Anti-aggregating effect of the naturally occurring dipeptide carnosine on aβ1-42 fibril formation

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 3;8(7):e68159. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068159. Print 2013.

Abstract

Carnosine is an endogenous dipeptide abundant in the central nervous system, where by acting as intracellular pH buffering molecule, Zn/Cu ion chelator, antioxidant and anti-crosslinking agent, it exerts a well-recognized multi-protective homeostatic function for neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Carnosine seems to counteract proteotoxicity and protein accumulation in neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, its direct impact on the dynamics of AD-related fibril formation remains uninvestigated. We considered the effects of carnosine on the formation of fibrils/aggregates of the amyloidogenic peptide fragment Aβ1-42, a major hallmark of AD injury. Atomic force microscopy and thioflavin T assays showed inhibition of Aβ1-42 fibrillogenesis in vitro and differences in the aggregation state of Aβ1-42 small pre-fibrillar structures (monomers and small oligomers) in the presence of carnosine. in silico molecular docking supported the experimental data, calculating possible conformational carnosine/Aβ1-42 interactions. Overall, our results suggest an effective role of carnosine against Aβ1-42 aggregation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / chemistry
  • Amyloid / metabolism
  • Amyloid / ultrastructure
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Carnosine / chemistry
  • Carnosine / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Multimerization / drug effects*

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Carnosine

Associated data

  • PDB/2BEG

Grants and funding

This work was partially supported by grants from the University of Salento (http://www.unisalento.it), fondi ex-60% (2009–2012; to TV and CS), Progetto Strategico PS105 (2009–2012; to RR) and Fondazione Umberto Veronesi (http://www.fondazioneveronesi.it/) (2011; to RR). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.