Journal of Molecular Biology -
2 days and 11 hours ago
Publication Date: 2008 Nov 18 PMID: 19041877br/Authors: Chang, E. S. - Liao, T. Y. - Lim, T. S. -
Fann, W. - Chen, R. P.br/Journal: J Mol Biolbr/br/Amyloid plaques, formed from amyloid beta (Abeta)
peptides (mainly Abeta40 or Abeta42), are one of the most important pathological characteristics of
Alzheimer's disease. Here, a single D-form proline substitution in the 40-amino-acid Abeta40
peptide can totally change the aggregation behavior of this peptide. The residue immediately
preceding each glycine in Abeta40 (S8, V24, I32, and V36) was individually replaced by D-form
proline ((D)Pro). The resulting (D)P-G sequence (the (D)Pro residue and the following Gly residue)
was designed as a structural clip to force the formation of a bend in the peptide, as this sequence
has been reported to be a strong promoter of beta-hairpin formation. The mutant peptide with
Val24-to-(D)Pro substitution, named V24P, formed a new amyloid-like beta-aggregate at high peptide
concentration. The aggregate has most of the characteristics of amyloid fibrils, except fibril
morphology. Moreover, the mutant peptide V24P, when mixed with Abeta40, can attenuate the
cytotoxicity of Abeta40.br/br/post to: a href =
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