Synthesis of a library of oligothiophenes and their utilization as fluorescent ligands for spectral assignment of protein aggregates.

ABSTRACT: Molecular probes for selective identification of protein aggregates are important to advance our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis underlying protein aggregation diseases. Here we report the chemical design of a library of anionic luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs), which can be utilized as ligands for detection of protein aggregates. Certain molecular requirements were shown to be necessary for detecting (i) early non-thioflavinophilic protein assemblies of Aβ1-42 and insulin preceding the formation of amyloid fibrils and (ii) for obtaining distinct spectral signatures of the two main pathological hallmarks observed in human Alzheimer's diease brain tissue (Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles). Our findings suggest that a superior anionic LCO-based ligand should ha

SUBMITTER: Klingstedt T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3326384 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature