Are all Protein Aggregates Toxic?

Michigan Technological University, Houghton MI

Investigators

Abstract

This application is in response to NOSI (NOT-GM-22-017) to acquire a Circular Dichroism Spectropolarimeter as part of an administrative supplement. PI has an active eligible R15 grant (1 R15GM148964-01) with enough remaining time to proceed with a supplement request. Currently, Michigan Tech does not have a CD instrument. Having access to this instrument will greatly enhance PI’s research ability to address specific aim 2 (Characterize physicochemical properties of the diverse protein aggregates) of the funded grant (1 R15GM148964-01). Circular Dichroism can track changes in the secondary structure of proteins undergoing misfolding and aggregation. This technique – in combination with other biophysical and biochemical methods such as chromatography, fluorescence, SEM, AFM, and TEM – will help to better characterize the unique physicochemical properties of the protein aggregates and correlate aggregates’ structure to its associated toxicity.