Effect of PEG crystallization on the self-assembly of PEG/peptide copolymers containing amyloid peptide fragments

Langmuir. 2008 Aug 5;24(15):8210-4. doi: 10.1021/la8005426. Epub 2008 Jul 4.

Abstract

The effect of poly(ethylene glycol) PEG crystallization on beta-sheet fibril formation is studied for a series of three peptide/PEG conjugates containing fragments modified from the amyloid beta peptide, specifically KLVFF, FFKLVFF, and AAKLVFF. These are conjugated to PEG with M n = 3300 g mol (-1). It is found, via small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and polarized optical microscopy, that PEG crystallinity in dried samples can disturb fibrillization, in particular cross-beta amyloid structure formation, for the conjugate containing the weak fibrillizer KLVFF, whereas this is retained for the conjugates containing the stronger fibrillizers AAKLVFF and FFKLVFF. For these two samples, the alignment of peptide fibrils also drives the orientation of the attached PEG chains. Our results highlight the importance of the antagonistic effects of PEG crystallization and peptide fibril formation in PEG/peptide conjugates.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amyloid / chemistry*
  • Amyloid / ultrastructure
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Crystallization
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / ultrastructure
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Polyethylene Glycols