Amyloids: from Pathogenesis to Function

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Cell Biology
• Structural Biology

Background:

• Amyloids are protein aggregates characterized by a cross-β structure.
• Historically linked to incurable human diseases (amyloidoses).
• Recent discoveries highlight their essential roles in cellular functions across all domains of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a retrospective analysis of amyloid biology.
• To highlight the reinterpretation of amyloids' biological roles.
• To introduce the development of systems biology of amyloids (amyloidomics).

Main Methods:

• Literature review and retrospective analysis.
• Examination of historical and recent research on amyloid structure and function.
• Synthesis of findings to establish the field of amyloidomics.

Main Results:

• Amyloids are not solely pathogenic; they are crucial for cellular processes.
• Functional amyloids are involved in diverse roles, from bacterial biofilms to memory in eukaryotes.
• Prions, a class of infectious proteins, often exhibit amyloid features.
• The field of amyloidomics has emerged, integrating systems biology approaches.

Conclusions:

• The understanding of amyloids has shifted from pathogens to essential biological components.
• Amyloid research has evolved significantly, revealing their widespread functional importance.
• Amyloidomics represents a new frontier in understanding protein structure and function.