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45/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 45 out of 100. Risk genes beyond APOE

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

A fundamental feature of Alzheimer disease (AD) is the accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta), a peptide generated from the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Emerging evidence suggests that soluble Abeta oligomers adversely affect synaptic function, which leads to cognitive failure associated with AD. The Abeta-induced synaptic dysfunction has been attributed to the synaptic removal of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors (AMPARs); however, it is unclear how Abeta induces the loss of AMPARs at the synapses.

Key findings

Emerging evidence suggests that soluble Abeta oligomers adversely affect synaptic function, which leads to cognitive failure associated with AD.
The Abeta-induced synaptic dysfunction has been attributed to the synaptic removal of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors (AMPARs); however, it is unclear how Abeta induces the loss of AMPARs at the synapses.
In this study we have examined the potential involvement of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), a signaling molecule critical for AMPAR trafficking and function.
We found that the synaptic pool of CaMKII was significantly decreased in cortical neurons from APP transgenic mice, and the density of CaMKII clusters at synapses was significantly reduced by Abeta oligomer treatment.

Why it matters

In this laboratory study, beta-amyloid impaired the movement and function of AMPA receptors at synapses by reducing the synaptic distribution of CaMKII. These findings describe a mechanism of synaptic dysfunction in cells and do not establish any treatment or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.

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Study details

Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 45/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journal of biological chemistry)
Journal's citation record	4 / 4	Journal of Biological Chemistry: journal h-index 780 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	0 / 12	No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Strength of evidence	1 / 5	Rated “low” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	1 / 5	2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	0 / 4	Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	0 / 3	Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	5 / 7	Cited 176 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	3 / 5	9.3 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009
Impact for its field and year	4 / 6	Cited 8.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	1 / 6	Cited by 1 other studies in this library
Still being cited	2 / 4	Cited 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	3 / 4	Last-listed author Zhen Yan: h-index 75 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	University at Buffalo, State University of New York: institution h-index 918 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19240035)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	45 / 100	—

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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

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APA 7th

Gu, Z., Liu, W., & Yan, Z. (2009). {beta}-Amyloid impairs AMPA receptor trafficking and function by reducing Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II synaptic distribution. The Journal of biological chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m806508200

Vancouver

Gu Z, Liu W, Yan Z. {beta}-Amyloid impairs AMPA receptor trafficking and function by reducing Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II synaptic distribution. The Journal of biological chemistry. 2009. doi:10.1074/jbc.m806508200. PMID: 19240035.

BibTeX

@article{gu2009-19240035,
  author  = {Gu, Z. and Liu, W. and Yan, Z.},
  title   = {{beta-Amyloid impairs AMPA receptor trafficking and function by reducing Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II synaptic distribution}},
  journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry},
  year    = {2009},
  doi     = {10.1074/jbc.m806508200},
  pmid    = {19240035},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m806508200}
}

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