Rationally Designed Pentapeptide Analogs of Aβ19–23 Fragment as Potent Inhibitors of Aβ42 Aggregation

Amyloid beta (Aβ42 and Aβ40) aggregation, along with neurofibrillary tangles, is one of the major neurotoxic events responsible for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Many potent peptide-based inhibitors mainly focusing on central hydrophobic core Aβ16–20 (KLVFF) have been reported in recent years. H...

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Main Authors: Sachin B. Baravkar, Yan Lu, Qi Zhao, Hongying Peng, Weilie Zhou, Song Hong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/2071
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author Sachin B. Baravkar
Yan Lu
Qi Zhao
Hongying Peng
Weilie Zhou
Song Hong
author_facet Sachin B. Baravkar
Yan Lu
Qi Zhao
Hongying Peng
Weilie Zhou
Song Hong
author_sort Sachin B. Baravkar
collection DOAJ
description Amyloid beta (Aβ42 and Aβ40) aggregation, along with neurofibrillary tangles, is one of the major neurotoxic events responsible for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Many potent peptide-based inhibitors mainly focusing on central hydrophobic core Aβ16–20 (KLVFF) have been reported in recent years. Herein, we report pentapeptides <b>1</b>–<b>4</b>, based on the β-turn-inducing fragment Aβ19–23 (FFAED). The synthesis of peptides <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> was carried out using Fmoc/tBu-based solid-phase peptide synthesis technique, and it was found that pentapeptide <b>3</b> potently inhibit the aggregation propensity of Aβ42, when incubated with it at 37 °C for 48 h. The aggregation inhibition study was conducted using thioflavin T-based fluorescence assay and circular dichroism spectroscopy, and supported by transmission electron microscope imaging. The conformational change on the aggregation of Aβ42 and aggregation inhibition by peptides <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> was further evaluated using <sup>1</sup>H–<sup>15</sup>N HSQC NMR spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the most potent analog, peptide <b>3</b>, effectively disrupts the aggregation process. This study is the first to demonstrate that an Aβ19–23 fragment mimic can disrupt the aggregation propensity of Aβ42.
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spelling doaj-art-1ae079e6b6864a5d92716b37ccc0f6c02025-08-20T03:52:57ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-05-01309207110.3390/molecules30092071Rationally Designed Pentapeptide Analogs of Aβ19–23 Fragment as Potent Inhibitors of Aβ42 AggregationSachin B. Baravkar0Yan Lu1Qi Zhao2Hongying Peng3Weilie Zhou4Song Hong5Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health, New Orleans, LA 70112, USANeuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health, New Orleans, LA 70112, USANMR Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70115, USADepartment of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USADepartment of Physics & Adavanced Materials Research Institute (AMRI), University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148, USANeuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health, New Orleans, LA 70112, USAAmyloid beta (Aβ42 and Aβ40) aggregation, along with neurofibrillary tangles, is one of the major neurotoxic events responsible for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Many potent peptide-based inhibitors mainly focusing on central hydrophobic core Aβ16–20 (KLVFF) have been reported in recent years. Herein, we report pentapeptides <b>1</b>–<b>4</b>, based on the β-turn-inducing fragment Aβ19–23 (FFAED). The synthesis of peptides <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> was carried out using Fmoc/tBu-based solid-phase peptide synthesis technique, and it was found that pentapeptide <b>3</b> potently inhibit the aggregation propensity of Aβ42, when incubated with it at 37 °C for 48 h. The aggregation inhibition study was conducted using thioflavin T-based fluorescence assay and circular dichroism spectroscopy, and supported by transmission electron microscope imaging. The conformational change on the aggregation of Aβ42 and aggregation inhibition by peptides <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> was further evaluated using <sup>1</sup>H–<sup>15</sup>N HSQC NMR spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the most potent analog, peptide <b>3</b>, effectively disrupts the aggregation process. This study is the first to demonstrate that an Aβ19–23 fragment mimic can disrupt the aggregation propensity of Aβ42.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/2071Alzheimer’s diseaseamyloid beta aggregation inhibitorpentapeptidescircular dichroismthioflavin T fluorescence assaytransmission electron microscopy TEM
spellingShingle Sachin B. Baravkar
Yan Lu
Qi Zhao
Hongying Peng
Weilie Zhou
Song Hong
Rationally Designed Pentapeptide Analogs of Aβ19–23 Fragment as Potent Inhibitors of Aβ42 Aggregation
Molecules
Alzheimer’s disease
amyloid beta aggregation inhibitor
pentapeptides
circular dichroism
thioflavin T fluorescence assay
transmission electron microscopy TEM
title Rationally Designed Pentapeptide Analogs of Aβ19–23 Fragment as Potent Inhibitors of Aβ42 Aggregation
title_full Rationally Designed Pentapeptide Analogs of Aβ19–23 Fragment as Potent Inhibitors of Aβ42 Aggregation
title_fullStr Rationally Designed Pentapeptide Analogs of Aβ19–23 Fragment as Potent Inhibitors of Aβ42 Aggregation
title_full_unstemmed Rationally Designed Pentapeptide Analogs of Aβ19–23 Fragment as Potent Inhibitors of Aβ42 Aggregation
title_short Rationally Designed Pentapeptide Analogs of Aβ19–23 Fragment as Potent Inhibitors of Aβ42 Aggregation
title_sort rationally designed pentapeptide analogs of aβ19 23 fragment as potent inhibitors of aβ42 aggregation
topic Alzheimer’s disease
amyloid beta aggregation inhibitor
pentapeptides
circular dichroism
thioflavin T fluorescence assay
transmission electron microscopy TEM
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/2071
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