Structural Characteristics of α-synuclein Oligomers Stabilized by The Flavonoid Baicalein
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2008
Keywords
α-synuclein, Baicalein, Baicalein-stabilized Oligomer, Amyloid Fibril
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2008.08.039
Abstract
The flavonoid baicalein inhibits fibrillation of α-synuclein, which is a major component of Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease. It has been known that baicalein induces the formation of α-synuclein oligomers and consequently prevents their fibrillation. In order to evaluate the structural properties of baicalein-stabilized oligomers, we purified oligomer species by HPLC and examined their stability and structure by CD, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography HPLC, small-angle X-ray scattering, and atomic force microscopy. Baicalein-stabilized oligomers are β-sheet-enriched according to CD and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. They did not form fibrils even after very prolonged incubation. From small-angle X-ray scattering data and atomic force microscopy images, the oligomers were characterized as quite compact globular species. Oligomers were extremely stable, with a GdmCl Cm = 3.3 M. This high stability explains the previously observed inhibition properties of baicalein against α-synuclein fibrillation. These baicalein-stabilized oligomers, added to the solution of aggregating α-synuclein, were able to noticeably inhibit its fibrillation. After prolonged coincubation, short fibrils were formed, suggesting an effective interaction of oligomers with monomeric α-synuclein. Membrane permeability tests suggested that the baicalein-stabilized oligomers had a mild effect on the integrity of the membrane surface. This effect was rather similar to that of the monomeric protein, suggesting that targeted stabilization of certain α-synuclein oligomers might offer a potential strategy for the development of novel Parkinson's disease therapies.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Journal of Molecular Biology, v. 383, issue 1, p. 214-223
Scholar Commons Citation
Hong, Dong-Pyo; Fink, Anthony L.; and Uversky, Vladimir N., "Structural Characteristics of α-synuclein Oligomers Stabilized by The Flavonoid Baicalein" (2008). Molecular Medicine Faculty Publications. 805.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/mme_facpub/805
