Aβ1–42 C-terminus fragment derived peptides prevent the self-assembly of the parent peptide

Abstract

In an attempt to design Aβ aggregation inhibitors to combat Alzheimer's disease, herein we report a full peptide scan performed on a pentapeptide fragment (Aβ_38–42) derived from the C-terminus of Aβ_1–42 peptide. More than thirty new peptides were synthesized and tested for their inhibition activity towards Aβ self-assembly. In the cell viability assay, when co-incubated with Aβ, three peptides were found to completely prevent the toxicity induced by Aβ aggregation. Most active pentapeptides were also studied by ThT fluorescence assay and the results were well correlated to the MTT study. The inhibition potential of a pentapeptide (15) was further confirmed by CD spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.