Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Rapid Generation of Amyloid from Native Proteins In vitro
Published on: December 5, 2013
Structure of an early native-like intermediate of β2-microglobulin amyloidogenesis
Saskia Vanderhaegen1, Marcus Fislage, Katarzyna Domanska
1Structural Biology Research Centre, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussel, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussel, Belgium.
Abstract:
To investigate early intermediates of β2-microglobulin (β2m) amyloidogenesis, we solved the structure of β2m containing the amyloidogenic Pro32Gly mutation by X-ray crystallography. One nanobody (Nb24) that efficiently blocks fibril elongation was used as a chaperone to co-crystallize the Pro32Gly β2m monomer under physiological conditions. The complex of P32G β2m with Nb24 reveals a trans peptide bond at position 32 of this amyloidogenic variant, whereas Pro32 adopts the cis conformation in the wild-type monomer, indicating that the cis to trans isomerization at Pro32 plays a critical role in the early onset of β2m amyloid formation.
Related Concept Videos
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Protein Organization
Protein Organization
The primary structure of a protein is its amino acid sequence.
Protein Folding
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...
Protein Folding
