Issue 7, 2013

Protein amyloids develop an intrinsic fluorescence signature during aggregation

Abstract

We report observations of an intrinsic fluorescence in the visible range, which develops during the aggregation of a range of polypeptides, including the disease-related human peptides amyloid-β(1–40) and (1–42), lysozyme and tau. Characteristic fluorescence properties such as the emission lifetime and spectra were determined experimentally. This intrinsic fluorescence is independent of the presence of aromatic side-chain residues within the polypeptide structure. Rather, it appears to result from electronic levels that become available when the polypeptide chain folds into a cross-β sheet scaffold similar to what has been reported to take place in crystals. We use these findings to quantify protein aggregation in vitro by fluorescence imaging in a label-free manner.

Graphical abstract: Protein amyloids develop an intrinsic fluorescence signature during aggregation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Dec 2012
Accepted
06 Feb 2013
First published
07 Feb 2013

Analyst, 2013,138, 2156-2162

Protein amyloids develop an intrinsic fluorescence signature during aggregation

F. T. S. Chan, G. S. Kaminski Schierle, J. R. Kumita, C. W. Bertoncini, C. M. Dobson and C. F. Kaminski, Analyst, 2013, 138, 2156 DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36798C

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