Deciphering the structure, growth and assembly of amyloid-like fibrils using high-speed atomic force microscopy.
Formation of fibrillar structures of proteins that deposit into aggregates has been suggested to play a key role in various neurodegenerative diseases. However mechanisms and dynamics of fibrillization remains to be elucidated. We have previously established that lithostathine, a protein overexpressed in the pre-clinical stages of Alzheimer's disease and present in the pathognomonic lesions associated with this disease, form fibrillar aggregates after its N-terminal truncation. In this paper we visualized, using high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM), growth and assembly of lithostathine protofibrils under physiological conditions with a time resolution of one image/s. Real-time imaging highlighted a very high velocity of elongation. Formation of fibrils via protofibril lateral association and stacking was also monitored revealing a zipper-like mechanism of association. We also demonstrate that, like other amyloid ß peptides, two lithostathine protofibrils can associate to form helical fibrils. Another striking finding is the propensity of the end of a growing protofibril or fibril to associate with the edge of a second fibril, forming false branching point. Taken together this study provides new clues about fibrillization mechanism of amyloid proteins.
Inserm, U 554, Montpellier, France. pem@cbs.cnrs.fr
Pierre-Emmanuel
PE
Milhiet
Daisuke
D
Yamamoto
Olivia
O
Berthoumieu
Patrice
P
Dosset
Christian
C
Le Grimellec
Jean-Michel
JM
Verdier
Stéphane
S
Marchal
Toshio
T
Ando
D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry*; D051847:Lithostathine / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D015394:Molecular Structure
D000682:Amyloid; D051847:Lithostathine