Verification of the turn at positions 22 and 23 of the β-amyloid fibrils with Italian mutation using solid-state NMR

The aggregation of 42-mer amyloid β (Aβ42) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Our recent research on proline mutagenesis of Aβ42 suggested that the formation of a turn structure at positions 22 and 23 could play a crucial role in its aggregative ability and neurotoxicity. Since E22K-Aβ42 (Italian mutation) aggregated more rapidly and with more potent neurotoxicity than wild-type Aβ42, the tertiary structure at positions 21–24 of E22K-Aβ42 fibrils was analyzed by solid-state NMR using dipolar-assisted rotational resonance (DARR) to identify the ‘malignant’ conformation of Aβ42. Two sets of chemical shifts for Asp-23 were observed in a ratio of about 2.6:1. The 2D DARR spectra at the mixing time of 500 ms suggested that the side chains of Asp-23 and Val-24 in the major conformer, and those of Lys-22 and Asp-23 in the minor conformer could be located on the same side, respectively. These data support the presence of a turn structure at positions 22 and 23 in E22K-Aβ42 fibrils. The formation of a salt bridge between Lys-22 and Asp-23 in the minor conformer might be a reason why E22K-Aβ42 is more pathogenic than wild-type Aβ42.