Understanding the association of apolipoprotein E4 with Alzheimer disease: clues from its structure.

Despite intense interest, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association of apoE4 with Alzheimer disease are not clear. Because the function (or dysfunction) of a protein is based on its structure, this review focuses on the effects of the structural differences among the isoforms on neurodegeneration. Understanding how apoE4 structure impacts neurodegeneration is likely to provide mechanistic insight as well as potential therapeutic approaches to blunt or reduce its effects.