The engineered peptide construct NCAM1-Aβ inhibits fibrillization of the human prion protein (PrP)

Acta Biochim Pol. 2022 Feb 10;69(1):257-261. doi: 10.18388/abp.2020_5679.

Abstract

In prion diseases, the prion protein (PrP) becomes misfolded and forms fibrillar aggregates that are responsible for prion infectivity and pathology. So far, no drug or treatment procedures have been approved for prion disease treatment. We have previously shown that engineered cell-penetrating peptide constructs can reduce the amount of prion aggregates in infected cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this effect is unknown. Here, we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging to show that the amyloid aggregation and fibrillization of the human PrP protein can be inhibited by equimolar amounts of the 25 residues long engineered peptide construct NCAM1-Aβ.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • CD56 Antigen / chemistry
  • CD56 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Prion Diseases / metabolism*
  • Prion Proteins / metabolism*
  • Prions / chemistry
  • Prions / metabolism
  • Protein Aggregation, Pathological / metabolism
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • CD56 Antigen
  • NCAM1 protein, human
  • Peptides
  • Prion Proteins
  • Prions