High resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy of the β-amyloid protein (Aβ1–40) of Alzheimer’s disease suggests a novel mechanism of oligomer assembly

The aggregation of the β-amyloid protein (Aβ) is an important step in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. There is increasing evidence that lower molecular weight oligomeric forms of Aβ may be the most toxic species in vivo. However, little is known about the structure of Aβ oligomers. In this study, scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) was used to examine the structure of Aβ monomers, dimers and oligomers. Aβ1–40 was visualised by STM on a surface of atomically flat gold. At low concentrations (0.5 μM) small globular structures were observed. High resolution STM of these structures revealed them to be monomers of Aβ. The monomers measured approximately 3–4 nm in diameter. Internal structure was seen in many of the monomers consistent with a conformation in which the polypeptide chain is folded into 3 or 4 domains. Oligomers were seen after ageing the Aβ solution for 24 h. The oligomers were also 3–4 nm in width and appeared to be formed by the end-to-end association of monomers with the polypeptide chain oriented at 90° to the axis of the oligomer. The results suggest that the oligomer formation can proceed through a mechanism involving the linear association of monomers.