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Melissa Moss

Melissa A. Moss

Phone 803.777.5604
Fax 803.777.8265

E-mail


3C15 Swearingen 
Chemical Engineering
University of South Carolina
301 Main St.
Columbia, SC 29208



Melissa A. Moss

Assistant Professor


Professor Moss's research focuses on the problem of Alzheimer's disease. One hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the senile plaques that accumulate in the brain where they are associated with neuronal loss and in the cerebrovasculature where they may perpetuate stoke. These plaques are composed primarily of the amyloid β-protein (Aβ). Aβ self-assembles into fibrils that deposit to yield plaques. Consequently, inhibition of Aβ self-assembly has emerged as one therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease. The focus of our research is to understand this self-assembly process, to describe it kinetically, and to characterize inhibitors that may target specific stages of Aβ assembly. We utilize many biophysical techniques including chromatography, fluorescence spectroscopy, static and dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, we seek to determine how various Aβ self-assembly processes affect both neuronal and vascular cells. In particular, Aβ accumulation in the cerebrovasculature is associated with an increase in immune cell recruitment. We are interested in understanding how interactions between Aβ and endothelial cells, which line the cerebrovasculature, contribute to an increased adhesion of immune cells to the cerebrovascular endothelium. Correlating the mechanism of action of inhibitors with cellular effects will assist research efforts to design effective therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease therapy.

Education
  • Ph. D., University of Kentucky (2000)
  • B. S., University of Kentucky (1995)
Selected Publications
  • F. J. Gonzalez-Velasquez, J. A. Kotarek, and M. A. Moss (2008) Soluble aggregates of the amyloid-β protein selectively stimulate permeability in human brain microvascular endothelial monolayers. In Press, Journal of Neurochemistry.
  • J. A. Kotarek, K. C. Johnson, and M. A. Moss (2008) Quartz crystal microbalance analysis of growth kinetics for aggregation intermediates of the amyloid-β protein. Analytical Biochemistry, 378: 15-24.
  • F. J. Gonzalez-Velasquez and M. A. Moss (2008) Soluble aggregates of the amyloid-β protein activate endothelial monolayers for adhesion and subsequent transmigration of monocyte cells. Journal of Neurochemistry, 104: 500-513.
  • Melissa A. Moss, Michael R. Nichols, Dana Kim Reed, Nick Varvel and Terrone L. Rosenberry, "Nordihydroguaiaretic acid does not disaggregate β-amyloid(1-40) protofibrils but does inhibit growth arising from direct protofibril association", Mol. Pharmacol. 66: 592-600 (2004).
  • Michael R. Nichols, Melissa A. Moss, Dana Kim Reed, Wen-Lang Lin, Rajendrani Mukhopadhyay, Jan H. Hoh and Terrone L. Rosenberry, "Growth of β-amyloid(1-40) protofibrils by monomer elongation and lateral association. Characterization of distinct products by light scattering", Biochemistry 41: 6115-6127 (2002).











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