title: Methyl dynamics of the amyloid-beta peptides Abeta40 and Abeta42.
abstract: To probe the role of side chain dynamics in Abeta aggregation, we studied the methyl dynamics of native Abeta40 and Abeta42 by measuring cross relaxation rates with interleaved data collection. The methyl groups in the C-terminus are in general more rigid in Abeta42 than in Abeta40, consistent with previous results from backbone (15)N dynamics. This lends support to the hypothesis that a rigid C-terminus in Abeta42 may serve as an internal aggregation seed. Interestingly, two methyl groups of V18 located in the central hydrophobic cluster are more mobile in Abeta42 than in Abeta40, most likely due to the paucity of V18 intra-molecular interactions in Abeta42. V18 may then be more available for inter-molecular interactions to form Abeta42 aggregates. Thus, the side chain mobility of the central hydrophobic cluster may play an important role in Abeta aggregation and may contribute to the difference in aggregation propensity between Abeta40 and Abeta42.
authors: Biology Department, Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
authors: Yilin
authors: Y
authors: Yan
authors: Jiajing
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Scott A
authors: SA
authors: McCallum
authors: Daiwen
authors: D
authors: Yang
authors: Chunyu
authors: C
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007700:Kinetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40); C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42)