Design of Artificial Proteins and Peptides Targeting to Amyloid β Peptide (Aβ) and Control of Aβ Aggregation

Abstract

Misfolding of proteins is of relevance to a variety of fatal diseases, which include Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and prion disease. In the case of AD, amyloid fibril composed of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is a principal component of the cerebral plaques found in the brains of patients. Monomeric Aβ is assembled into amyloid fibrils via oligomeric state. To construct the molecules that bind to Aβ and control the fibrillogenesis, we have designed the artificial proteins using green fluorescent protein (GFP) with Aβ sequences. The proteins can inhibit the oligomerization of Aβ1-42 by binding strongly to Aβ molecule. We have also designed the peptides capable of forming amyloid-like fibrils by amplifying and capturing Aβ amyloid fibrils and soluble Aβ oligomers. These studies might contribute to understanding how protein misfolds and what happens during the protein misfolding.