![conference banner](/images/conference-banner.jpeg)
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are elongated protein aggregates well known for their association with many human diseases. However, similar structures have also been found in other organisms and amyloid fibrils can also be formed in vitro by other proteins usually under non-physiological conditions. In all cases, these fibrils assemble in a nucleated polymerization reaction with a pronounced lag phase that can be eliminated by supplying pre-formed fibrils as seeds. Once formed, the fibrils are usually very stable, except for their tendency to break into smaller pieces forming more growing ends in the process. These properties give amyloid fibers a self-replicating character dependent only on a source of soluble protein. For some systems and under certain circumstances this can lead to infectious protein structures, so-called prions, that can be passed from one organism to another as in the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and in fungal prion systems. Structural details about these processes have emerged only recently, mostly on account of the inability of traditional highresolution methods to deal with insoluble, filamentous specimens. In consequence, current models for amyloid fibrils are based on fewer constraints than common atomic-resolution structures. This review gives an overview of the constraints used for the development of amyloid models and the methods used to derive them. The principally possible structures will be introduced by discussing current models of amyloid fibrils from Alzheimers β-peptide, amylin and several fungal systems. The infectivity of some amyloids under specific conditions might not be due to a principal structural difference between infectious and non-infectious amyloids, but could result from an interplay of the rates for filament nucleation, growth, fragmentation, and clearance.
Current Alzheimer Research
Title: Structural Basis of Infectious and Non-Infectious Amyloids
Volume: 5 Issue: 3
Author(s): Ulrich Baxa
Affiliation:
Abstract: Amyloid fibrils are elongated protein aggregates well known for their association with many human diseases. However, similar structures have also been found in other organisms and amyloid fibrils can also be formed in vitro by other proteins usually under non-physiological conditions. In all cases, these fibrils assemble in a nucleated polymerization reaction with a pronounced lag phase that can be eliminated by supplying pre-formed fibrils as seeds. Once formed, the fibrils are usually very stable, except for their tendency to break into smaller pieces forming more growing ends in the process. These properties give amyloid fibers a self-replicating character dependent only on a source of soluble protein. For some systems and under certain circumstances this can lead to infectious protein structures, so-called prions, that can be passed from one organism to another as in the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and in fungal prion systems. Structural details about these processes have emerged only recently, mostly on account of the inability of traditional highresolution methods to deal with insoluble, filamentous specimens. In consequence, current models for amyloid fibrils are based on fewer constraints than common atomic-resolution structures. This review gives an overview of the constraints used for the development of amyloid models and the methods used to derive them. The principally possible structures will be introduced by discussing current models of amyloid fibrils from Alzheimers β-peptide, amylin and several fungal systems. The infectivity of some amyloids under specific conditions might not be due to a principal structural difference between infectious and non-infectious amyloids, but could result from an interplay of the rates for filament nucleation, growth, fragmentation, and clearance.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Baxa Ulrich, Structural Basis of Infectious and Non-Infectious Amyloids, Current Alzheimer Research 2008; 5 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720508784533367
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720508784533367 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Alzheimer's Disease Drug Development
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite decades of research, no cure or disease-modifying treatment is available yet. Therefore, the need for developing effective therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease is an urgent matter. This special issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of ...read more
Current updates on the Role of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neuroinflammation is an invariable hallmark of chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders and has long been considered a potential drug target for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. Significant evidence of inflammatory processes as a feature of AD is provided by the presence of inflammatory markers in plasma, CSF and postmortem brain ...read more
Deep Learning for Advancing Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing number of individuals affected yearly. Deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, has shown immense potential in various domains, including healthcare. This thematic issue of Current Alzheimer Research explores the application of deep learning techniques in advancing our ...read more
Diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of dementia
Dementia affects 18 million people worldwide. Dementia is a syndrome of symptoms caused by brain disease, usually chronic or progressive, clinically characterized by multiple impairments of higher cortical functions such as memory, thinking, orientation, and learning. In addition, in the course of dementia, cognitive deficits are observed, which often hinder ...read more
![Wayfinder Image](/images/wayfinder.jpg)
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Preface
Current Nutrition & Food Science Oxidative Stress Biology and Cell Injury During Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Current Neurovascular Research Selective Acetyl- and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors Reduce Amyloid-β Ex Vivo Activation of Peripheral Chemo-cytokines From Alzheimer's Disease Subjects: Exploring the Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway
Current Alzheimer Research Many Drugs and Phytochemicals Can Be Activated to Biological Reactive Intermediates
Current Drug Metabolism FOXO1: A Potential Target for Human Diseases
Current Drug Targets Association between Antiretroviral Treatment and Markers of Systemic Inflammation among HIV Patients in Ghana
Current HIV Research Targeting Heme Oxygenase-1 in Vascular Disease
Current Drug Targets Stem Cell-Based Therapies: A New Ray of Hope for Diabetic Patients
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Podocytes as a Target of Insulin
Current Diabetes Reviews Expansion of Umbilical Cord Blood for Clinical Transplantation
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Phytochemicals as Prototypes for Pharmaceutical Leads Towards Drug Development Against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Psoriasis and Atherosclerosis: Is There a Need For Novel Biomarkers Assessing Cardiovascular Risk?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Molecular Mechanisms of the Antiatherogenic Action of Adiponectin
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) An Inflammation-related Nutrient Pattern is Associated with Both Brain and Cognitive Measures in a Multiethnic Elderly Population
Current Alzheimer Research Long Term Stability Evaluation of Prostacyclin Released from Biomedical Device through Turbiscan Lab Expert
Medicinal Chemistry Pharmacogenetics of Asthma Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design AMPK Activators as Novel Therapeutics for Type 2 Diabetes
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Effect of Flavonoids on Human Health: Old Subjects but New Challenges
Recent Patents on Biotechnology Evaluation of Oxidative Status with Exhaled Breath 8-isoprostane Levels in Patients with Hyperthyroidism
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Diabetes Exacerbates Nanoparticles Induced Brain Pathology
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets