Direct Observation of Nucleation and Growth in Amyloid Self-Assembly

Yan Liang, David G. Lynn, and Keith M. Berland

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2010, 132 (18), pp 6306–6308

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Amyloid growth from molten globules featured by Aβ(16-22)/Rh17-22.

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Amyloid growth from molten globules featured by Aβ(16-22)/Rh17-22.

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Photobleaching growing amyloid. One protruding tube of Aβ(16-22)/Rh17-22 (indicated by the white arrow) was photobleached and fluorescence was recorded after photobleaching at 5min intervals. These amyloid ends continue to elongate, but the photobleached area maintains its position relative to the aggregate, establishing that growth occurs in solution rather than from within the aggregate.