Quaternary structure, aggregation and cytotoxicity of transthyretin

Amyloid. 2012 Jun:19 Suppl 1:5-7. doi: 10.3109/13506129.2012.666510. Epub 2012 Mar 23.

Abstract

Transthyretin (TTR) with a Ser112-to-Ile mutation is known to cause amyloidosis with severe cardiomyopathy. We investigated the quaternary structure, aggregation and cytotoxicity of the S112I variant. This variant exists as a dimer at physiological pH, self-assembles into spherical aggregates and induces cell death in human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells. In addition, we determined the neutron crystal structure of TTR at 2.0 Å resolution. The neutron structure revealed that the hydrogen-bond network involving His88 is important for the stabilization of the dimer-dimer and monomer-monomer interfaces.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloidosis / metabolism
  • Cell Death / genetics
  • Cell Death / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mutation
  • Prealbumin / chemistry*
  • Prealbumin / genetics
  • Protein Multimerization / genetics
  • Protein Multimerization / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Prealbumin