Interaction of IAPP and Insulin with Model Interfaces Studied Using Neutron Reflectometry

The islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and insulin are coproduced by the β-cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Both peptides can interact with negatively charged lipid membranes. The positively charged islet amyloid polypeptide partially inserts into these membranes and subsequently forms amyloid fibrils. The amyloid fibril formation of insulin is also accelerated by the presence of negatively charged lipids, although insulin has a negative net charge at neutral pH-values. We used water-polymer model interfaces to differentiate between the hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions that can drive these peptides to adsorb at an interface. By applying neutron reflectometry, the scattering-length density profiles of IAPP and insulin, as adsorbed at three different water-polymer interfaces, were determined. The islet amyloid polypeptide most strongly adsorbed at a hydrophobic poly-(styrene) surface, whereas at a hydrophilic, negatively charged poly-(styrene sulfonate) interface, the degree of adsorption was reduced by 50%. Almost no IAPP adsorption was evident at this negatively charged interface when we added 100 mM NaCl. On the other hand, negatively charged insulin was most strongly attracted to a hydrophilic, negatively charged interface. Our results suggest that IAPP is strongly attracted to a hydrophobic surface, whereas the few positive charges of IAPP cannot warrant a permanent immobilization of IAPP at a hydrophilic, negatively charged surface at an ionic strength of 100 mM. Furthermore, the interfacial accumulation of insulin at a hydrophilic, negatively charged surface may represent a favorable precondition for nucleus formation and fibril formation.