Brief
UC Santa Cruz researcher flags overlooked peptide P3 as possible Alzheimer factor
Professor Jevgenij Raskatov argues that the lesser‑known peptide P3 could be neurotoxic and interact with amyloid‑beta.
By Felo News Desk · Published
In a commentary published in ChemBioChem, University of California, Santa Cruz biochemist Jevgenij Raskatov warned that researchers may have ignored a small peptide, called P3, that could play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. The piece, released on 14 October 2026, argues that P3 can form microscopic clumps and fibrils and may interact with the well‑studied amyloid‑beta (Aβ) peptide.
Raskatov’s laboratory has observed that P3, previously thought to be harmless, can aggregate into structures similar to those formed by Aβ. He notes that these aggregates could be neurotoxic in their own right and might influence how Aβ accumulates and exerts toxicity in the brain. "The P3 peptide is, most likely, not the innocent bystander it was commonly thought to be," Raskatov told ScienceDaily, adding that further research is needed but the findings could "turn Alzheimer’s research on its head."
Alzheimer’s disease affects roughly 35 million people worldwide and costs over $800 billion annually, with the number of sufferers expected to double by 2050. Over the past decades, more than 400 clinical trials have focused on amyloid‑beta, especially the Aβ42 variant, yet most have failed or yielded only modest benefits. Existing drugs such as cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA‑receptor antagonists provide only temporary symptom relief.
Raskatov explained that amyloid‑beta originates from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) after cleavage by β‑secretase and γ‑secretase enzymes. While Aβ42 is prone to forming toxic aggregates, the newly highlighted P3 peptide may also form fibrils and potentially interact with Aβ, altering its aggregation pathway.
The commentary calls for renewed investigation into P3, suggesting that targeting both peptides could open new therapeutic avenues. Raskatov emphasized that "there's still more research to be done," but the possibility that P3 contributes to nerve‑cell damage warrants attention from the Alzheimer’s research community.
Key facts
- UC Santa Cruz professor Jevgenij Raskatov highlighted peptide P3 as a possible Alzheimer’s contributor. (sciencedaily.com)
- P3 can form microscopic clumps and fibrils that may be neurotoxic. (sciencedaily.com)
- Raskatov suggests P3 may interact with amyloid‑beta, influencing its accumulation. (sciencedaily.com)
- Alzheimer’s affects about 35 million people worldwide and costs over $800 billion annually. (sciencedaily.com)
- More than 400 clinical trials have focused on amyloid‑beta, with limited success. (sciencedaily.com)
Sources
- [1] sciencedaily.com — originally reported as “Scientists may have overlooked a hidden Alzheimer's culprit for decades”
