Binding of human proteins to amyloid-β protofibrils

ACS Chem Biol. 2015 Mar 20;10(3):766-74. doi: 10.1021/cb5008663. Epub 2014 Dec 12.

Abstract

The progressive neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease is believed to be linked to the presence of prefibrillar aggregates of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the brain. The exact role of these aggregates in the disease pathology is, however, still an open question. Any mechanism by which oligomeric Aβ may cause damage to neuronal cells must, in one way or another, involve interactions with other molecules. Here, we identify proteins in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid that bind to stable protofibrils formed by an engineered variant of Aβ42 (Aβ42CC). We find that the protofibrils attract a substantial number of protein binding partners. Many of the 101 identified proteins are involved in lipid transport and metabolism, the complement system, or in hemostasis. Binding of representative proteins from all of these groups with micromolar affinity was confirmed using surface plasmon resonance. In addition, binding of apolipoprotein E to the protofibrils with nanomolar affinity was demonstrated. We also find that aggregation of Aβ enhances protein binding, as lower amounts of proteins bind monomeric Aβ. Proteins that bind to Aβ protofibrils might contribute to biological effects in which these aggregates are involved. Our results therefore suggest that an improved understanding of the mechanisms by which Aβ causes cytotoxicity and neurodegeneration might be gained from studies carried out in biologically relevant matrices in which Aβ-binding proteins are present.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Apolipoproteins E / chemistry*
  • Apolipoproteins E / isolation & purification
  • Blood Proteins / chemistry*
  • Blood Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / chemistry*
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Engineering
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Blood Proteins
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Protein Aggregates
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)