Specific binding of amyloid-beta-protein to IMR-32 neuroblastoma cell membrane

S Inaba1, T Okada, T Konakahara

  • 1Institute for Biological Resources and Functions, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Central 6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan.

In flow cytometry using two detecting methods, we have found that amyloid-beta-protein(1-40) [Abeta(1-40)] has high affinity to IMR-32 neuroblastoma cell membrane when it is aggregated to form beta-sheet conformation, whereas random coil small Abeta-species has low affinity. The difference in the binding ability to the cell membranes well accounts for the cytotoxicity of Abeta(1-40); namely, aggregated beta-sheet Abeta(1-40) gives cytotoxicity higher than random coil Abeta(1-40). Specific binding between Abeta(1-40) and ganglioside GM1 of the raft-like domain in lipid membrane is suggested from a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiment.

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