Spatial persistence of angular correlations in amyloid fibrils

Phys Rev Lett. 2006 Jun 16;96(23):238301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.238301. Epub 2006 Jun 12.

Abstract

Using atomic force microscopy height maps, we resolve and quantify torsional fluctuations in one-dimensional amyloid fibril aggregates self-assembled from three different representative polypeptide systems. Furthermore, we show that angular correlation in these nanoscale structures is maintained over several microns, corresponding to many thousands of molecules along the fibril axis. We model disorder in the fibril in respect of both thermal fluctuations and structural defects, and determine quantitative values for the defect density, as well as the energy scales involved in the fundamental interactions stabilizing these generic structures.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry*
  • Amyloid / ultrastructure*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Motion
  • Protein Conformation
  • Statistics as Topic

Substances

  • Amyloid