Massachusetts General Hospital

The Moir Lab focuses on the biochemical and cellular mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and aging. More specifically, receptor/ligand interactions and physiochemical properties that promote pathological protein behavior. Particular emphasis has been placed on the beta-amyloid peptide (A beta), amyloid precursor protein (APP), apolipoprotein E, low density lipoprotein receptor protein (LRP), alpha-2-macroblobulin and the presenilins (PS1 and PS2).

Research Investigator Profile

Robert D. Moir, PhD

• Assistant Professor in Neurology,
  Harvard Medical School
• Assistant Professor in Neurology,
  MGH Neurology Research

1. Kounnas MZ, Moir RD, Rebeck CW, Bush AI, Argraves WS, Tanzi RE, Hyman BT and Strickland DK. LDL receptor-related protein, a mulitfunctional apolipoprotein E receptor, binds secreted beta-amyloid precursor protein and mediates its degradation. Cell 1995; 82: 331 40.
2. Moir RD, Lynch T, Bush AI, Multhaup G, Whyte S, Tanzi RE, Small DH, Beyreuther, K and Masters, CL. Relative increase in Alzheimer's disease of soluble forms of cerebral A beta amyloid protein precursor containing the Kunitz Protease Inhibitory domain. J. Biol. Chem. 1998; 273: 5013-5019.
3. Moir RD, Bush AI, Romano DM, Atwood CS, Huang X., Smith J and Tanzi RE. Differential effects of apolipoprotein E isoforms on metal-induced aggregation of A beta under physiological conditions. Biochemistry 1999; 38: 4595-4603.
4. Goldstein LE, Muffat JA, Cherny RA, Moir RD, Ericsson MH, Huang X, Mavros C, Coccia JA, Faget KY, Fitch KA, Masters CL, Tanzi RE, Chylack LT, Bush AI. Cytosolic beta-amyloid deposition and supranuclear cataracts in lenses from people with Alzheimer's disease. Lancet 2003; 361: 1258-1265.
5. Soscia SJ, Kirby JE, Washicosky KJ, Tucker SM, Ingelsson M, Hyman B, Burton MA, Goldstein LE, Duong S, Tanzi RE, Moir RD. The Alzheimer’s Disease-Associated Amyloid-beta Protein Is an Antimicrobial Peptide. PLoS ONE 2010; 5 (3): 1-10.

NCBI PubMed Publications