C-Terminal Tetrapeptides Inhibit Aβ42-Induced Neurotoxicity Primarily through Specific Interaction at the N-Terminus of Aβ42
作者:Huiyuan Li、Zhenming Du、Dahabada H. J. Lopes、Erica A. Fradinger、Chunyu Wang、Gal Bitan
DOI:10.1021/jm200982p
日期:2011.12.22
Inhibition of amyloid beta-protein (A beta)-induced toxicity is a promising therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previously, we reported that the C-terminal tetrapeptide A beta(39-42) is a potent inhibitor of neurotoxicity caused by A beta 42, the form of A beta most closely associated with AD. Here, initial structure activity relationship studies identified key structural requirements, including chirality, side-chain structure, and a free N-terminus, which control A beta(39-42) inhibitory activity. To elucidate the binding site(s) of A beta(39-42) on A beta 42, we used intrinsic tyrosine (Y) fluorescence and solution-state NMR. The data suggest that A beta(39-42) binds at several sites, of which the predominant one is located in the N-terminus of A beta 42, in agreement with recent modeling predictions. Thus, despite the small size of A beta(39-42) and the hydrophobic, aliphatic nature of all four side-chains, the interaction of A beta(39-42) with A beta 42 is controlled by specific intermolecular contacts requiring a combination of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions and a particular stereochemistry.