Observation of sequence specificity in the seeding of protein amyloid fibrils

July 28, 2017

Title

Observation of sequence specificity in the seeding of protein amyloid fibrils

Author

Mark R.H. Krebs, Ludmilla A. Morozova-Roche, Katie Daniel,Carol V. Robinson, Christopher M. Dobson

Year

2004

Journal

Protein Science

Abstract

It is well established that the rate of formation of fibrils by amyloidogenic proteins is enhanced by the addition of preformed fibrils, a phenomenon known as seeding. We show that the efficiency of seeding fibril formation from solutions of hen lysozyme by a series of other proteins depends strongly on the similarity of their sequences. This observation is consistent with the importance of long-range interactions in stabilizing the core structure of amyloid fibrils and may be associated with the existence of a species barrier observed in the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. In addition, it is consistent with the observation of a single dominant type of protein in the deposits associated with each form of amyloid disease.

Instrument

J-720

Keywords

Circular dichroism, Secondary structure, Aggregation, Biochemistry