title: Molecular modeling of the Abeta1-42 peptide from Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The three-dimensional structure of the Alzheimer's disease Abeta1-42 peptide was predicted by sequence homology, threading approaches and by experimental observations. The Abeta molecule displayed a Greek key motif with four antiparallel beta-strands. To shield thermodynamically unfavorable domains, two Abeta molecules interact with each other to generate a beta-barrel structure with a hydrophilic surface and a hydrophobic core. The N-terminal domains of the dimer form crevices into which the non-polar C-termini are accommodated to yield a globular structure 27x32 A in diameter. Alternatively, the C-terminal domains of two opposing dimers could be extended to form an antiparallel beta-sheet. The stacking of these building blocks generates a helical protofilament. To create a thermodynamically more favorable structure, three protofilaments associate into a right-handed triple helix with a hydrophobic beta-sheet completely surrounded by the hydrophilic beta-barrels made of residues 1-28. Two triple helical strands can further associate into a right-handed amyloid filament. Although our model did not meet all the expected criteria, it nevertheless exhibited a series of naturally disposed structural features, revealed by other biophysical studies utilizing synthetic Abeta peptides. These characteristics are of functional significance in terms of Abeta-topology, fibril formation and cytotoxicity. The model also suggests that Abeta may not exist in a thermodynamically stable conformation, but rather as an ensemble of metastable dimeric structures some of which are capable of generating an extended C-terminal antiparallel beta-sheet essential in the promotion of fibrillogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Core, Eli Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Chaney
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Roher
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D015032:Zinc