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Amyloid-β fibrils in Alzheimer's Disease are not inert when bound to copper ions but can degrade hydrogen peroxide and generate reactive oxygen species

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>25/04/2014
<mark>Journal</mark>Journal of Biological Chemistry
Volume289
Number of pages11
Pages (from-to)12052-12062
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date11/03/14
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

According to the 'amyloid cascade' hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease, the formation of Aβ fibrils and senile plaques in the brain initiates a cascade of events leading to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, neurodegeneration, and to the symptom of dementia. Recently, however, emphasis has shifted away from amyloid fibrils as the predominant toxic form of Aβ towards smaller aggregates, referred to as 'soluble oligomers'. These oligomers have become one of the prime suspects for involvement in the early oxidative damage that is evident in this disease. This raises the question as to whether or not Aβ fibrils are actually 'inert tombstones' present at the end of the aggregation process. Here we show that when Aβ(1-42) aggregates, including fibrils, are bound to Cu(II) ions, they retain their redox activity, and are able to degrade hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with the formation of hydroxyl radicals and the consequent oxidation of the peptide (detected by formation of carbonyl groups). We find that this ability increases as the Cu(II):peptide ratio increases and is accompanied by changes in aggregate morphology as determined by atomic force microscopy. When aggregates are prepared in the co-presence of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions, the ratio of Cu(II):Zn(II) becomes an important factor in the degeneration of H2O2, the formation of carbonyl groups in the peptide, and in aggregate morphology. We believe, therefore, that Aβ fibrils can destroy H2O2 and generate damaging hydroxyl radicals, and so are not necessarily inert endpoints.