Alzheimer´s Research with EZ4U Cell Viability Assay

23 September, 2025

Our EZ4U (easy for you) cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assay was highlighted in a recent study that investigated the use of peptidomimetics, selected synthetic small-molecule compounds, as a therapeutic approach for the targeted treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The use of selected peptidomimetics has shown strong inhibitory effects on amyloid protein aggregation, highlighting their potential as promising therapeutic candidates.

Alzheimer´s Research with EZ4U Cell Viability Assay

Protective Effect of a Hexapeptide Derived from Rotifer-Specific SCO-Spondin Against Beta-Amyloid Toxicity. Datki Z, Sinka R, Dingmann BJ, Galik B, Szabo A, Galik-Olah Z, Toth GK, Bozso Z. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 May 26;26(11):5109. doi: 10.3390/ijms26115109. PMID: 40507923; PMCID: PMC12154537.

Abstract

The Rotimer (rotifer-specific biopolymer) like SCO-spondin (R-SSPO/1), predicted as the main component of this biopolymer, is an adequate base for the design of functional small peptides. This macromolecule is interactive and protective against neurotoxic human-type beta-amyloid 1-42 aggregates (agg-Aβ). The current work presents biological investigations and predictable molecular interaction analysis of DSSNDL and PNCRDGSDE peptides that were synthesized based on the sequences of R-SSPO/1. Viability assays (NADH-dependent cellular reduction capacity, intracellular esterase activity, and motility) were performed on differentiated neuro-type cell cultures (SH-SY5Y and PC12) and on Rotimer-depleted rotifers (Euchlanis dilatata and Lecane bulla). A control peptide (STTRPTGTT), not found in Rotimer, was also included in the study. All three peptides are present in both rotifer and human proteomes. Among these small molecules, DSSNDL showed a significant protective effect against the toxicity of agg-Aβ both in vitro and in vivo and presumably interacted with its aggregates. The stagogram analysis of amyloid-peptide complexes and the possible bonding competition of these small molecules against aggregation-specific dyes on agg-Aβ surface suggest that DSSNDL affects the properties of these neurotoxic macromolecules. This effective hexapeptide can serve as a promising candidate for further investigations into the inactivation of beta-amyloid toxicity.

Analysis of Cell Viability

The toxicity of aggregated Aβ and the impact of potential antagonistic peptides were examined. Mitochondrial and cytoplasmic reduction capacities were assessed using the EZ4U kit, which measures soluble formazan produced after 4 hours of incubation; the absorbance at 490/630 nm correlates with cell viability in the samples.