Structural mapping of oligomeric intermediates in an amyloid assembly pathway.

ABSTRACT: Transient oligomers are commonly formed in the early stages of amyloid assembly. Determining the structure(s) of these species and defining their role(s) in assembly is key to devising new routes to control disease. Here, using a combination of chemical kinetics, NMR spectroscopy and other biophysical methods, we identify and structurally characterize the oligomers required for amyloid assembly of the protein ΔN6, a truncation variant of human β₂-microglobulin (β₂m) found in amyloid deposits in the joints of patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis. The results reveal an assembly pathway which is initiated by the formation of head-to-head non-toxic dimers and hexamers en route to amyloid fibrils. Comparison with inhibitory dimers shows that precise subunit or

SUBMITTER: Karamanos TK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6783270 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature