Thioflavin S binds non-amyloid protein structures in lampbrush chromosomes of <em>Gallus gallus domesticus</em>

Abstract

Proteins that normally function in amyloid form are found in bacteria, yeast, plants and vertebrates, including humans. In particular, amyloid fibrils and amyloid-like structures are described in the germ cells of various organisms. Recently we showed that in chicken oocytes there are some nuclear structures that are stained by the amyloid-specific dye thioflavin S. Here we demonstrate that thioflavin S binds giant terminal RNP aggregates in chicken lampbrush chromosomes. However, these structures are not stained with Congo red and conformation-dependent anti-amyloid antibodies. Thus, thioflavin S stains chromosome-associated proteins that do not have amyloid properties. These data indicate that thioflavin S must be used with caution when identifying new functional and pathological amyloids.