Hydrogen-bonded dimer can mediate supramolecular beta-sheet formation and subsequent amyloid-like fibril formation: a model study

Banerjee, A. , Maji, S.K., Drew, M.G.B., Haldar, D., Das, A.K. and Banerjee, A. (2004) Hydrogen-bonded dimer can mediate supramolecular beta-sheet formation and subsequent amyloid-like fibril formation: a model study. Tetrahedron, 60 (28). pp. 5935-5944. ISSN 0040-4020 doi: 10.1016/j.tet.2004.05.041

Abstract/Summary

FT-IR data of six terminally blocked tripeptides containing Acp (epsilon-aminocaproic acid) reveals that all of them form supramolecular beta-sheets in the solid state. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of two peptides not only support this data but also disclose the fact that the supramolecular beta-sheet formation is initiated via dimer formation. The Scanning Electron Microscopic images of all peptides exhibit amyloid-like fibrils that show green birefringence after binding with Congo red, which is a characteristic feature of many neurodegenerative disease causing amyloid fibrils. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.