Cysteine Sulfhydryls in Tau Display Unusual Hyperreactivity

Pathological tau aggregation is one of the major hallmarks Alzheimer's disease, for which there are no effective treatments thus far. We previously reported that cinnamaldehyde, in cinnamon, could inhibit vitro by reacting with or both cysteines tau. Herein, we have investigated reaction kinetics and found cinnamaldehyde displays significant hyperreactivity towards compared to model sulfhydryl compounds as well a short peptide corresponding sequence surrounding cysteines. Further, specific opposed other sulfhydryl-containing cellular proteins. Cinnamaldehyde several characteristics make it favorable potential inhibitor vivo: water lipid soluble, brain-permeable, non-toxic, inexpensive. The preferential targeting an additional property therapeutic lead compound.