Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val (IKVAV)-containing laminin α1 chain peptides form amyloid-like fibrils

The Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val (IKVAV) sequence derived from laminin-1 promotes cell adhesion, neurite outgrowth, and tumor growth and metastasis. Here, we examined amyloid formation of an IKVAV-containing peptide (LAM-L: AASIKVAVSADR, mouse laminin α1 chain 2097–2108). The LAM-L peptide was stained with Congo red and exhibited fibrils in electron microscopy with a characteristic cross-β X-ray diffraction pattern. Further, infrared spectra of LAM-L suggested a β-sheet structure. These results indicate that LAM-L forms amyloid-like fibrils. We also examined amyloid-like fibril formation of LAM-L analogs. The neurite outgrowth activity of the LAM-L analogs was closely related to their amyloid-like fibril formation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]