title: Pleomorphic copper coordination by Alzheimer's disease amyloid-beta peptide.
abstract: Numerous conflicting models have been proposed regarding the nature of the Cu(2+) coordination environment of the amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide, the causative agent of Alzheimer's disease. This study used multifrequency CW-EPR spectroscopy to directly resolve the superhyperfine interactions between Cu(2+) and the ligand nuclei of Abeta, thereby avoiding ambiguities associated with introducing point mutations. Using a library of Abeta16 analogues with site-specific (15)N-labeling at Asp1, His6, His13, and His14, numerical simulations of the superhyperfine resonances delineated two independent 3N1O Cu(2+) coordination modes, {N(a)(D1), O, N(epsilon)(H6), N(epsilon)(H13)} (component Ia) and {N(a)(D1), O, N(epsilon)(H6), N(epsilon)(H14)} (component Ib), between pH 6-7. A third coordination mode (component II) was identified at pH 8.0, and simulation of the superhyperfine resonances indicated a 3N1O coordination sphere involving nitrogen ligation by His6, His13, and His14. No differences were observed upon (17)O-labeling of the phenolic oxygen of Tyr10, confirming it is not a key oxygen ligand in the physiological pH range. Hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) spectroscopy, in conjunction with site-specific (15)N-labeling, provided additional support for the common role of His6 in components Ia and Ib, and for the assignment of a {O, N(epsilon)(H6), N(epsilon)(H13), N(epsilon)(H14)} coordination sphere to component II. HYSCORE studies of a peptide analogue with selective (13)C-labeling of Asp1 revealed (13)C cross-peaks characteristic of equatorial coordination by the carboxylate oxygen of Asp1 in component Ia/b coordination. The direct resolution of Cu(2+) ligand interactions, together with the key finding that component I is composed of two distinct coordination modes, provides valuable insight into a range of conflicting ligand assignments and highlights the complexity of Cu(2+)/Abeta interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. sdrew@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Simon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: Colin L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.forename: Graeme R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Barnham
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D003300:Copper