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Urrea L, Segura-Feliu M, Masuda-Suzukake M, Hervera A, Pedraz L, García Aznar JM, Vila M, Samitier J, Torrents E, Ferrer I, Gavín R, Hagesawa M, Del Río JA. Involvement of Cellular Prion Protein in α-Synuclein Transport in Neurons. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:1847-1860. [PMID: 28229331 PMCID: PMC5840251 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0451-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein, encoded by the gene Prnp, has been reported to be a receptor of β-amyloid. Their interaction is mandatory for neurotoxic effects of β-amyloid oligomers. In this study, we aimed to explore whether the cellular prion protein participates in the spreading of α-synuclein. Results demonstrate that Prnp expression is not mandatory for α-synuclein spreading. However, although the pathological spreading of α-synuclein can take place in the absence of Prnp, α-synuclein expanded faster in PrPC-overexpressing mice. In addition, α-synuclein binds strongly on PrPC-expressing cells, suggesting a role in modulating the effect of α-synuclein fibrils.
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Marrone A, Re N, Storchi L. The Effects of Ca2+ Concentration and E200K Mutation on the Aggregation Propensity of PrPC: A Computational Study. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168039. [PMID: 27959938 PMCID: PMC5154561 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The propensity of cellular prion protein to aggregation is reputed essential for the initiation of the amyloid cascade that ultimately lead to the accumulation of neurotoxic aggregates. In this paper, we extended and applied an already reported computational workflow [Proteins 2015; 83: 1751–1765] to elucidate in details the aggregation propensity of PrP protein systems including wild type, wild type treated at different [Ca2+] and E200K mutant. The application of the computational procedure to two segments of PrPC, i.e. 125–228 and 120–231, allowed to emphasize how the inclusion of complete C-terminus and last portion (120–126) of the neurotoxic segment 106–126 may be crucial to unveil significant and unexpected interaction properties. Indeed, the anchoring of N-terminus on H2 domain detected in the wild type resulted to be disrupted upon either E200K mutation or Ca2+ binding, and to unbury hydrophobic spots on the PrPC surface. A peculiar dinuclear Ca2+ binding motif formed by the C-terminus and the S2-H2 loop was detected for [Ca2+] > 5 mM and showed similarities with binding motifs retraced in other protein systems, thus suggesting a possible functional meaning for its formation. Therefore, we potentiated the computational procedure by including a tool that clusterize the minima of molecular interaction fields of a proteinand delimit the regions of space with higher hydrophobic or higher hydrophilic character, hence, more likely involved in the self-assembly process. Plausible models for the self-assembly of either the E200K mutated or Ca2+-bound PrPC were sketched and discussed. The present investigation provides for structure-based information and new prompts that may represent a starting point for future experimental or computational works on the PrPC aggregation.
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Thackray AM, Bujdoso R. Elevated PrPC Expression Predisposes to Increased HSV-1 Pathogenicity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 17:41-52. [PMID: 16542005 DOI: 10.1177/095632020601700106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PrPC is a ubiquitously expressed glycophos-phatidylinositol-linked cell-surface glycoprotein found primarily in neural tissue. Although its normal function has not been established, there is evidence suggesting that PrPC is involved in cell signalling and cellular homeostasis. This suggests that variation in neuronal expression levels of this protein contributes towards pathogenicity induced by neurotropic agents. We have investigated the pathological response to infection with herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) in strains of mice that express different levels of PrPC. Prnp−/− mice fail to express PrPC due to an interruption in the open reading frame of the Prnp gene, whilst tg19 and tga20 mice express approximately 5 and 10 times more PrPC protein, respectively, than wild-type animals. Mice that express normal or increased levels of PrPC protein were more susceptible to acute HSV-1 infection than Prnp−/− mice. Following ear pinna inoculation with HSV-1 SC16, the order of susceptibility was tga20>tg19>wild-type> Prnp−/−. This trend was reversed when latent virus was assessed. Prnp−/− mice expressed significantly higher levels of latency-associated transcript-positive neurons in various tissues when compared with wild-type, tg19 and tga20 mice. Collectively, our data show that acute HSV-1 replication proceeds more efficiently in neuronal tissue that expresses PrPC protein and lends support to the view that this protein is involved in regulation of neurotropic viral pathogenesis. This suggests that interference of PrPC expression, or possible biochemical pathways associated with its function, may serve as an effective means of limiting the pathogenesis of acute HSV-1 infection.
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Moore RA, Head MW, Ironside JW, Ritchie DL, Zanusso G, Pyo Choi Y, Priola SA. The Distribution of Prion Protein Allotypes Differs Between Sporadic and Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Patients. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005416. [PMID: 26840342 PMCID: PMC4740439 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is the most prevalent of the human prion diseases, which are fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative diseases caused by the infectious prion protein (PrPSc). The origin of sCJD is unknown, although the initiating event is thought to be the stochastic misfolding of endogenous prion protein (PrPC) into infectious PrPSc. By contrast, human growth hormone-associated cases of iatrogenic CJD (iCJD) in the United Kingdom (UK) are associated with exposure to an exogenous source of PrPSc. In both forms of CJD, heterozygosity at residue 129 for methionine (M) or valine (V) in the prion protein gene may affect disease phenotype, onset and progression. However, the relative contribution of each PrPC allotype to PrPSc in heterozygous cases of CJD is unknown. Using mass spectrometry, we determined that the relative abundance of PrPSc with M or V at residue 129 in brain specimens from MV cases of sCJD was highly variable. This result is consistent with PrPC containing an M or V at residue 129 having a similar propensity to misfold into PrPSc thus causing sCJD. By contrast, PrPSc with V at residue 129 predominated in the majority of the UK human growth hormone associated iCJD cases, consistent with exposure to infectious PrPSc containing V at residue 129. In both types of CJD, the PrPSc allotype ratio had no correlation with CJD type, age at clinical onset, or disease duration. Therefore, factors other than PrPSc allotype abundance must influence the clinical progression and phenotype of heterozygous cases of CJD. In Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), heterozygosity at residue 129 for methionine or valine in normal prion protein may affect disease phenotype, onset and progression. However, the relative contribution of each prion protein allotype to the infectious, disease associated form of prion protein (PrPSc) is unknown. Here we report the novel observation that in heterozygous cases of sporadic CJD the PrPSc allotype ratio is highly variable. This case-by-case variability is consistent with the origin of sporadic CJD being the spontaneous, but random, misfolding of either host prion protein allotype into infectious PrPSc. By contrast, in heterozygous cases of iatrogenic CJD in the United Kingdom resulting from exposure to contaminated human growth hormone, the PrPSc allotype ratio is much more homogeneous and consistent with exposure to infectious PrPSc containing valine at residue 129. Surprisingly, the PrPSc allotype ratio did not correlate with disease onset or duration in either disease type. Thus, factors other than PrPSc allotype ratio likely influence the clinical progression of heterozygous cases of CJD. Moreover, our results suggest that the ratio of methionine to valine in PrPSc may be a means of determining the origin of prion infection.
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Jeong JK, Park SY. Neuroprotective effect of cellular prion protein (PrPC) is related with activation of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAchR)-mediated autophagy flux. Oncotarget 2015; 6:24660-74. [PMID: 26295309 PMCID: PMC4694786 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAchR) is regulated by prion protein (PrPC) expression and has a neuroprotective effect by modulating autophagic flux. In this study, we hypothesized that PrPC may regulate α7nAchR activation and that may prevent prion-related neurodegenerative diseases by regulating autophagic flux. PrP(106-126) treatment decreased α7nAchR expression and activation of autophagic flux. In addition, the α7nAchR activator PNU-282987 enhanced autophagic flux and protected neuron cells against PrP(106-126)-induced apoptosis. However, activation of autophagy and the protective effects of PNU-282987 were inhibited in PrPC knockout hippocampal neuron cells. In addition, PrPC knockout hippocampal neuron cells showed decreased α7nAchR expression levels. Adenoviral overexpression of PrPC in PrPC knockout hippocampal neuron cells resulted in activation of autophagic flux and inhibition of prion peptide-mediated cell death via α7nAchR activation. This is the first report demonstrating that activation of α7nAchR-mediated autophagic flux is regulated by PrPC, and that activation of α7nAchR regulated by PrPC expression may play a pivotal role in protection of neuron cells against prion peptide-induced neuron cell death by autophagy. These results suggest that α7nAchR-mediated autophagic flux may be involved in the pathogenesis of prion-related diseases and may be a therapeutic target for prion-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Prčina M, Kontseková E, Novák M. Prion protein prevents heavy metals overloading of cells and thus protects them against their toxicity. Acta Virol 2015; 59:179-84. [PMID: 26104335 DOI: 10.4149/av_2015_02_179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Physiological function of a prion protein (PrP) is not known yet. Regarding the relation of PrP to heavy metals it is known that PrP is able to bind divalent ions of copper, zinc, manganese and nickel through its octarepeat region. It has been hypothesized but not yet confirmed that PrP could play a role in copper metabolism. In this study, cells expressing human full-length PrP (HuPrP1) and PrP-knockout (PrP0/0/1) cells were incubated with various concentrations of copper, zinc, manganese and nickel for 4 days and then were assayed for intracellular content of these metals and cell viability. The results showed that HuPrP1 cells accumulated less heavy metals than PrP0/0/1 cells when concentrations of heavy metals exceeded physiological level. In conclusion, HuPrP1 cells are more resistant to chronic overload with copper, manganese, zinc or nickel than PrP0/0/1 cells. The resistance to metals overload is caused solely by the presence of PrP, since HuPrP1 and PrP0/0/1 cells differ only in the expression of PrP. These results indicate that one of the functions of PrP can be the modulation of trace heavy metal concentrations in cells and protection of cells against heavy metals overload and subsequent oxidative stress.
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Sarradin P, Viglietta C, Limouzin C, Andréoletti O, Daniel-Carlier N, Barc C, Leroux-Coyau M, Berthon P, Chapuis J, Rossignol C, Gatti JL, Belghazi M, Labas V, Vilotte JL, Béringue V, Lantier F, Laude H, Houdebine LM. Transgenic Rabbits Expressing Ovine PrP Are Susceptible to Scrapie. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005077. [PMID: 26248157 PMCID: PMC4527776 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a group of neurodegenerative diseases affecting a wide range of mammalian species. They are caused by prions, a proteinaceous pathogen essentially composed of PrPSc, an abnormal isoform of the host encoded cellular prion protein PrPC. Constrained steric interactions between PrPSc and PrPC are thought to provide prions with species specificity, and to control cross-species transmission into other host populations, including humans. Transgenetic expression of foreign PrP genes has been successfully and widely used to overcome the recognized resistance of mouse to foreign TSE sources. Rabbit is one of the species that exhibit a pronounced resistance to TSEs. Most attempts to infect experimentally rabbit have failed, except after inoculation with cell-free generated rabbit prions. To gain insights on the molecular determinants of the relative resistance of rabbits to prions, we generated transgenic rabbits expressing the susceptible V136R154Q171 allele of the ovine PRNP gene on a rabbit wild type PRNP New Zealand background and assessed their experimental susceptibility to scrapie prions. All transgenic animals developed a typical TSE 6-8 months after intracerebral inoculation, whereas wild type rabbits remained healthy more than 700 days after inoculation. Despite the endogenous presence of rabbit PrPC, only ovine PrPSc was detectable in the brains of diseased animals. Collectively these data indicate that the low susceptibility of rabbits to prion infection is not enciphered within their non-PrP genetic background.
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Walsh KP, Minamide LS, Kane SJ, Shaw AE, Brown DR, Pulford B, Zabel MD, Lambeth JD, Kuhn TB, Bamburg JR. Amyloid-β and proinflammatory cytokines utilize a prion protein-dependent pathway to activate NADPH oxidase and induce cofilin-actin rods in hippocampal neurons. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95995. [PMID: 24760020 PMCID: PMC3997518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurites of neurons under acute or chronic stress form bundles of filaments (rods) containing 1∶1 cofilin∶actin, which impair transport and synaptic function. Rods contain disulfide cross-linked cofilin and are induced by treatments resulting in oxidative stress. Rods form rapidly (5-30 min) in >80% of cultured hippocampal or cortical neurons treated with excitotoxic levels of glutamate or energy depleted (hypoxia/ischemia or mitochondrial inhibitors). In contrast, slow rod formation (50% of maximum response in ∼6 h) occurs in a subpopulation (∼20%) of hippocampal neurons upon exposure to soluble human amyloid-β dimer/trimer (Aβd/t) at subnanomolar concentrations. Here we show that proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6) also induce rods at the same rate and within the same neuronal population as Aβd/t. Neurons from prion (PrP(C))-null mice form rods in response to glutamate or antimycin A, but not in response to proinflammatory cytokines or Aβd/t. Two pathways inducing rod formation were confirmed by demonstrating that NADPH-oxidase (NOX) activity is required for prion-dependent rod formation, but not for rods induced by glutamate or energy depletion. Surprisingly, overexpression of PrP(C) is by itself sufficient to induce rods in over 40% of hippocampal neurons through the NOX-dependent pathway. Persistence of PrP(C)-dependent rods requires the continuous activity of NOX. Removing inducers or inhibiting NOX activity in cells containing PrP(C)-dependent rods causes rod disappearance with a half-life of about 36 min. Cofilin-actin rods provide a mechanism for synapse loss bridging the amyloid and cytokine hypotheses for Alzheimer disease, and may explain how functionally diverse Aβ-binding membrane proteins induce synaptic dysfunction.
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Gill AC. β-hairpin-mediated formation of structurally distinct multimers of neurotoxic prion peptides. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87354. [PMID: 24498083 PMCID: PMC3909104 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding disorders are associated with conformational changes in specific proteins, leading to the formation of potentially neurotoxic amyloid fibrils. During pathogenesis of prion disease, the prion protein misfolds into β-sheet rich, protease-resistant isoforms. A key, hydrophobic domain within the prion protein, comprising residues 109-122, recapitulates many properties of the full protein, such as helix-to-sheet structural transition, formation of fibrils and cytotoxicity of the misfolded isoform. Using all-atom, molecular simulations, it is demonstrated that the monomeric 109-122 peptide has a preference for α-helical conformations, but that this peptide can also form β-hairpin structures resulting from turns around specific glycine residues of the peptide. Altering a single amino acid within the 109-122 peptide (A117V, associated with familial prion disease) increases the prevalence of β-hairpin formation and these observations are replicated in a longer peptide, comprising residues 106-126. Multi-molecule simulations of aggregation yield different assemblies of peptide molecules composed of conformationally-distinct monomer units. Small molecular assemblies, consistent with oligomers, comprise peptide monomers in a β-hairpin-like conformation and in many simulations appear to exist only transiently. Conversely, larger assemblies are comprised of extended peptides in predominately antiparallel β-sheets and are stable relative to the length of the simulations. These larger assemblies are consistent with amyloid fibrils, show cross-β structure and can form through elongation of monomer units within pre-existing oligomers. In some simulations, assemblies containing both β-hairpin and linear peptides are evident. Thus, in this work oligomers are on pathway to fibril formation and a preference for β-hairpin structure should enhance oligomer formation whilst inhibiting maturation into fibrils. These simulations provide an important new atomic-level model for the formation of oligomers and fibrils of the prion protein and suggest that stabilization of β-hairpin structure may enhance cellular toxicity by altering the balance between oligomeric and fibrillar protein assemblies.
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Qin K, Ding T, Xiao Y, Ma W, Wang Z, Gao J, Zhao L. Differential responses of neuronal and spermatogenic cells to the doppel cytotoxicity. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82130. [PMID: 24339999 PMCID: PMC3858285 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Although structurally and biochemically similar to the cellular prion (PrP(C)), doppel (Dpl) is unique in its biological functions. There are no reports about any neurodegenerative diseases induced by Dpl. However the artificial expression of Dpl in the PrP-deficient mouse brain causes ataxia with Purkinje cell death. Abundant Dpl proteins have been found in testis and depletion of the Dpl gene (Prnd) causes male infertility. Therefore, we hypothesize different regulations of Prnd in the nerve and male productive systems. In this study, by electrophoretic mobility shift assays we have determined that two different sets of transcription factors are involved in regulation of the Prnd promoter in mouse neuronal N2a and GC-1 spermatogenic (spg) cells, i.e., upstream stimulatory factors (USF) in both cells, Brn-3 and Sp1 in GC-1 spg cells, and Sp3 in N2a cells, leading to the expression of Dpl in GC-1 spg but not in N2a cells. We have further defined that, in N2a cells, Dpl induces oxidative stress and apoptosis, which stimulate ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-modulating bindings of transcription factors, p53 and p21, to Prnp promoter, resulting the PrP(C) elevation for counteraction of the Dpl cytotoxicity; in contrast, in GC-1 spg cells, phosphorylation of p21 and N-terminal truncated PrP may play roles in the control of Dpl-induced apoptosis, which may benefit the physiological function of Dpl in the male reproduction system.
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Lee DC, Sakudo A, Kim CK, Nishimura T, Saeki K, Matsumoto Y, Yokoyama T, Chen SG, Itohara S, Onodera T. Fusion of Doppel to Octapeptide Repeat and N-Terminal Half of Hydrophobic Region of Prion Protein Confers Resistance to Serum Deprivation. Microbiol Immunol 2013; 50:203-9. [PMID: 16547418 DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2006.tb03787.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Our previous studies have shown an essential role played by the octapeptide repeat region (OR) and the N-terminal half of hydrophobic region (HR) in the anti-apoptotic activity of prion protein (PrP). As PrP-like protein Doppel (Dpl), which structurally resembles an N-terminally truncated PrP, did not show any anti-apoptotic activity, we examined apoptosis of HpL3-4 cells expressing Dpl fused to various lengths of the N-terminal region of PrP to investigate whether the PrP/Dpl fusion proteins retain anti-apoptotic function. HpL3-4 cells expressing Dpl fused to PrP(1-124) with the OR and N-terminal half of HR of PrP showed anti-apoptotic function, whereas Dpl fused to PrP(1-95) with OR did not rescue cells from apoptotic cell death induced by serum deprivation. These results indicate that the OR and N-terminal half of HR of PrP retains anti-apoptotic activity similar to full-length PrP.
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Singh K, Saleh AA, Bhadra AK, Roy I. Hsp104 as a key modulator of prion-mediated oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochem J 2013; 454:217-25. [PMID: 23746301 DOI: 10.1042/bj20121806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
Maintenance of cellular redox homoeostasis forms an important part of the cellular defence mechanism and continued cell viability. Despite extensive studies, the role of the chaperone Hsp104 (heat-shock protein of 102 kDa) in propagation of misfolded protein aggregates in the cell and generation of oxidative stress remains poorly understood. Expression of RNQ1-RFP in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells led to the generation of the prion form of the protein and increased oxidative stress. In the present study, we show that disruption of Hsp104 in an isogenic yeast strain led to solubilization of RNQ1-RFP. This reduced the oxidative stress generated in the cell. The higher level of oxidative stress in the Hsp104-containing (parental) strain correlated with lower activity of almost all of the intracellular antioxidant enzymes assayed. Surprisingly, this did not correspond with the gene expression analysis data. To compensate for the decrease in protein translation induced by a high level of reactive oxygen species, transcriptional up-regulation takes place. This explains the discrepancy observed between the transcription level and functional enzymatic product. Our results show that in a ΔHsp104 strain, due to lower oxidative stress, no such mismatch is observed, corresponding with higher cell viability. Thus Hsp104 is indirectly responsible for enhancing the oxidative stress in a prion-rich environment.
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Llorens F, Ferrer I, del Río JA. Gene expression resulting from PrPC ablation and PrPC overexpression in murine and cellular models. Mol Neurobiol 2013; 49:413-23. [PMID: 23949728 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-013-8529-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) plays a key role in prion diseases when it converts to the pathogenic form scrapie prion protein. Increasing knowledge of its participation in prion infection contrasts with the elusive and controversial data regarding its physiological role probably related to its pleiotropy, cell-specific functions, and cellular-specific milieu. Multiple approaches have been made to the increasing understanding of the molecular mechanisms and cellular functions modulated by PrP(C) at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels. Gene expression analyses have been made in several mouse and cellular models with regulated expression of PrP(C) resulting in PrP(C) ablation or PrP(C) overexpression. These analyses support previous functional data and have yielded clues about new potential functions. However, experiments on animal models have shown moderate and varied results which are difficult to interpret. Moreover, studies in cell cultures correlate little with in vivo counterparts. Yet, both animal and cell models have provided some insights on how to proceed in the future by using more refined methods and selected functional experiments.
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Campbell L, Gill AC, McGovern G, Jalland CMO, Hopkins J, Tranulis MA, Hunter N, Goldmann W. The PrP(C) C1 fragment derived from the ovine A136R154R171PRNP allele is highly abundant in sheep brain and inhibits fibrillisation of full-length PrP(C) protein in vitro. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2013; 1832:826-36. [PMID: 23474307 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Revised: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Expression of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is crucial for the development of prion diseases. Resistance to prion diseases can result from reduced availability of the prion protein or from amino acid changes in the prion protein sequence. We propose here that increased production of a natural PrP α-cleavage fragment, C1, is also associated with resistance to disease. We show, in brain tissue, that ARR homozygous sheep, associated with resistance to disease, produced PrP(C) comprised of 25% more C1 fragment than PrP(C) from the disease-susceptible ARQ homozygous and highly susceptible VRQ homozygous animals. Only the C1 fragment derived from the ARR allele inhibits in-vitro fibrillisation of other allelic PrP(C) variants. We propose that the increased α-cleavage of ovine ARR PrP(C) contributes to a dominant negative effect of this polymorphism on disease susceptibility. Furthermore, the significant reduction in PrP(C) β-cleavage product C2 in sheep of the ARR/ARR genotype compared to ARQ/ARQ and VRQ/VRQ genotypes, may add to the complexity of genetic determinants of prion disease susceptibility.
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Frank S, Tolnay M. Propagating sticky matters: an update on "prion-like" templated misfolding in neurodegenerative disorders. Brain Pathol 2013; 23:319-20. [PMID: 23587137 PMCID: PMC8028994 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Du L, Rao G, Wang H, Li B, Tian W, Cui J, He L, Laffin B, Tian X, Hao C, Liu H, Sun X, Zhu Y, Tang DG, Mehrpour M, Lu Y, Chen Q. CD44-positive cancer stem cells expressing cellular prion protein contribute to metastatic capacity in colorectal cancer. Cancer Res 2013; 73:2682-94. [PMID: 23418321 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-3759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells are implicated in tumor progression, metastasis, and recurrence, although the exact mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the expression of cellular prion protein (PrPc, PRNP) is positively correlated with an increased risk of metastasis in colorectal cancer. PrPc defines a subpopulation of CD44-positive cancer stem cells that contributes to metastatic capacity. PrPc(+)CD44(+) colorectal cancer stem cells displayed high liver metastatic capability, unlike PrPc(-)CD44(+) stem cells, that was inhibited by RNAi-mediated attenuation of PrPc. Notably, administration of PrPc monoclonal antibodies significantly inhibited tumorigenicity and metastasis of colorectal cancer stem cells in mouse models of orthotopic metastasis. PrPc promoted epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the ERK2 (MAPK1) pathway, thereby conferring high metastatic capacity. Our findings reveal the function of PrPc in regulating EMT in cancer stem cells, and they identify PrPc as candidate therapeutic target in metastatic colorectal cancer.
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Choi BR, Lee J, Kim SY, Yim I, Kim EH, Woo HJ. Prion protein conversion induced by trivalent iron in vesicular trafficking. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2013; 432:539-44. [PMID: 23416082 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Iron dyshomeostasis has been observed in prion diseases; however, little is known regarding the contribution of the oxidation state of iron to prion protein (PrP) conversion. In this study, PrP(C)-deficient HpL3-4 cells were exposed to divalent [Fe(II)] or trivalent [Fe(III)] iron, followed by exogenous recombinant PrP (rPrP) treatment. We then analyzed the accumulation of internalized rPrP and its biochemical properties, including its resistance to both proteinase K (PK) digestion and detergent solubility. Fe(III), but not Fe(II), induced the accumulation of internalized rPrP, which was partially converted to detergent-insoluble and PK-resistant PrP (PrP(res)). The Fe(III)-induced PrP(res) generation required an intact cell structure, and it was hindered by U18666A, an inhibitor of vesicular trafficking, but not by NH4Cl, an inhibitor of endolysosomal acidification. These observations implicated that the Fe(III)-mediated PrP(res) conversion likely occurs during endosomal vesicular trafficking rather than in the acidic environment of lysosomes.
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Halliez S, Chesnais N, Mallucci G, Vilotte M, Langevin C, Jaumain E, Laude H, Vilotte JL, Béringue V. Targeted knock-down of cellular prion protein expression in myelinating Schwann cells does not alter mouse prion pathogenesis. J Gen Virol 2013; 94:1435-1440. [PMID: 23388201 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.049619-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In naturally acquired transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, the pathogenic agents or prions spread from the sites of initial peripheral uptake or replication to the brain where they cause progressive and fatal neurodegeneration. Routing via the peripheral nervous system is considered to be one of the main pathways to the central nervous system. Replication of prions in Schwann cells is viewed as a potentially important mechanism for efficient prion spread along nerves. Here we used a Cre-loxP mouse transgenetic approach to disrupt host-encoded prion protein (PrP(C)) specifically in myelinating Schwann cells. Despite the use of infection routes targeting highly myelinated nerves, there was no alteration in mouse prion pathogenesis, suggesting that conversion-dependent, centripetal spread of prions does not crucially rely on PrP(C) expressed by myelinating Schwann cells.
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Cohen E, Avrahami D, Frid K, Canello T, Levy Lahad E, Zeligson S, Perlberg S, Chapman J, Cohen OS, Kahana E, Lavon I, Gabizon R. Snord 3A: a molecular marker and modulator of prion disease progression. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54433. [PMID: 23349890 PMCID: PMC3549992 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since preventive treatments for prion disease require early identification of subjects at risk, we searched for surrogate peripheral markers characterizing the asymptomatic phases of such conditions. To this effect, we subjected blood mRNA from E200K PrP CJD patients and corresponding family members to global arrays and found that the expression of Snord3A, a non-coding RNA transcript, was elevated several times in CJD patients as compared to controls, while asymptomatic carriers presented intermediate Snord3A levels. In the brains of TgMHu2ME199K mice, a mouse model mimicking for E200K CJD, Snord 3A levels were elevated in an age and disease severity dependent manner, as was the case for brains of these mice in which disease was exacerbated by copper administration. Snord3A expression was also elevated in scrapie infected mice, but not in PrP0/0 mice, indicating that while the expression levels of this transcript may reflect diverse prion etiologies, they are not related to the loss of PrPC’s function. Elevation of Snord3A was consistent with the activation of ATF6, representing one of the arms of the unfolded protein response system. Indeed, SnoRNAs were associated with reduced resistance to oxidative stress, and with ER stress in general, factors playing a significant role in this and other neurodegenerative conditions. We hypothesize that in addition to its function as a disease marker, Snord3A may play an important role in the mechanism of prion disease manifestation and progression.
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Ren K, Wang K, Xu Y, Li LZ, Zhang J, Wang H, Yan YE, Dong XP, Gao C. [Study on the correlation between membrane protein Flotillin-1 and PrPc endocytosis]. ZHONGHUA SHI YAN HE LIN CHUANG BING DU XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA SHIYAN HE LINCHUANG BINGDUXUE ZAZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL VIROLOGY 2012; 26:435-438. [PMID: 23627023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore whether the membrane-associated protein Flotillin-1 has relationship with endocytosis of PrPc. METHODS The expression of Flotillin-1 in different cell lines was detected with the method of Western Blot; the interaction between Flotillin-1 and PrPc in Cells which were treated with copper ions was observed using immunoprecipitation method. RESULTS (1) Flotillin-1 was widely expressed in many cell lines without significant difference in the amounts of expression level; (2) Only in the appearance of copper ions, the protein complexes of PrPc and Flotillin-1 can be detected with the method of IP, which were related to copper ions concentration and processing time. CONCLUSION The membrane-associated protein Flotillin-1 has the relationship with the endocytosis of PrPc.
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Bribián A, Fontana X, Llorens F, Gavín R, Reina M, García-Verdugo JM, Torres JM, de Castro F, del Río JA. Role of the cellular prion protein in oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation and differentiation in the developing and adult mouse CNS. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33872. [PMID: 22529900 PMCID: PMC3329524 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There are numerous studies describing the signaling mechanisms that mediate oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) proliferation and differentiation, although the contribution of the cellular prion protein (PrPc) to this process remains unclear. PrPc is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoprotein involved in diverse cellular processes during the development and maturation of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Here we describe how PrPc influences oligodendrocyte proliferation in the developing and adult CNS. OPCs that lack PrPc proliferate more vigorously at the expense of a delay in differentiation, which correlates with changes in the expression of oligodendrocyte lineage markers. In addition, numerous NG2-positive cells were observed in cortical regions of adult PrPc knockout mice, although no significant changes in myelination can be seen, probably due to the death of surplus cells.
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Ladner CL, Wishart DS. Resolution-enhanced native acidic gel electrophoresis: a method for resolving, sizing, and quantifying prion protein oligomers. Anal Biochem 2012; 426:54-62. [PMID: 22490465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2012.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2012] [Revised: 03/31/2012] [Accepted: 04/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The formation of β-sheet-rich prion protein (PrP(β)) oligomers from native or cellular PrP(c) is thought to be a key step in the development of prion diseases. To assist in this characterization process we have developed a rapid and remarkably high resolution gel electrophoresis technique called RENAGE (resolution-enhanced native acidic gel electrophoresis) for separating, sizing, and quantifying oligomeric PrP(β) complexes. PrP(β) oligomers formed via either urea/salt or acid conversion can be resolved by RENAGE into a clear set of oligomeric bands differing by just one subunit. Calibration of the size of the PrP(β) oligomer bands was made possible with a cross-linked mouse PrP(90-232) ladder (1- to 11-mer) generated using ruthenium bipyridyl-based photoinduced cross-linking of unmodified proteins (PICUP). This PrP PICUP ladder allowed the size and abundance of PrP(β) oligomers formed from urea/salt and acid conversion to be determined. This distribution consists of 7-, 8-, 9-, 10-, and 11-mers, with the most abundant species being the 8-mer. The high-resolution separation afforded by RENAGE has allowed us to investigate distinctive size and population changes in PrP(β) oligomers formed under various conversion conditions, with various construct lengths, from various species or in the presence of anti-prion compounds.
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Alais S, Soto-Rifo R, Balter V, Gruffat H, Manet E, Schaeffer L, Darlix JL, Cimarelli A, Raposo G, Ohlmann T, Leblanc P. Functional mechanisms of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) associated anti-HIV-1 properties. Cell Mol Life Sci 2012; 69:1331-52. [PMID: 22076653 PMCID: PMC11114771 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-011-0879-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2011] [Revised: 10/15/2011] [Accepted: 10/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein PrP(C)/CD230 is a GPI-anchor protein highly expressed in cells from the nervous and immune systems and well conserved among vertebrates. In the last decade, several studies suggested that PrP(C) displays antiviral properties by restricting the replication of different viruses, and in particular retroviruses such as murine leukemia virus (MuLV) and the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In this context, we previously showed that PrP(C) displays important similarities with the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein and found that PrP(C) expression in a human cell line strongly reduced HIV-1 expression and virus production. Using different PrP(C) mutants, we report here that the anti-HIV-1 properties are mostly associated with the amino-terminal 24-KRPKP-28 basic domain. In agreement with its reported RNA chaperone activity, we found that PrP(C) binds to the viral genomic RNA of HIV-1 and negatively affects its translation. Using a combination of biochemical and cell imaging strategies, we found that PrP(C) colocalizes with the virus assembly machinery at the plasma membrane and at the virological synapse in infected T cells. Depletion of PrP(C) in infected T cells and microglial cells favors HIV-1 replication, confirming its negative impact on the HIV-1 life cycle.
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Pflanzner T, Petsch B, André-Dohmen B, Müller-Schiffmann A, Tschickardt S, Weggen S, Stitz L, Korth C, Pietrzik CU. Cellular prion protein participates in amyloid-β transcytosis across the blood-brain barrier. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2012; 32:628-32. [PMID: 22293988 PMCID: PMC3318156 DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.2012.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Revised: 11/30/2011] [Accepted: 12/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) facilitates amyloid-β (Aβ) exchange between the blood and the brain. Here, we found that the cellular prion protein (PrP(c)), a putative receptor implicated in mediating Aβ neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), participates in Aβ transcytosis across the BBB. Using an in vitro BBB model, [(125)I]-Aβ(1-40) transcytosis was reduced by genetic knockout of PrP(c) or after addition of a competing PrP(c)-specific antibody. Furthermore, we provide evidence that PrP(c) is expressed in endothelial cells and, that monomeric Aβ(1-40) binds to PrP(c). These observations provide new mechanistic insights into the role of PrP(c) in AD.
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Biasini E, Turnbaugh JA, Massignan T, Veglianese P, Forloni G, Bonetto V, Chiesa R, Harris DA. The toxicity of a mutant prion protein is cell-autonomous, and can be suppressed by wild-type prion protein on adjacent cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33472. [PMID: 22428057 PMCID: PMC3299791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2011] [Accepted: 02/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Insight into the normal function of PrPC, and how it can be subverted to produce neurotoxic effects, is provided by PrP molecules carrying deletions encompassing the conserved central region. The most neurotoxic of these mutants, Δ105–125 (called ΔCR), produces a spontaneous neurodegenerative illness when expressed in transgenic mice, and this phenotype can be dose-dependently suppressed by co-expression of wild-type PrP. Whether the toxic activity of ΔCR PrP and the protective activity or wild-type PrP are cell-autonomous, or can be exerted on neighboring cells, is unknown. To investigate this question, we have utilized co-cultures of differentiated neural stem cells derived from mice expressing ΔCR or wild-type PrP. Cells from the two kinds of mice, which are marked by the presence or absence of GFP, are differentiated together to yield neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. As a surrogate read-out of ΔCR PrP toxicity, we assayed sensitivity of the cells to the cationic antibiotic, Zeocin. In a previous study, we reported that cells expressing ΔCR PrP are hypersensitive to the toxic effects of several cationic antibiotics, an effect that is suppressed by co-expression of wild type PrP, similar to the rescue of the neurodegenerative phenotype observed in transgenic mice. Using this system, we find that while ΔCR-dependent toxicity is cell-autonomous, the rescuing activity of wild-type PrP can be exerted in trans from nearby cells. These results provide important insights into how ΔCR PrP subverts a normal physiological function of PrPC, and the cellular mechanisms underlying the rescuing process.
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