Single-particle characterization of Aβ oligomers in solution.

Yusko, Erik C; Prangkio, Panchika; Sept, David; Rollings, Ryan C; Li, Jiali; Mayer, Michael · ACS Nano · 2012

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Determining the pathological role of amyloids in amyloid-associated diseases will require a method for characterizing the dynamic distributions in size and shape of amyloid oligomers with high resolution. Here, we explored the potential of resistive-pulse sensing through lipid bilayer-coated nanopores to measure the size of individual amyloid-β oligomers directly in solution and without chemical modification. This method classified individual amyloid-β aggregates as spherical oligomers, protofibrils, or mature fibers and made it possible to account for the large heterogeneity of amyloid-β aggregate sizes. The approach revealed the distribution of protofibrillar lengths (12- to 155 -mer) as well as the average cross-sectional area of protofibrils and fibers.

Medical subject headings