Aβ42 assembles into specific β-barrel pore-forming oligomers in membrane-mimicking environments

Serra-Batiste, M; Ninot-Pedrosa, M; Bayoumi, M; Gairí, M; Maglia, G; Carulla, N

HERO ID

3860278

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2016

Language

English

PMID

27621459

HERO ID 3860278
In Press No
Year 2016
Title Aβ42 assembles into specific β-barrel pore-forming oligomers in membrane-mimicking environments
Authors Serra-Batiste, M; Ninot-Pedrosa, M; Bayoumi, M; Gairí, M; Maglia, G; Carulla, N
Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume 113
Issue 39
Page Numbers 10866-10871
Abstract The formation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) oligomers at the cellular membrane is considered to be a crucial process underlying neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, it is critical to characterize the oligomers that form within a membrane environment. To contribute to this characterization, we have applied strategies widely used to examine the structure of membrane proteins to study the two major Aβ variants, Aβ40 and Aβ42. Accordingly, various types of detergent micelles were extensively screened to identify one that preserved the properties of Aβ in lipid environments-namely the formation of oligomers that function as pores. Remarkably, under the optimized detergent micelle conditions, Aβ40 and Aβ42 showed different behavior. Aβ40 aggregated into amyloid fibrils, whereas Aβ42 assembled into oligomers that inserted into lipid bilayers as well-defined pores and adopted a specific structure with characteristics of a β-barrel arrangement that we named β-barrel pore-forming Aβ42 oligomers (βPFOsAβ42). Because Aβ42, relative to Aβ40, has a more prominent role in AD, the higher propensity of Aβ42 to form βPFOs constitutes an indication of their relevance in AD. Moreover, because βPFOsAβ42 adopt a specific structure, this property offers an unprecedented opportunity for testing a hypothesis regarding the involvement of βPFOs and, more generally, membrane-associated Aβ oligomers in AD.
Doi 10.1073/pnas.1605104113
Pmid 27621459
Wosid WOS:000383954700039
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Alzheimer's disease; amyloid-beta peptide; membrane pore; oligomer