Abstract
Merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2), one of the most abundant proteins on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites, is a promising malaria vaccine candidate. MSP2 is intrinsically unstructured and forms amyloid-like fibrils in solution. As this propensity of MSP2 to form fibrils in solution has the potential to impede its development as a vaccine candidate, finding an inhibitor that inhibits fibrillogenesis may enhance vaccine development. We have shown previously that EGCG inhibits the formation of MSP2 fibrils. Here we show that EGCG can alter the β-sheet-like structure of the fibril and disaggregate pre-formed fibrils of MSP2 into soluble oligomers. The fibril remodelling effects of EGCG and other flavonoids were characterised using Thioflavin T fluorescence assays, electron microscopy and other biophysical methods.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amyloid / chemistry
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Amyloid / drug effects
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Amyloid / ultrastructure
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Antigens, Protozoan / chemistry*
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Antigens, Protozoan / drug effects*
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Antigens, Protozoan / ultrastructure
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Biophysical Phenomena
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Catechin / analogs & derivatives*
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Catechin / pharmacology
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Flavonoids / pharmacology
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Malaria Vaccines / chemistry
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Merozoites / chemistry
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Merozoites / drug effects
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Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
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Plasmodium falciparum / chemistry*
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Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
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Protein Multimerization / drug effects
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Protein Structure, Secondary / drug effects
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Protozoan Proteins / chemistry*
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Protozoan Proteins / drug effects*
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Protozoan Proteins / ultrastructure
Substances
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Amyloid
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Antigens, Protozoan
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Flavonoids
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Malaria Vaccines
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Protozoan Proteins
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merozoite surface protein 2, Plasmodium
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Catechin
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epigallocatechin gallate