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| 2. |
- Abelein, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Formation of dynamic soluble surfactant-induced amyloid β peptide aggregation intermediates
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 0021-9258 .- 1083-351X. ; 288:32, s. 23518-23528
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Intermediate amyloidogenic states along the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) aggregation pathway have been shown to be linked to neurotoxicity. To shed more light on the different structures that may arise during Aβ aggregation, we here investigate surfactant-induced Aβ aggregation. This process leads to co-aggregates featuring a β-structure motif that is characteristic for mature amyloid-like structures. Surfactants induce secondary structure in Aβ in a concentration-dependent manner, from predominantly random coil at low surfactant concentration, via β-structure to the fully formed α-helical state at high surfactant concentration. The β-rich state is the most aggregation-prone as monitored by thioflavin T fluorescence. Small angle x-ray scattering reveals initial globular structures of surfactant-Aβ co-aggregated oligomers and formation of elongated fibrils during a slow aggregation process. Alongside this slow (minutes to hours time scale) fibrillation process, much faster dynamic exchange (k(ex) ∼1100 s(-1)) takes place between free and co-aggregate-bound peptide. The two hydrophobic segments of the peptide are directly involved in the chemical exchange and interact with the hydrophobic part of the co-aggregates. Our findings suggest a model for surfactant-induced aggregation where free peptide and surfactant initially co-aggregate to dynamic globular oligomers and eventually form elongated fibrils. When interacting with β-structure promoting substances, such as surfactants, Aβ is kinetically driven toward an aggregation-prone state.
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| 3. |
- Abelein, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Hydrophobicity and conformational change as mechanistic determinants for nonspecific modulators of amyloid β self-assembly
- 2012
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Ingår i: Biochemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 51:1, s. 126-137
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The link between many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and the aberrant folding and aggregation of proteins has prompted a comprehensive search for small organic molecules that have the potential to inhibit such processes. Although many compounds have been reported to affect the formation of amyloid fibrils and/or other types of protein aggregates, the mechanisms by which they act are not well understood. A large number of compounds appear to act in a nonspecific way affecting several different amyloidogenic proteins. We describe here a detailed study of the mechanism of action of one representative compound, lacmoid, in the context of the inhibition of the aggregation of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) associated with Alzheimer's disease. We show that lacmoid binds Aβ(1-40) in a surfactant-like manner and counteracts the formation of all types of Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(1-42) aggregates. On the basis of these and previous findings, we are able to rationalize the molecular mechanisms of action of nonspecific modulators of protein self-assembly in terms of hydrophobic attraction and the conformational preferences of the polypeptide.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Abelein, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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The hairpin conformation of the amyloid beta peptide is an important structural motif along the aggregation pathway
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0949-8257 .- 1432-1327. ; 19:4-5, s. 623-634
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The amyloid beta (A beta) peptides are 39-42 residue-long peptides found in the senile plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. These peptides self-aggregate in aqueous solution, going from soluble and mainly unstructured monomers to insoluble ordered fibrils. The aggregation process(es) are strongly influenced by environmental conditions. Several lines of evidence indicate that the neurotoxic species are the intermediate oligomeric states appearing along the aggregation pathways. This minireview summarizes recent findings, mainly based on solution and solid-state NMR experiments and electron microscopy, which investigate the molecular structures and characteristics of the A beta peptides at different stages along the aggregation pathways. We conclude that a hairpin-like conformation constitutes a common motif for the A beta peptides in most of the described structures. There are certain variations in different hairpin conformations, for example regarding H-bonding partners, which could be one reason for the molecular heterogeneity observed in the aggregated systems. Interacting hairpins are the building blocks of the insoluble fibrils, again with variations in how hairpins are organized in the cross-section of the fibril, perpendicular to the fibril axis. The secondary structure propensities can be seen already in peptide monomers in solution. Unfortunately, detailed structural information about the intermediate oligomeric states is presently not available. In the review, special attention is given to metal ion interactions, particularly the binding constants and ligand structures of A beta complexes with Cu(II) and Zn(II), since these ions affect the aggregation process(es) and are considered to be involved in the molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathology.
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| 6. |
- Abelein, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Transient small molecule interactions kinetically modulate amyloid beta peptide self-assembly
- 2012
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Ingår i: FEBS Letters. - : Wiley. - 0014-5793 .- 1873-3468. ; 586:22, s. 3991-3995
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small organic molecules, like Congo red and lacmoid, have been shown to modulate the self-assembly of the amyloid beta peptide (A beta). Here, we show that A beta forms NMR invisible non-toxic co-aggregates together with lacmoid as well as Congo red. We find that the interaction involves two distinct kinetic processes and at every given time point only a small fraction of A beta is in the co-aggregate. These weak transient interactions kinetically redirect the aggregation prone A beta from self-assembling into amyloid fibrils. These findings suggest that even such weak binders might be effective as therapeutics against pathogenic protein aggregation.
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| 7. |
- Abelein, Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Transient small molecule interactions kinetically modulate amyloid β peptide self-assembly.
- 2012
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Ingår i: FEBS Letters. - : Elsevier. - 0014-5793 .- 1873-3468. ; 586:22, s. 3991-3995
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small organic molecules, like Congo red and lacmoid, have been shown to modulate the self-assembly of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ). Here, we show that Aβ forms NMR invisible non-toxic co-aggregates together with lacmoid as well as Congo red. We find that the interaction involves two distinct kinetic processes and at every given time point only a small fraction of Aβ is in the co-aggregate. These weak transient interactions kinetically redirect the aggregation prone Aβ from self-assembling into amyloid fibrils. These findings suggest that even such weak binders might be effective as therapeutics against pathogenic protein aggregation.
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| 8. |
- Wärmländer, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
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Biophysical Studies of the Amyloid beta-Peptide : Interactions with Metal Ions and Small Molecules
- 2013
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Ingår i: ChemBioChem. - : Wiley. - 1439-4227 .- 1439-7633. ; 14:14, s. 1692-1704
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer's disease is the most common of the protein misfolding (amyloid) diseases. The deposits in the brains of afflicted patients contain as a major fraction an aggregated insoluble form of the so-called amyloid beta-peptides (A beta peptides): fragments of the amyloid precursor protein of 39-43 residues in length. This review focuses on biophysical studies of the A beta peptides: that is, of the aggregation pathways and intermediates observed during aggregation, of the molecular structures observed along these pathways, and of the interactions of A beta with Cu and Zn ions and with small molecules that modify the aggregation pathways. Particular emphasis is placed on studies based on high-resolution and solid-state NMR methods. Theoretical studies relating to the interactions are also included. An emerging picture is that of A beta peptides in aqueous solution undergoing hydrophobic collapse together with identical partners. There then follows a relatively slow process leading to more ordered secondary and tertiary (quaternary) structures in the growing aggregates. These aggregates eventually assemble into elongated fibrils visible by electron microscopy. Small molecules or metal ions that interfere with the aggregation processes give rise to a variety of aggregation products that may be studied in vitro and considered in relation to observations in cell cultures or in vivo. Although the heterogeneous nature of the processes makes detailed structural studies difficult, knowledge and understanding of the underlying physical chemistry might provide a basis for future therapeutic strategies against the disease. A final part of the review deals with the interactions that may occur between the A beta peptides and the prion protein, where the latter is involved in other protein misfolding diseases.
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