Convenient Method for Monitoring A β Aggregation by Quartz-Crystal Microbalance.

We have found that a quartz-crystal microbalance is a facile and useful tool for detecting the specific aggregation of the amyloid- β peptides responsible for Alzheimer's disease. This method greatly reduces the time and samples (corresponds to 1 Hz frequency decrease per 30 pg mass increase on a 4.9 mm² electrode) that are needed in the aggregation assay, and is also applicable to molecular interactions between smaller amyloid- β fragment peptides such as the pentapeptide KLVFF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]