Dynamics of apomyoglobin in the alpha-to-beta transition and of partially unfolded aggregated protein

Eur Biophys J. 2009 Feb;38(2):237-44. doi: 10.1007/s00249-008-0375-z. Epub 2008 Oct 14.

Abstract

Changes of molecular dynamics in the alpha-to-beta transition associated with amyloid fibril formation were explored on apomyoglobin (ApoMb) as a model system. Circular dichroism, neutron and X-ray scattering experiments were performed as a function of temperature on the protein, at different solvent conditions. A significant change in molecular dynamics was observed at the alpha-to-beta transition at about 55 degrees C, indicating a more resilient high temperature beta structure phase. A similar effect at approximately the same temperature was observed in holo-myoglobin, associated with partial unfolding and protein aggregation. A study in a wide temperature range between 20 and 360 K revealed that a dynamical transition at about 200 K for motions in the 50 ps time scale exists also for a hydrated powder of heat-denatured aggregated ApoMb.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloidosis / physiopathology
  • Apoproteins / chemistry*
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Myoglobin / chemistry*
  • Neutron Diffraction
  • Pharmaceutical Solutions
  • Protein Folding*
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Temperature
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Apoproteins
  • Myoglobin
  • Pharmaceutical Solutions
  • apomyoglobin