Fig. 7.

Model for the sequestration of toxic oligomers into nontoxic aggregates. Assembly of misfolded proteins (e.g., Aβ) leads to the formation of toxic oligomers as one form of aggregates. Oligomers are thought to cause neuronal dysfunction and death central to neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we have shown that HspB1 sequesters toxic oligomers into large nontoxic coaggregates and confers neuroprotection. The exact relationship between the large nontoxic aggregates containing HspB1 and Aβ oligomers observed in biochemical studies and HspB1 observed in pathological deposits is currently unknown.