title: Amyloid formation by salmon calcitonin.
abstract: It is demonstrated using three independent methods that salmon calcitonin can form amyloid fibrils in vitro. Large aggregates are shown to exhibit a blue-green birefringence in cross polarised light after staining with congo red. Individual fibrils were observed using electron microscopy. These fibrils are approx. 50-60 A in diameter and up to 20,000 A in length and are similar in appearance to those observed in Alzheimer's disease. Finally, X-ray diffraction studies of the large aggregates reveal the cross-beta conformation characteristics of the monomers in the fibre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D001718:Birefringence; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012474:Salmon; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D002116:Calcitonin