Computational study of conformational interconversion of an amyloid β double layer system

The formation of amyloid fibrils comprising amyloid β (Aβ) peptides is associated with the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we theoretically investigated conformational changes of a flat double-layer structure of two Aβ^20-34 peptides using the density functional theory calculation. Several twisted conformations were identified as local energy minima in which a part of the peptide chain bends upward while the rest remains bound to the lower Aβ^20-34 monomer. Flat-to-twisted conformational transition exhibited endothermic behavior, with endothermic energy increasing as more backbone hydrogen bonds were broken. In addition, the loss of van der Waals interaction from the hydrophobic sidechain contributed to endothermicity. The nudged elastic band method was applied to analyze the potential energy surface connecting the flat and twisted conformations. Comparison of the activation barriers between different twisted conformations revealed that certain twisted conformations returned relatively easily to the flat conformation, whereas others encountered a higher activation barrier and reverted less readily. Detailed structural analysis revealed that the twisted conformation's propensity to return originates from the local steric hindrance imposed by the sidechain near the torsional axis.