Question

why phenol red (this kind of small molecule) can affect the amyloid fibrils formation? and how

Answer 1

Phenol red is the modest inhibitor of amyloid fibril formation because phenol red interacts with the the protofibril of amyloidogenic fragment. It binds with beta sheet stacking and beta strand direction.

Thr phneol red has three aromatic rings which will provide the interaction with the hydrophobic side chain of protofibril containing phe, leu, and ile amino acids. It also interacts with polar sulfone and hydroxyl group. Hence the protofibrill becomes soluble. That's why there is not found any growth of protofibril. Hence there is not found any amyofibril formation.