Neutron fibre diffraction studies of amyloid using H2O/D2O isotopic replacement

Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2011 Mar 1;67(Pt 3):332-5. doi: 10.1107/S1744309111002351. Epub 2011 Feb 23.

Abstract

The first neutron fibre diffraction studies of an amyloid system are presented. The techniques used to prepare the large samples needed are described, as well as the procedures used to isotopically replace H2O in the sample by D2O. The results demonstrate the feasibility of this type of approach for the pursuit of novel structural analyses that will strongly complement X-ray fibre diffraction studies and probe aspects of amyloid structure that to date have remained obscure. The approach is demonstrated using an amyloid form of the peptide NSGAITIG, but is equally applicable for the study of other systems such as Alzheimer's Aβ peptide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry*
  • Deuterium / chemistry*
  • Isotopes / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neutron Diffraction / methods*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Water / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Isotopes
  • Water
  • Deuterium