1. |
- Limbocker, Ryan, et al.
(author)
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Trodusquemine enhances Aβ42 aggregation but suppresses its toxicity by displacing oligomers from cell membranes
- 2019
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Transient oligomeric species formed during the aggregation process of the 42-residue form of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ42) are key pathogenic agents in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To investigate the relationship between Aβ42 aggregation and its cytotoxicity and the influence of a potential drug on both phenomena, we have studied the effects of trodusquemine. This aminosterol enhances the rate of aggregation by promoting monomer-dependent secondary nucleation, but significantly reduces the toxicity of the resulting oligomers to neuroblastoma cells by inhibiting their binding to the cellular membranes. When administered to a C. elegans model of AD, we again observe an increase in aggregate formation alongside the suppression of Aβ42-induced toxicity. In addition to oligomer displacement, the reduced toxicity could also point towards an increased rate of conversion of oligomers to less toxic fibrils. The ability of a small molecule to reduce the toxicity of oligomeric species represents a potential therapeutic strategy against AD.
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2. |
- Engel, Robin Y., et al.
(author)
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Electron population dynamics in resonant non-linear x-ray absorption in nickel at a free-electron laser
- 2023
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In: Structural Dynamics. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 2329-7778. ; 10:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Free-electron lasers provide bright, ultrashort, and monochromatic x-ray pulses, enabling novel spectroscopic measurements not only with femtosecond temporal resolution: The high fluence of their x-ray pulses can also easily enter the regime of the non-linear x-ray-matter interaction. Entering this regime necessitates a rigorous analysis and reliable prediction of the relevant non-linear processes for future experiment designs. Here, we show non-linear changes in the L-3-edge absorption of metallic nickel thin films, measured with fluences up to 60 J/cm(2). We present a simple but predictive rate model that quantitatively describes spectral changes based on the evolution of electronic populations within the pulse duration. Despite its simplicity, the model reaches good agreement with experimental results over more than three orders of magnitude in fluence, while providing a straightforward understanding of the interplay of physical processes driving the non-linear changes. Our findings provide important insights for the design and evaluation of future high-fluence free-electron laser experiments and contribute to the understanding of non-linear electron dynamics in x-ray absorption processes in solids at the femtosecond timescale.
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3. |
- Gorgisyan, Ishkhan, et al.
(author)
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Fast, automated, continuous energy scans for experimental phasing at the BioMAX beamline
- 2023
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In: Journal of Synchrotron Radiation. - 0909-0495. ; 30, s. 885-894
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In X-ray macromolecular crystallography (MX), single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) and multi-wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) techniques are commonly used for obtaining experimental phases. For an MX synchrotron beamline to support SAD and MAD techniques it is a prerequisite to have a reliable, fast and well automated energy scan routine. This work reports on a continuous energy scan procedure newly implemented at the BioMAX MX beamline at MAX IV Laboratory. The continuous energy scan is fully automated, capable of measuring accurate fluorescence counts over the absorption edge of interest while minimizing the sample exposure to X-rays, and is about a factor of five faster compared with a conventional step scan previously operational at BioMAX. The implementation of the continuous energy scan facilitates the prompt access to the anomalous scattering data, required for the SAD and MAD experiments.
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4. |
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- 2019
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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