🧬 A disease protein 🌱 A plant starch

amyloid

9.5

A substance like starch found in some plants and foods

noun
/ˈæməˌlɔɪd/

Specialized

: amiloide

Beta amyloid, he notes, is actually a snippet of protein cleaved from a much larger protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP), which sticks out from cell membranes.
amyloid protein

Examples

Many researchers view the components of senile plaques, amyloid precursor protein, and beta-amyloid as central to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease.
Many researchers view the components of senile plaques, amyloid precursor protein, and beta-amyloid as central to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease.

Academic text (1995)
In mouse trials, solanezumab bonded with amyloids and moved them out of the brain, rendering them harmless.

Synonyms

starch

vsamyloid

Specialized

19 2.4

A white plant substance found in potatoes and corn used for food and to make goods

is broader, covering materials that resemble the plant carbohydrate

amylum

vsamyloid

Specialized

9.9

A plant starch found in foods like corn and potatoes

also includes substances that only resemble this carbohydrate

Compounds

amyloid plaque

Specialized

1 6.9

A clump of protein that builds up in the brain and is seen in Alzheimer's disease

amyloid protein plaque

Specialized

7.9

A clump of protein that builds up in the brain, often in Alzheimer's disease

Surface Forms

amyloid singular

amyloids plural

Morphology

amyloid = amyl (semi-transparent) = amyl + oid

Formed from the combining form 'amyl' (relating to starch) + suffix '-oid' (resembling); the meaning 'starch-like' is direct but the combining form is technical and may be unfamiliar to many learners.

Etymology

Amyloid comes from Greek amylon meaning 'starch' and the ending -oid meaning 'like', as in asteroid or humanoid. So amyloid originally means 'starch-like', which fits a substance that is mainly or resembles starch.