Neurotoxic, redox-competent Alzheimer's beta-amyloid is released from lipid membrane by methionine oxidation

J Biol Chem. 2003 Oct 31;278(44):42959-65. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M305494200. Epub 2003 Aug 18.

Abstract

The amyloid beta peptide is toxic to neurons, and it is believed that this toxicity plays a central role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The mechanism of this toxicity is contentious. Here we report that an Abeta peptide with the sulfur atom of Met-35 oxidized to a sulfoxide (Met(O)Abeta) is toxic to neuronal cells, and this toxicity is attenuated by the metal chelator clioquinol and completely rescued by catalase implicating the same toxicity mechanism as reduced Abeta. However, unlike the unoxidized peptide, Met(O)Abeta is unable to penetrate lipid membranes to form ion channel-like structures, and beta-sheet formation is inhibited, phenomena that are central to some theories for Abeta toxicity. Our results show that, like the unoxidized peptide, Met(O)Abeta will coordinate Cu2+ and reduce the oxidation state of the metal and still produce H2O2. We hypothesize that Met(O)Abeta production contributes to the elevation of soluble Abeta seen in the brain in Alzheimer's disease.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Circular Dichroism
  • Copper / metabolism
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Ions
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Methionine / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction*
  • Oxygen / metabolism*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Ions
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Peptides
  • Copper
  • Methionine
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Oxygen