Tracking Internal and Global Diffusive Dynamics During Protein Aggregation by High-Resolution Neutron Spectroscopy
Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › Research › peer-review
Proteins can misfold and form either amorphous or organized aggregates with different morphologies and features. Aggregates of amyloid nature are pathological hallmarks in so-called protein conformational diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Evidence prevails that the transient early phases of the reaction determine the aggregate morphology and toxicity. As a consequence, real-time monitoring of protein aggregation is of utmost importance. Here, we employed time-resolved neutron backscattering spectroscopy to follow center-of-mass self-diffusion and nano- to picosecond internal dynamics of lysozyme during aggregation into a specific β-sheet rich superstructure, called particulates, formed at the isoelectric point of the protein. Particulate formation is found to be a one-step process, and protein internal dynamics, to remain unchanged during the entire aggregation process. The time-resolved neutron backscattering spectroscopy approach developed here, in combination with standard kinetics assays, provides a unifying framework in which dynamics and conformational transitions can be related to the different aggregation pathways.
Original language | English |
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Journal | The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 15 |
Pages (from-to) | 6299-6304 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISSN | 1948-7185 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |
ID: 248568219