Effects of different organic solvents on the structure of Aβ_{1-42} monomer.

Abstract

The aggregation of amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) peptide, a key pathological event in Alzheimer's disease, is strongly influenced by its solvent environment. While cosolvents are often used in experimental studies, their specific role in modulating the conformational stability and aggregation propensity of Aβ42 remains poorly understood. We perform molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effects of three organic solvents-ethanol (EtOH), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and acetonitrile (ACN)-on the structural dynamics of Aβ42. Our results reveal a distinct dichotomy: EtOH and DMSO exert a stabilizing effect by promoting the α-helical content, reducing Coil formation, and extending the lifetime of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. In contrast, ACN destabilizes the native state and accelerates the formation of aggregation-prone β-sheet structures. We attribute these opposing effects to the solvents' differential disruption of the peptide's hydrophobic core and their specific interactions with the protein backbone. This work elucidates the microscopic mechanisms by which solvent environment directs Aβ42 conformational sampling, with implications for understanding aggregation pathways and designing modulating agents.