Peptide Aβ(16-25) Forms Nanofilms in the Process of Its Aggregation

Biochemistry (Mosc). 2016 Jul;81(7):755-61. doi: 10.1134/S0006297916070129.

Abstract

A method for the synthesis and high purification of fragments of Aβ(1-42) peptide has been elaborated. We have synthesized the amyloidogenic fragment Aβ(16-25) predicted by us and studied the process of its aggregation by electron microscopy and X-ray analysis. Electron microscopy images show that the peptide forms a film, which is not characteristic of amyloid fibrils. At the same time, according to the X-ray diffraction data, its preparations display the presence of two main reflections (4.6-4.8 and 8-12 Å) characteristic of cross-β structure of amyloid fibrils. Thus, the fragment Aβ(16-25) that we predicted is a promising object not only for studying the process of polymerization of the peptides/proteins, but also for using it as a nanomaterial to study a number of biological processes.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry
  • Amyloid / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides