Inhibition of the amyloid-fibril growth by forming complex between polysaccharide and lysozyme

Amyloid-fibril formation causes many incurable diseases and can be characterized to have cross-fiber structures, in which β-strands ally perpendicular to the fiber axis. We have reported that schizophyllan (SPG) can interact with hydrophobic materials. In this study, we demonstrated that SPG interacts with lysozyme formed amyloid fibrils. Circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence measurements showed that SPG and the amyloid of lysozyme can form a complex having fibrils. Transmission electron micrographs showed that the complex involved short amyloid fibrils compared with native amyloid fibrils. These results indicate that SPG can entrap amyloid fibrils of the lysozyme.