P4–263: Discovery of a regulatory site on beta–amyloid peptides

Recently, RNA polymers (aptamers) were isolated [1] that bind to a beta-amyloid peptide with 40 residues [A (1-40)] that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. We analyzed the published sequences and found a consensus sequence similar to that of inhibitory RNA Class I aptamers we had previously isolated. The RNA Class I aptamers bind to an inhibitory cocaine-binding site of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) [2]. Whole-cell current recordings, using the rapid-reaction, cell-flow technique [3], indicate that, as hypothesized, the aptamer that binds to the amyloid peptide also inhibits the nAChR in a dose-dependent manner. As a consequence, we determined whether A (1-40) binds cocaine. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that it does.