Characteristics of fibers formed by cytochrome c and induced by anionic phospholipids.
Recent publications described the formation of millimeter-length fibers by diverse lipid-binding proteins (e.g., histone H1, cytochrome c, indolicidin, and endostatin) when they are mixed with 80:20 phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine vesicles. Further, these fibers displayed amyloid characteristics when stained with Congo Red. In the study presented here, we found by FTIR the amide I absorption band to reveal significant variation in fibers formed by cytochrome c, with some consisting of cytochrome c in a nativelike conformation and some exhibiting strong amyloid (beta-sheet) characteristics. Protein structure also varied from amyloid to nearly native within single fibers. Fibers were frequently blue or bluish and sometimes iridescent, likely due to interference of light in the fibers. The amyloid-type amide I band was observed for blue fibers only. AFM shows that fibers consist of smaller 3-4 nm diameter fibers with 10 nm lateral spacing.
Alakoskela
Juha-Matti
JM
Helsinki Biophysics and Biomembrane Group, Institute of Biomedicine/Biochemistry, P.O. Box 63, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Jutila
Arimatti
A
Simonsen
Adam C
AC
Pirneskoski
Jussi
J
Pyhäjoki
Sinikka
S
Turunen
Raija
R
Marttila
Sani
S
Mouritsen
Ole G
OG
Goormaghtigh
Erik
E
Kinnunen
Paavo K J
PK
D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D003116:Color; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006736:Horses; D008081:Liposomes; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000187:drug effects; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D000682:Amyloid; D008081:Liposomes; D010743:Phospholipids; D045304:Cytochromes c