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Updated: May 9, 2026

Photo-Induced Cross-Linking of Unmodified Proteins (PICUP) Applied to Amyloidogenic Peptides
Published on: January 12, 2009
Supramolecular photochirogenesis with functional amyloid superstructures.
Masaki Nishijima1, Hidekazu Tanaka, Cheng Yang
1Office for University-Industry Collaboration, Osaka University, Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan.
Chiral insulin amyloid fibrils exhibit unique optical properties. These fibrils, when complexed with 2-anthracenecarboxylate, show mirror-imaged circular dichroism and form specific cyclodimers upon light exposure.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Amyloid fibrils are protein aggregates implicated in various diseases.
- Chirality plays a crucial role in molecular recognition and biological function.
- Understanding the structural and optical properties of amyloid fibrils is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the chiral properties of insulin amyloid fibrils.
- To explore the interaction of these fibrils with chiral probes.
- To analyze the photochemical behavior of amyloid fibrils.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of insulin amyloid fibrils by agitation of acidified bovine insulin solutions at 45 °C.
- Complexation of fibrils with 2-anthracenecarboxylate.
- Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy.
- Photoirradiation studies to induce cyclodimerization.
Main Results:
- Chiral insulin amyloid fibrils induced quasi-mirror-imaged circular dichroism spectra upon complexation with 2-anthracenecarboxylate.
- Photoirradiation of these fibrils resulted in the formation of anti-head-to-head-cyclodimers.
- The cyclodimers exhibited opposite absolute configurations, indicating stereospecific photochemical reactions.
Conclusions:
- Insulin amyloid fibrils possess inherent chirality that influences their optical properties.
- The interaction with chiral molecules and photochemical reactions can reveal and control the absolute configuration of fibril components.
- This study highlights the potential of amyloid fibrils in chiral sensing and stereoselective synthesis.
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