文摘
Alzheimer’s disease is associated with the fibril formation of β-amyloid peptide in extracellular plaque. β-Casein is a milk protein that has shown a remarkable ability to stabilize proteins by inhibiting their protein aggregation and precipitation. The aim of this study was to test in vitro the ability of β-casein to bind the Aβ1–40, change the structure and inhibit the formation of amyloid fibrils in Aβ1–40. Results from the ThT binding assay indicated that incubation of Aβ1–40 with β-casein retarded amyloid fibril formation of Aβ1–40 in a concentration dependent manner such that at a ratio of 1:1 (w:w) led to a significant reduction in the amount of fluorescent intensity. The results from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) also showed that β-casein significantly reduced the number and size of the Aβ1–40 fibrils, suggesting that the chaperone bound to the Aβ1–40 fibrils and/or interacted with the fibrils in some way. ANS results also showed that β-casein significantly decreased the exposed hydrophobic surface in Aβ1–40. Following an ANS binding assay, CD spectroscopy results also showed that incubation of Aβ1–40 resulted in a structural transition to a β-sheet. In the presence of β-casein, however, α-helical conformation was observed which indicated stabilization of the protein. These results reveal the highly efficacious chaperone action of β-casein against amyloid fibril formation of Aβ1–40. These results suggest that in vitro, β-casein binds to the Aβ1–40 fibrils, alters the Aβ1–40 structure and prevents amyloid fibril formation. This approach may result in the identification of a chaperone mechanism for the treatment of neurological diseases.