Polymorphism, Metastable Species and Interconversion

2014

Abstract The natively unfolded peptide hormone glucagon forms fibrillar structures with amyloid properties. Here, we summarize past advances in glucagon fibrillation and combine them with recent new unpublished data to provide some more general conclusions on how glucagon fibrillation adapts to different physicochemical conditions such as high temperature, pressure, mechanical and chemical stress. Factors such as peptide concentration, accessible surface area, surface hydration of the glucagon molecular state, contact surface, temperature and ionic strength all contribute to fibrillar structure and stability. In addition to fundamental changes in secondary structure, glucagon fibril morphol…