Methionine residue 35 is critical for the oxidative stress and neurotoxic properties of Alzheimer's amyloid beta-peptide 1-42.
Amyloid beta-peptide 1-42 [Abeta(1-42)] is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the AD brain is under intense oxidative stress. Our laboratory combined these two aspects of AD into the Abeta-associated free radical oxidative stress model for neurodegeneration in AD brain. Abeta(1-42) caused protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species formation, and cell death in neuronal and synaptosomal systems, all of which could be inhibited by free radical antioxidants. Recent studies have been directed at discerning molecular mechanisms by which Abeta(1-42)-associated free radical oxidative stress and neurotoxicity arise. The single methionine located in residue 35 of Abeta(1-42) is critical for these properties. This review presents the evidence supporting the role of methionine in Abeta(1-42)-associated free radical oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. This work is of obvious relevance to AD and provides a coupling between the centrality of Abeta(1-42) in the pathogenesis of AD and the oxidative stress under which the AD brain exists.
Department of Chemistry, Center of Membrane Sciences, and Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA. dabcns@pop.uky.edu
D Allan
DA
Butterfield
Jaroslaw
J
Kanski
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008715:Methionine