title: A common 'aggregation-prone' interface possibly participates in the self-assembly of human zona pellucida proteins.
abstract: Human zona pellucida (ZP) is composed of four glycoproteins, namely ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4. ZP proteins form heterodimers, which are incorporated into filaments through a common bipartite polymerizing component, designated as the ZP domain. The latter is composed of two individually folded subdomains, named ZP-N and ZP-C. Here, we have synthesized six 'aggregation-prone' peptides, corresponding to a common interface of human ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4. Experimental results utilizing electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ATR FT-IR spectroscopy and polarizing microscopy indicate that these peptides self-assemble forming fibrils with distinct amyloid-like features. Finally, by performing detailed modeling and docking, we attempt to shed some light in the self-assembly mechanism of human ZP proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Louros
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelia D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Chrysina
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Baltatzis
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstratios S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Patsouris
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavros J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hamodrakas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Iconomidou
mesh_terms: D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D062105:Molecular Docking Simulation; D066329:Protein Aggregates; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D066329:Protein Aggregates
keywords: amyloid fibrils; electron microscopy; functional amyloid; homology modeling; peptide-analogs; zona pellucida