Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a short human neuropeptide involved in the regulation of sex hormones. We report that GnRH self-assembles into reversible β-sheet-based nanofibrils, with pH-dependent kinetics. At high concentrations, these nanostructures form arrays arranged in liquid crystalline hexagonal phases. Histidine deprotonation with increasing pH can mediate the formation of β-sheet-based precipitates. Our results are relevant to functional amyloids in general, to the intracellular storage process of GnRH within secretory granules, and to peptide hormone drug delivery.
Keywords: GnRH; biomaterial; functional amyloids; hexagonal phases; liquid crystals; peptide hormone; self-assembly.