Trehalose Restrains the Fibril Load towards α-Lactalbumin Aggregation and Halts Fibrillation in a Concentration-Dependent Manner

Abstract

Protein aggregation and misfolding are some of the most challenging obstacles, customarily studied for their association with amyloid pathologies. The mechanism of amyloid fibrillation development is a dynamic phenomenon involving various factors such as the intrinsic properties of protein and the physical and chemical environmental conditions. The purpose of this study was to see the thermal aggregation profile of alpha-lactalbumin (α-LA) and to delineate the effect of trehalose on its aggregation profile. α-LA was subjected to thermal aggregation at high concentrations. UV-Vis spectroscopy, a turbidity assay, intrinsic fluorescence, Rayleigh scattering and a thioflavin T (ThT) assay explained the steady outcomes that 1 M trehalose repressed α-LA aggregation in the most effective way followed by 0.75 M and 0.5 M and to a significantly lesser degree by 0.25 M. Multi spectroscopic obser Sania Bashir ations were further entrenched by microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that in the presence of its higher concentration, trehalose hinders fibril development in α-LA. In vitro studies were further validated by in silico studies. Molecular docking analysis indicated that trehalose occupied the binding pocket cavity of α-LA and offered several significant interactions, including H-bonds with important residues. This study provides a platform for trehalose in the therapeutic management of protein aggregation-related diseases.