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Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Rapid Generation of Amyloid from Native Proteins In vitro
Published on: December 5, 2013
Interconversion between Serum Amyloid A Native and Fibril Conformations.
Fatih Yasar1, Miranda S Sheridan1, Ulrich H E Hansmann1
1Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States.
Serum amyloid A (SAA) overexpression causes amyloidosis. Researchers studied SAA1-76 conversion between folded and fibril states, finding a key salt bridge facilitates fibril formation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Computational Biophysics
Background:
- Overexpression of serum amyloid A (SAA) is linked to amyloidosis.
- Amyloid fibrils in this condition are often composed of SAA fragments, particularly SAA1-76.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conformational conversion of SAA1-76 between its folded and fibril states.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying SAA fibril formation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Replica Exchange with Tunneling (RET) simulations.
- Analyzed the free energy landscape of SAA1-76 conformational changes.
Main Results:
- Identified low free energy barriers (2-3 kBT) between folded and fibril conformations of SAA1-76.
- Discovered the critical role of the 26E-34K salt bridge in stabilizing the fibril conformation.
Conclusions:
- The conformational conversion of SAA1-76 is energetically accessible.
- The 26E-34K salt bridge acts as a crucial scaffold, directing the assembly into amyloid fibrils.
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