All or none fibrillogenesis of a prion peptide

Eur J Biochem. 2001 Sep;268(18):4885-91. doi: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.02415.x.

Abstract

Amyloid proteins and peptides comprise a diverse group of molecules that vary both in size and amino-acid sequence, yet assemble into amyloid fibrils that have a common core structure. Kinetic studies of amyloid fibrillogenesis have revealed that certain amyloid proteins form oligomeric intermediates prior to fibril formation. We have investigated fibril formation with a peptide corresponding to residues 195-213 of the human prion protein. Through a combination of kinetic and equilibrium studies, we have found that the fibrillogenesis of this peptide proceeds as an all-or-none reaction where oligomeric intermediates are not stably populated. This variation in whether oligomeric intermediates are stably populated during fibril formation indicates that amyloid proteins assemble into a common fibrillar structure; however, they do so through different pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Energy Transfer
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Naphthalenesulfonates
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Prions / chemistry*
  • Prions / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Naphthalenesulfonates
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Prions
  • 1,5-AEDANS