The normal synapse activity involves the release of copper and other divalent cations in the synaptic region. These ions have a strong impact on the membrane properties, especially when the membrane has charged groups, like it is the case of synapse. In this work we use an atomistic computational model of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) membrane bilayer. We perturb this model with a simple model of divalent cation (Mg 2+ ), and with a single amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide of 42 residues, both with and without a single Cu 2+ ion bound to the N-terminus. In agreement with experimental results reported in the literature, the model confirms that divalent cations locally destabilize the DMPC membrane bilayer, and, for the first time, that the monomeric form of Aβ helps in avoiding the interactions between divalent cations and DMPC, preventing significant effects on the DMPC bilayer properties. These results are discussed in the frame of a protective role of diluted Aβ peptide floating in the synaptic region.
Author summaryWe modelled the behavior of a Mg 2+ divalent cation, with the size of Zn 2+ and Cu 2+ , in contact with a phosphatidyl lipid bilayer. We also modelled the monomeric amyloid-β peptide 1-42, both free and Cu-loaded, the latter mimicking the final step of the binding between the peptide and the divalent cation. On the basis of the simulation results, we propose that the peptide hinders the strong interactions between the divalent cation and the membrane.
Introduction 1Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease, with one histological hallmark being 2 extracellular deposits in the central nervous system [1]. These deposits are made of 3 amyloid peptides originated by the amyloid precursor protein (APP), a trans-membrane 4 protein with a multimodal function [2]. Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides are produced with 5 proteolysis of APP at the membrane interface, by the enzymes β and γ-secretases. The 6 γ cleavage, that produces most of the neurotoxic peptides (39-42 residues), occurs 7 January 14, 2020 1/29 deeper in the membrane bilayer compared to β cleavage [3]. The production of these 8 toxic peptides at the membrane interface can have many important implications [4], 9 even before peptide aggregation occur and when oligomers are more abundant than 10 protofibrils [5, 6]: i) the toxic pathway can be influenced by interactions between 11 peptides and of peptides with the membrane; ii) the peptide, depending on its 12 concentration, can destabilize the membrane, contributing to cell instability and neuron 13 death (apoptosis). Both these effects are eventually exerted in a complex frame, with 14 many molecules present: APP N-terminus (before the cleavage); peptides in monomeric, 15 oligomeric and pre-fibrillar assemblies; other cofactors, like metal ions. Thus, even at 16 the monomer level, the interactions between amyloid peptides and biological membranes 17 are still poorly understood [7]. More complete models are required to contribute to 18 recent views of APP and Aβ, where Aβ aggregation is interpreted as a l...