Determination of orientations of aromatic groups in self-assembled peptide fibrils by polarised Raman spectroscopy

Crystallographic insights into the self-assembly of KLVFF amyloid-beta peptides

Amyloidogenic peptide fragment KLVFF (H2 N-Lys-Leu-Val-Phe-Phe-COOH, Aβ16-20 ), the core-sequence of the polypeptide Aβ40, is a well-studied model for amyloid formation. However, due to its low crystallinity, detailed atomic information of KLVFF structure is lacking. Here we report the high-resolution single-crystal X-ray structure of two monohalogenated KLVFF derivatives, KLVFF(I) and KLVFF(Br). The obtained results highlight how halogenation is a good strategy to promote crystallization and facilitate the phase determination of KLVFF(I) and KLVFF(Br) fragments. Detailed structural studies on the packing features of both monohalogenated derivatives reveal the role of the halogen atoms showing that when they are positioned on the Phe aromatic moiety at the C-terminus they do not form halogen bonds and thus do not produce any extra stabilization of the β-sheet in the self-assembly process. The structural evidences gained from these studies corroborate the various polymorphic nanostructures of the halogenated variants of KLVFF and confirm the possibility to use halogenation as innovative strategy to tune the morphology of this pentapeptide.

Tracking the amyloidogenic core of IAPP amyloid fibrils: Insights from micro-Raman spectroscopy

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is the major protein component of extracellular amyloid deposits, located in the islets of Langerhans, a hallmark of type II diabetes. The underlying mechanisms of IAPP aggregation have not yet been clearly defined, although the highly amyloidogenic sequence of the protein has been extensively studied. Several segments have been highlighted as aggregation-prone regions (APRs), with much attention focused on the central 8-17 and 20-29 stretches. In this work, we employ micro-Raman spectroscopy to identify specific regions that are contributing to or are excluded from the amyloidogenic core of IAPP amyloid fibrils. Our results demonstrate that both the N-terminal region containing a conserved disulfide bond between Cys residues at positions 2 and 7, and the C-terminal region containing the only Tyr residue are excluded from the amyloid core. Finally, by performing detailed aggregation assays and molecular dynamics simulations on a number of IAPP variants, we demonstrate that point mutations within the central APRs contribute to the reduction of the overall amyloidogenic potential of the protein but do not completely abolish the formation of IAPP amyloid fibrils.

Crystal Structure of the DFNKF Segment of Human Calcitonin Unveils Aromatic Interactions between Phenylalanines

Although intensively studied, the high-resolution crystal structure of the peptide DFNKF, the core-segment of human calcitonin, has never been described. Here we report how the use of iodination as a strategy to promote crystallisation and facilitate phase determination, allowed us to solve, for the first time, the single-crystal X-ray structure of a DFNKF derivative. Computational studies suggest that both the iodinated and the wild-type peptides populate very similar conformations. Furthermore, the conformer found in the solid-state structure is one of the most populated in solution, making the crystal structure a reliable model for the peptide in solution. The crystal structure of DFNKF(I) confirms the overall features of the amyloid cross-β spine and highlights how aromatic-aromatic interactions are important structural factors in the self-assembly of this peptide. A detailed analysis of such interactions is reported.

Polarized Raman Spectroscopy for Determining the Orientation of di-D-phenylalanine Molecules in a Nanotube

Self-assembly of short peptides into nanostructures has become an important strategy for the bottom-up fabrication of nanomaterials. Significant interest to such peptide-based building blocks is due to the opportunity to control the structure and properties of well-structured nanotubes, nanofibrils, and hydrogels. X-ray crystallography and solution NMR, two major tools of structural biology, have significant limitations when applied to peptide nanotubes because of their non-crystalline structure and large weight. Polarized Raman spectroscopy was utilized for structural characterization of well-aligned D-Diphenylalanine nanotubes. The orientation of selected chemical groups relative to the main axis of the nanotube was determined. Specifically, the C-N bond of CNH₃⁺groups is oriented parallel to the nanotube axis, the peptides' carbonyl groups are tilted at approximately 54° from the axis and the COO^- groups run perpendicular to the axis. The determined orientation of chemical groups allowed the understanding of the orientation of D-diphenylalanine molecule that is consistent with its equilibrium conformation. The obtained data indicate that there is only one orientation of D-diphenylalanine molecules with respect to the nanotube main axis.

Active Polymer Microfiber with Controlled Polarization Sensitivity

Controlled Polarization Sensitivity of an active polymer microfiber has been proposed and realized with the electrospun method. The fluorescence intensity guiding through this active polymer microfiber shows high sensitivity to the polarization state of the excitation light. What is more, the fluorescence out-coupled from tip of the microfiber can be of designed polarization state. Principle of these phenomena lies on the ordered and controlled orientation of the polydiacetylene (PDA) main chains inside polymer microfiber.