Title:Biophysical Insight into Protein Folding, Aggregate Formation and its
Inhibition Strategies
Volume: 29
Issue: 1
Author(s): Syed Mohammad Zakariya, Aiman Zehra and Rizwan Hasan Khan*
Affiliation:
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, UP, India
Keywords:
Protein aggregation, anti aggregation, folding, misfolding, inhibition, amyloid fibrils, neurodegenerative diseases.
Abstract: The failure of protein to correctly fold into its functional and unique three dimensional
form leads to misfolded or partially folded protein. When these rogue proteins and polypeptides escape
the quality control mechanism within the body, they result in aberrant aggregation of proteins
into characteristic amyloid fibrils. This is the main cause for the number of neurodegenerative diseases,
including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. This review aims to
summarise the underlying mechanisms of protein folding, misfolding and aggregation. It also highlights
the recent technologies for the structural characterisation and detection of amyloid fibrils in
addition to the various factors responsible for the aggregate formation and the strategies to combat
the aggregation process. Besides, the journey from origin to the current scenario of protein aggregation
is also concisely discussed.