Oligomerization and toxicity of Aβ fusion proteins

Highlights: → We expressed amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide as a soluble maltose binding protein fusion (MBP-Aβ42 and MBP-Aβ16). → The full length Aβ peptide fusion, MBP-Aβ42, forms oligomeric species as determined by SDS-PAGE gels, gel filtration and DLS. → The MBP-Aβ42, but not MBP-Aβ16 or MBP alone, is toxic to both yeast and mammalian cells as determined by toxicity assays. -- Abstract: This study has found that the Maltose binding protein Aβ42 fusion protein (MBP-Aβ42) forms soluble oligomers while the shorter MBP-Aβ16 fusion and control MBP did not. MBP-Aβ42, but neither MBP-Aβ16 nor control MBP, was toxic in a dose-dependent manner in both yeast and primary cortical neuronal cells. This study demonstrates the potential utility of MBP-Aβ42 as a reagent for drug screening assays in yeast and neuronal cell cultures and as a candidate for further Aβ42 characterization.