Changes of molecular dynamics in the α-to-β transition associated with amyloid fibril formation were explored on apomyoglobin
(ApoMb) as a model system. Circular dichroism, neutron and X-ray scattering experiments were performed as a function of temperature
on the protein, at different solvent conditions. A significant change in molecular dynamics was observed at the α-to-β transition
at about 55°C, indicating a more
resilient high temperature β structure phase. A similar effect at approximately the same temperature was observed in holo-myoglobin,
associated with partial unfolding and protein aggregation. A study in a wide temperature range between 20 and 360 K revealed
that a dynamical transition at about 200 K for motions in the 50 ps time scale exists also for a hydrated powder of heat-denatured
aggregated ApoMb.
Keywords Amyloid former - Protein dynamics - Neutron - Circular dichroism