It is generally postulated that the amyloid β protein (Aβ) plays a central role in the progressive neurodegeneration observed in Alzheimer’s disease. Important pathologic properties of this protein, such as neurotoxicity and resistance to proteolytic degradation, depend on the ability of Aβ to form β-sheet structures or amyloid fibrils. We report that melatonin, a hormone recently found to protect neurons against Aβ toxicity, interacts with Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 and inhibits the progressive formation of β-sheets and amyloid fibrils.
These interactions between melatonin and the amyloid peptides were demonstrated by circular dichroism and electron microscopy for Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 and by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for Aβ1–40. Inhibition of β-sheets and fibrils could not be accomplished in control experiments when a free radical scavenger or a melatonin analog were substituted for melatonin under otherwise identical conditions. In sharp contrast with conventional anti-oxidants and available anti-amyloidogenic compounds, melatonin crosses the blood-brain barrier, is relatively devoid of toxicity, and constitutes a potential new therapeutic agent in Alzheimer’s disease.
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