Can I read Structures of Segments of α-Synuclein Fused to Maltose-binding Protein Suggest Intermediate States During Amyloid Formation on EtoBox?

Structures of Segments of α-Synuclein Fused to Maltose-binding Protein Suggest Intermediate States During Amyloid Formation by Minglei Zhao; Duilio Cascio; Michael R. Sawaya; David Eisenberg is a Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology article available to read on EtoBox.

What is Structures of Segments of α-Synuclein Fused to Maltose-binding Protein Suggest Intermediate States During Amyloid Formation about?

## Abstract Aggregates of the protein α‐synuclein are the main component of Lewy bodies, the hallmark of Parkinson's disease. α‐Synuclein aggregates are also found in many human neurodegenerative diseases known as synucleinopathies. __In vivo__, α‐synuclein associates with membranes and adopts α‐helical conformations. The details of how α‐synuclein converts from the functional native state to amyloid aggregates remain unknown. In this study, we use maltose‐binding protein (MBP) as a carrier to crystallize segments of α‐synuclein. From crystal structures of fusions between MBP and four segments of α‐synuclein, we have been able to trace a virtual model of the first 72 residues of α‐synuclein. Instead of a mostly α‐helical conformation observed in the lipid environment, our crystal structures show α‐helices only at residues 1–13 and 20–34. The remaining segments are extended loops or coils. All of the predicted fiber‐forming segments based on the 3D profile method are in extended conformations. We further show that the MBP fusion proteins with fiber‐forming segments from α‐synuclein can also form fiber‐like nano‐crystals or amyloid‐like fibrils. Our structures suggest intermediate st

Who reads Structures of Segments of α-Synuclein Fused to Maltose-binding Protein Suggest Intermediate States During Amyloid Formation?

Author

Minglei Zhao; Duilio Cascio; Michael R. Sawaya; David Eisenberg

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; Wiley (John Wiley & Sons); Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley (ISSN 0961-8368)

Published

2011

Language

EN

Field

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)