Polymorphism of amyloid-like fibrils can be defined by the concentration of seeds.

ABSTRACT: Prions are infectious proteins where the same protein may express distinct strains. The strains are enciphered by different misfolded conformations. Strain-like phenomena have also been reported in a number of other amyloid-forming proteins. One of the features of amyloid strains is the ability to self-propagate, maintaining a constant set of physical properties despite being propagated under conditions different from those that allowed initial formation of the strain. Here we report a cross-seeding experiment using strains formed under different conditions. Using high concentrations of seeds results in rapid elongation and new fibrils preserve the properties of the seeding fibrils. At low seed concentrations, secondary nucleation plays the major role and new fibrils gain properties predic

SUBMITTER: Sneideris T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4563235 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature