title: Design of a Molecular Hybrid of Dual Peptide Inhibitors Coupled on AuNPs for Enhanced Inhibition of Amyloid β-Protein Aggregation and Cytotoxicity.
abstract: Aggregation of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), so the inhibition of Aβ aggregation is an important strategy for the prevention and treatment of AD. Herein, we proposed to design molecular hybrids of peptide inhibitors by combining two peptide inhibitors, VVIA and LPFFD, into single sequences and examined their effects on Aβ42aggregation and cytotoxicity. The hybrid peptides exhibit increased but moderate inhibitory activity as compared to their two precursors. By conjugating the peptides onto gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), however, the inhibition activity of the corresponding peptide@AuNPs against Aβ42aggregation and cytotoxicity is greatly improved. Among them, VVIACLPFFD (VCD10)@AuNP is the most effective, which increases cell viability from 48% to 82% at a dosage as low as 0.1 nmol L-1(NPs) or 40 nmol L-1(peptide). The superior capacity of VCD10@AuNPs is considered due to its branched dual-inhibitor sequence, and its special surface orientation and conformation. These structural features promote its synergetic interactions with Aβ on AuNP surface, leading to strong inhibitions of Aβ oligomerization and fibrillation and the cytotoxicity caused by the aggregation species. The findings suggest that potent inhibitors can be derived by hybridization of multiple peptide inhibitors with the hybrid products coupled onto nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
authors.forename: Neng
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
authors.forename: Yanjiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C474023:iAbeta5 peptide; D006046:Gold
keywords: alzheimer's disease; amyloid β-protein; molecular hybrid; nanoparticles; peptide inhibitors