Issue 2, 2012

Specific in situ discrimination of amyloid fibrilsversus α-helical fibres by the fluorophore NIAD-4

Abstract

A wide range of human pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases and other forms of amyloidosis, are associated with the formation of insoluble fibrillar protein aggregates known as amyloids. To gain insights into this process analytical methods are needed, which give quantitative data on the molecular events that are taking place. The dye Thioflavin T (ThT) is widely used for the spectroscopic determination of amyloid fibril formation. Different binding affinities to amyloids at neutral and acidic pH and the frequently observed poor binding at acidic pH are problematic in the use of the cationic ThT. The uncharged fluorescence probe [[5′-(4-hydroxyphenyl)[2,2′-bithiophen]-5-yl]methylene]-propanedinitrile (NIAD-4) has been recently designed by Swager and coworkers, in order to eliminate some of the limitations of ThT. Here we have used this novel dye for in vitro monitoring of the amyloid formation processes of de novo designed model peptides. Amyloid structures were successfully detected by NIAD-4 at neutral as well as acidic pH and no significant fluorescence was detectable in the presence of α-helical fibres. Thus, NIAD-4 proved to be a valuable alternative to ThT for spectroscopic studies on amyloid structures over a broad pH range.

Graphical abstract: Specific in situ discrimination of amyloid fibrils versus α-helical fibres by the fluorophore NIAD-4

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Sep 2011
Accepted
26 Oct 2011
First published
24 Nov 2011

Mol. BioSyst., 2012,8, 557-564

Specific in situ discrimination of amyloid fibrils versus α-helical fibres by the fluorophore NIAD-4

E. Brandenburg, H. v. Berlepsch and B. Koksch, Mol. BioSyst., 2012, 8, 557 DOI: 10.1039/C1MB05370A

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