title: Studies of the aggregation of an amyloidogenic alpha-synuclein peptide fragment.
abstract: The deposition of alpha-syn (alpha-synuclein) fibrils in Lewy bodies is a characteristic feature of individuals with neurodegenerative disorders. A peptide comprising the central residues 71-82 of alpha-syn [alpha-syn(71-82)] is capable of forming beta-sheet-rich, amyloid-like fibrils with similar morphologies to fibrils of the full-length protein, providing a useful model of pathogenic alpha-syn fibrils that is suitable for detailed structural analysis. We have studied the morphology and gross structural features of alpha-syn(71-82) fibrils formed under different conditions in order to obtain reliable conditions for producing fibrils for further structural investigations. The results indicate that the rate of aggregation and the morphology of the fibrils formed are sensitive to pH and temperature.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, P.O. Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madine
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Doig
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitmitto
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Middleton
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017510:Protein Folding; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D051844:alpha-Synuclein