Work

Early Steps in Pathogen-induced TTR-amyloid-formation

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: ABSTRACT Motivated by correlations between SARS-COV-2 infections and transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis we use molecular dynamics simulations to study whether three protein fragments from the SARS-CoV-2 virus can initiate dissociation of the transthyretin (TTR) homotetramer as the first step on the pathway to TTR amyloidosis. We find that the peptides reduce the frequency of transient hydrogen bonds at the monomer-monomer interfaces, decreasing in this way the stability of the TTR tetramer.

Source: bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

DOI: 10.64898/2026.09.21.753243

Authors: Malinda B. Premathilaka, Ulrich H. E. Hansmann

Institution: University of Oklahoma

Language: English

Topic: Amyloidosis: Diagnosis, Treatment, Outcomes

Subfield: Internal Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma