Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41965342›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Structural polymorphism of ex-vivo ALECT2 amyloid fibrils revealed by cryo-EM.

Shumaila Afrin, Binh An Nguyen, Virender Singh, Preeti Singh, Parker Bassett, Maja Pekala, Bret Evers, Christian Lopez, Yasmin Ahmed, Li Li and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Transthyretin amyloid fibrils adopt distinct folds in the brain.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Shumaila Afrin *Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
Binh An Nguyen *Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7055-8809
Virender SinghSciKonnect and BioPatriKa, Ambala, India.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6720-8784
Preeti SinghCenter for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
Parker BassettCenter for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-5162-7212
Maja PekalaCenter for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
Bret EversDepartment of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5686-0315
Christian LopezDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-1820-0144
Yasmin AhmedCenter for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
Li LiJerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dallas, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2064-2177
Raja Reddy KallemJerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dallas, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-1935-3677
Andrew LemoffDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4943-0170
Christos ArgyropoulosThe University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
Barbara Kluve-BeckermanDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Lorena SaelicesCenter for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA. lorena.saelicesgomez@utsouthwestern.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1904-2150

Funding

American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.) 847236U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) New Innovator Award DP2-HL163810Welch Foundation Research Award I-2121-20220331
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

ALECT2 amyloidosis is a rare systemic disease characterized by the pathological deposition of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (LECT2) as amyloid fibrils, primarily affecting the kidneys and liver. The molecular mechanisms underlying LECT2 aggregation remain poorly defined, hindering diagnostic and therapeutic development. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of ex-vivo ALECT2 fibrils extracted from a patient's kidney. We identified three fibril polymorphs: a predominant single-protofilament morphology and two minor double-protofilament morphologies. The dominant single-protofilament morphology comprises the full-length 133-residue LECT2 protein and retains all three native disulfide bonds. Low-resolution reconstructions of double-protofilament morphologies suggest they adopt a similar fold to the single protofilament morphology, but form paired assemblies with different inter-filament interfaces. Mass spectrometry also reveals acetylation within the fibrils. These findings offer critical insights into the structural basis of ALECT2 amyloid formation and identify molecular features that could inform future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Indexed as

AmyloidAmyloidosisIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsCryoelectron MicroscopyHumansKidneyAmyloidIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsLECT2 protein, human

Identifiers

PMID41965342
PMCPMC13247027

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.