. 1-L transcription revealed compatible sequences with AAUAAA (PAS signal) and UUUC (class III ARE rich in U) in the Aβ peptide, supporting the peptide–RNA regulatory model. When a hypothetical model of fibril selection with the prionic character of amyloid assemblies is added to the peptide-RNA regulatory model, the downregulation of the PI3K-Akt pathway and the upregulation of the PLC-IP3 pathway are well explained. The model explains why neurons are less protected from inflammation and why microglia are activated; why mitochondria are destabilized; why the autophagic flux is destabilized; and why the post-transcriptional attenuation of the axonal signal “noise” is interrupted. For example, the model suggests that Aβ peptide may post-transcriptionally control ELAVL2 (ELAV-like RNA binding protein 2) and DCP2 (decapping mRNA protein 2), which are known to regulate RNA processing, transport, and stability.