Carbon Nanotubes Electrochemistry Allows the In Situ Evaluation of the Effect of β-Sheet Breakers on the Aggregation Process of β-Amyloid

Abstract

The inhibition of aggregation and disaggregation effect of a β-sheet breaker was evaluated by in situ electrochemistry of the Aβ 1-42 peptide. The exposition of 10tyr residue was followed using a carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode immersed directly in the solution. Both processes were studied at a ratio of Aβ/β-sheet breaker of 10μM:100μM which is effective in vitro. This approach was compared with Thioflavin-T-induced fluorescence, gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy results. The results provide new clues about the disposition of the N-terminal residue of Aβ in the structure of small aggregates, fibrils and amorphous aggregates and is promising for screening inhibitors of β-amyloid aggregation. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.