Atomic Structure of Amyloid Crystals

•  A deep understanding of the self-assembly and crystallization of biomolecules as highly ordered biomaterials is crucial to enable the design and the generation of complex functional systems for cutting-edge applications in nanotechnology and biomedicine. In this work, we determined the atomic structure of Aβ16-20 crystals, a fragment of amyloid-β which aberrant folding is linked to the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. We detailed the hierarchical aggregation mechanism of Aβ16-20 into highly ordered crystals and revealed that the self-assembly is reversible, leading to the formation of oligomers as an intermediate. Our structural investigation combined with molecular dynamics simulations highlights how a combination of favorable non-covalent interactions drives the efficient fast self-assembly and enhanced stability. We studied the chemical and surface properties of amyloid crystals, including their mechanical properties and their capability to transmit light; the long-rang order of Aβ16-20 crystals enables them to be used as optical waveguide materials for biologically based modulation and sensing. Our results shed new light on pathogenic amyloid assembly at the atomic level and reveal the potential of amyloid crystals for applications in nanotechnology.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biofysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biophysics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Fysikalisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Physical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Organisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Organic Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)