High-resolution NMR characterization of low abundance oligomers of amyloid-β without purification

Sci Rep. 2015 Jul 3:5:11811. doi: 10.1038/srep11811.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the misfolding and self-assembly of the amyloidogenic protein amyloid-β (Aβ). The aggregation of Aβ leads to diverse oligomeric states, each of which may be potential targets for intervention. Obtaining insight into Aβ oligomers at the atomic level has been a major challenge to most techniques. Here, we use magic angle spinning recoupling (1)H-(1)H NMR experiments to overcome many of these limitations. Using (1)H-(1)H dipolar couplings as a NMR spectral filter to remove both high and low molecular weight species, we provide atomic-level characterization of a non-fibrillar aggregation product of the Aβ1-40 peptide using non-frozen samples without isotopic labeling. Importantly, this spectral filter allows the detection of the specific oligomer signal without a separate purification procedure. In comparison to other solid-state NMR techniques, the experiment is extraordinarily selective and sensitive. A resolved 2D spectra could be acquired of a small population of oligomers (6 micrograms, 7% of the total) amongst a much larger population of monomers and fibers (93% of the total). By coupling real-time (1)H-(1)H NMR experiments with other biophysical measurements, we show that a stable, primarily disordered Aβ1-40 oligomer 5-15 nm in diameter can form and coexist in parallel with the well-known cross-β-sheet fibrils.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amyloid / chemistry*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular*
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Protein Aggregation, Pathological / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Peptide Fragments