Interactions between BIM Protein and Beta-Amyloid May Reveal a Crucial Missing Link between Alzheimer's Disease and Neuronal Cell Death

Extensive neuronal cell death is among the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. While neuron death is coincident with formation of plaques comprising the beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptide, a direct causative link between Aβ (or other Alzheimer's-associated proteins) and cell toxicity is yet to be found. Here we show that BIM-BH3, the primary proapoptotic domain of BIM, a key protein in varied apoptotic cascades of which elevated levels have been found in brain cells of patients afflicted with Alzheimer's disease, interacts with the 42-residue amyloid isoform Aβ42. Remarkably, BIM-BH3 modulated the structure, fibrillation pathway, aggregate morphology, and membrane interactions of Aβ42. In particular, BIM-BH3 inhibited Aβ42 fibril-formation, while it simultaneously enhanced protofibril assembly. Furthermore, we discovered that BIM-BH3/Aβ42 interactions induced cell death in a human neuroblastoma cell model. Overall, our data provide a crucial mechanistic link accounting for neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's disease patients and the participation of both BIM and Aβ42 in the neurotoxicity process.