Label-free high-throughput screening assay for inhibitors of Alzheimer's amyloid-β peptide aggregation based on MALDI MS

Anal Chem. 2010 Oct 15;82(20):8558-65. doi: 10.1021/ac101583q.

Abstract

Aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides is causatively linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD); thus, suppression of this process by small molecule inhibitors is a widely accepted therapeutic and preventive strategy for AD. Screening of the inhibitors of Aβ aggregation deserves much attention; however, despite intensive efforts, there are only a few high-throughput screening methods available, all of them having drawbacks related to the application of external fluorescent probes or artificial Aβ derivatives. We have developed a label-free MALDI MS-based screening test for inhibitors of Aβ₄₂ fibrillization that exhibits high sensitivity, speed, and automation possibilities suitable for high-throughput screening. The test was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and compared with a fluorimetric thioflavin-based assay, where interference of a number of tested compounds with thioflavin T binding and/or fluorescence caused false-positive results. The MALDI MS-based method can significantly speed up in vitro screening of compound libraries for inhibitors of Aβ₄₂ fibrillization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / analysis*
  • Kinetics
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)