Researchers from Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease have for the first time created the three dimensional structure of apolipoprotein E using X-ray crystallography. X-ray crystallography technique is used for determining three dimensional structures so molecules by determining the x-ray diffraction patterns of the crystals present in molecules. Researchers feel that this new discovery will help a lot in understanding the mechanism of action and ways to inhibit the action of apolipoprotein E which is found to be associated with cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease.
Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) is a lipid transporting protein which is found to be responsible for cardiovascular diseases and familial alzheimer’s disease. Researchers feel that understanding the three dimensional configuration would help in designing a drug which specifically fits on the configuration of the protein, these findings would bring new insights in to treatment of cardiovascular and alzheimer’s disease.
