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Strong inhibition of peptide amyloid formation by a fatty acid

Pallbo, Jon LU ; Olsson, Ulf LU and Sparr, Emma LU (2021) In Biophysical Journal 120(20). p.4536-4546
Abstract

The aggregation of peptides into amyloid fibrils is associated with several diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Because hydrophobic interactions often play an important role in amyloid formation, the presence of various hydrophobic or amphiphilic molecules, such as lipids, may influence the aggregation process. We have studied the effect of a fatty acid, linoleic acid, on the fibrillation process of the amyloid-forming model peptide NACore (GAVVTGVTAVA). NACore is a peptide fragment spanning residue 68–78 of the protein α-synuclein involved in Parkinson's disease. Based primarily on circular dichroism measurements, we found that even a very small amount of linoleic acid can substantially inhibit the fibrillation of... (More)

The aggregation of peptides into amyloid fibrils is associated with several diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Because hydrophobic interactions often play an important role in amyloid formation, the presence of various hydrophobic or amphiphilic molecules, such as lipids, may influence the aggregation process. We have studied the effect of a fatty acid, linoleic acid, on the fibrillation process of the amyloid-forming model peptide NACore (GAVVTGVTAVA). NACore is a peptide fragment spanning residue 68–78 of the protein α-synuclein involved in Parkinson's disease. Based primarily on circular dichroism measurements, we found that even a very small amount of linoleic acid can substantially inhibit the fibrillation of NACore. This inhibitory effect manifests itself through a prolongation of the lag phase of the peptide fibrillation. The effect is greatest when the fatty acid is present from the beginning of the process together with the monomeric peptide. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of nonfibrillar clusters among NACore fibrils formed in the presence of linoleic acid. We argue that the observed inhibitory effect on fibrillation is due to co-association of peptide oligomers and fatty acid aggregates at the early stage of the process. An important aspect of this mechanism is that it is nonmonomeric peptide structures that associate with the fatty acid aggregates. Similar mechanisms of action could be relevant in amyloid formation occurring in vivo, where the aggregation takes place in a lipid-rich environment.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Biophysical Journal
volume
120
issue
20
pages
4536 - 4546
publisher
Cell Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85114687295
  • pmid:34478699
ISSN
0006-3495
DOI
10.1016/j.bpj.2021.08.035
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Biophysical Society
id
4d08c0ce-38a5-4606-9c94-4856ee021c73
date added to LUP
2021-10-13 14:07:12
date last changed
2024-06-15 18:08:52
@article{4d08c0ce-38a5-4606-9c94-4856ee021c73,
  abstract     = {{<p>The aggregation of peptides into amyloid fibrils is associated with several diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Because hydrophobic interactions often play an important role in amyloid formation, the presence of various hydrophobic or amphiphilic molecules, such as lipids, may influence the aggregation process. We have studied the effect of a fatty acid, linoleic acid, on the fibrillation process of the amyloid-forming model peptide NACore (GAVVTGVTAVA). NACore is a peptide fragment spanning residue 68–78 of the protein α-synuclein involved in Parkinson's disease. Based primarily on circular dichroism measurements, we found that even a very small amount of linoleic acid can substantially inhibit the fibrillation of NACore. This inhibitory effect manifests itself through a prolongation of the lag phase of the peptide fibrillation. The effect is greatest when the fatty acid is present from the beginning of the process together with the monomeric peptide. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of nonfibrillar clusters among NACore fibrils formed in the presence of linoleic acid. We argue that the observed inhibitory effect on fibrillation is due to co-association of peptide oligomers and fatty acid aggregates at the early stage of the process. An important aspect of this mechanism is that it is nonmonomeric peptide structures that associate with the fatty acid aggregates. Similar mechanisms of action could be relevant in amyloid formation occurring in vivo, where the aggregation takes place in a lipid-rich environment.</p>}},
  author       = {{Pallbo, Jon and Olsson, Ulf and Sparr, Emma}},
  issn         = {{0006-3495}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{20}},
  pages        = {{4536--4546}},
  publisher    = {{Cell Press}},
  series       = {{Biophysical Journal}},
  title        = {{Strong inhibition of peptide amyloid formation by a fatty acid}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2021.08.035}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.bpj.2021.08.035}},
  volume       = {{120}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}