Molecular Modulation of Human α7 Nicotinic Receptor by Amyloid-β Peptides.

ABSTRACT: Amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is a key player in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is the primary component of senile plaques in AD patients and is also found in soluble forms. Cholinergic activity mediated by α7 nicotinic receptors has been shown to be affected by Aβ soluble forms. To shed light into the molecular mechanism of this effect, we explored the direct actions of oligomeric Aβ_1-40 and Aβ_1-42 on human α7 by fluorescence spectroscopy and single-channel recordings. Fluorescence measurements using the conformational sensitive probe crystal violet (CrV) revealed that in the presence of Aβ α7 undergoes concentration-dependent conformational changes. Exposure of α7 to 100 pM Aβ changes CrV K_D towards that of the desensitized state. However, α7 is

SUBMITTER: Lasala M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6376857 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature