TY - JOUR
T1 - Colloidal-like aggregation of a functional amyloid protein
AU - Azulay, David N.
AU - Ghrayeb, Mnar
AU - Ktorza, Ilanit Bensimhon
AU - Nir, Ido
AU - Nasser, Rinad
AU - Harel, Yair S.
AU - Chai, Liraz
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© the Owner Societies.
PY - 2020/10/28
Y1 - 2020/10/28
N2 - Functional amyloid proteins are self-secreted by microbial cells that aggregate into extracellular networks and provide microbial colonies with mechanical stability and resistance to antibiotic treatment. In order to understand the formation mechanism of functional amyloid networks, their aggregation has been studied in vitro under different physical conditions, such as temperature, salt concentration, and pH. Typical aggregates' morphologies include fibers or plaques, the latter resembling amyloid aggregates in neurodegenerated brains. Here, we studied the pH-reduction-induced aggregation of TasA, an extracellular functional amyloid appearing as fibers in biofilms of the soil bacterium, Bacillus subtilis. We used turbidity and zeta potential measurements, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and static light scattering measurements, to characterize the aggregates of TasA and to compare them with colloidal aggregates. We further studied the aggregation of TasA in the presence of negatively charged nanoparticles and showed that nanoparticles co-aggregated with TasA, and that the co-aggregation was hindered sterically. Based on these studies, we concluded that, similarly to colloidal aggregation, TasA aggregation occurs due to surface potential modulations and that the aggregation is followed by a rearrangement process. Shedding light on the aggregation mechanism of TasA, our results can be used for the design of TasA aggregation inhibitors and promoters.
AB - Functional amyloid proteins are self-secreted by microbial cells that aggregate into extracellular networks and provide microbial colonies with mechanical stability and resistance to antibiotic treatment. In order to understand the formation mechanism of functional amyloid networks, their aggregation has been studied in vitro under different physical conditions, such as temperature, salt concentration, and pH. Typical aggregates' morphologies include fibers or plaques, the latter resembling amyloid aggregates in neurodegenerated brains. Here, we studied the pH-reduction-induced aggregation of TasA, an extracellular functional amyloid appearing as fibers in biofilms of the soil bacterium, Bacillus subtilis. We used turbidity and zeta potential measurements, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and static light scattering measurements, to characterize the aggregates of TasA and to compare them with colloidal aggregates. We further studied the aggregation of TasA in the presence of negatively charged nanoparticles and showed that nanoparticles co-aggregated with TasA, and that the co-aggregation was hindered sterically. Based on these studies, we concluded that, similarly to colloidal aggregation, TasA aggregation occurs due to surface potential modulations and that the aggregation is followed by a rearrangement process. Shedding light on the aggregation mechanism of TasA, our results can be used for the design of TasA aggregation inhibitors and promoters.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85094221646&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/d0cp03265d
DO - 10.1039/d0cp03265d
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C2 - 33033811
AN - SCOPUS:85094221646
SN - 1463-9076
VL - 22
SP - 23286
EP - 23294
JO - Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
JF - Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
IS - 40
ER -