Dependence of the Formation of Tau and Aβ Peptide Mixed Aggregates on the Secondary Structure of the N-Terminal Region of Aβ.

ABSTRACT: One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the formation of aggregates of the tau protein, a process that can be facilitated by the presence of fibrils formed by the amyloid β peptide (Aβ). However, the mechanism that triggers tau aggregation is still a matter of debate. The effect of Aβ₄₀ fibrils on the aggregation of the repeat domain of tau (TauRD) is investigated here by employing coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate that the repeat domain of tau has a high affinity for Aβ₄₀ fibrils, with the ₂₆₁GSTENLK₂₆₇ fragment of tau driving TauRD toward the ₁₆KLVFFA₂₁ fragment in Aβ₄₀. Monomeric Aβ₄₀, in which the ₁₆KLVFFA₂₁ fragment is rarely found in a

SUBMITTER: Rojas AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6524542 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature