Detection of transient interchain interactions in the intrinsically disordered protein alpha-synuclein by NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancement.

NMR paramagnetic relaxation enhancement experiments were applied to the intrinsically disordered protein alpha-synuclein, the primary protein in Parkinson's disease, to directly characterize transient intermolecular complexes at neutral and low pH. At neutral pH, we observed weak N- to C-terminal interchain contacts driven by electrostatic interactions, while at low pH, the C- to C-terminal interchain interactions are significantly stronger and driven by hydrophobic contacts. Characterization of these first interchain interactions will provide fundamental insight into the mechanism of amyloid formation.