Ganglioside GM1 produces stable, short, and cytotoxic A₄₀ protofibrils

Monosialoganglioside GM1-bound amyloid beta-peptides have been found in patients' brains exhibiting early pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease. Herein, we report the ability of non-micellar GM1 to modulate A beta(40) aggregation resulting in the formation of stable, short, rod-like, and cytotoxic A beta(40) protofibrils with the ability to potentiate both A beta(40) and A beta(42) aggregation.