Alpha-synuclein pore forming activity upon membrane association

Non-steric-zipper models for pathogenic α-synuclein conformers

Parkinson's disease neurodegenerative brain tissue exhibits two biophysically distinct α-synuclein fiber isoforms—single stranded fibers that appear to be steric-zippers and double-stranded fibers with an undetermined structure. Herein, we describe a β-helical homology model of α-synuclein that exhibits stability in probabilistic and Monte Carlo simulations as a candidate for stable prional dimer conformers in equilibrium with double-stranded fibers and cytotoxic pore assemblies. Molecular models of β-helical pore assemblies are consistent with α-synuclein^A53T transfected rat immunofluorescence epitope maps. Atomic force microscopy reveals that α-synuclein peptides aggregate into anisotropic fibrils lacking the density or circumference of a steric-zipper. Moreover, fibrillation was blocked by mutations designed to hinder β-helical but not steric-zipper conformations. β-helical species provide a structural basis for previously described biophysical properties that are incompatible with a steric-zipper, provide pathogenic mechanisms for familial human α-synuclein mutations, and offer a direct cytotoxic target for therapeutic development.

Alpha-Synuclein: From Early Synaptic Dysfunction to Neurodegeneration

Over the last two decades, many experimental and clinical studies have provided solid evidence that alpha-synuclein (α-syn), a small, natively unfolded protein, is closely related to Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology. To provide an overview on the different roles of this protein, here we propose a synopsis of seminal and recent studies that explored the many aspects of α-syn. Ranging from the physiological functions to its neurodegenerative potential, the relationship with the possible pathogenesis of PD will be discussed. Close attention will be paid on early cellular and molecular alterations associated with the presence of α-syn aggregates.

Structural characteristics and membrane interactions of tandem α-synuclein oligomers

Pre-fibrillar oligomers of α-synuclein are thought to be pathogenic molecules leading to neurotoxicity associated with Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. However, small oligomers are difficult to isolate for study. To gain better insight into the properties of small α-synuclein oligomers, we investigated engineered oligomers of specific size (dimers, tetramers, and octamers) linked head-to-tail in tandem, comparing the behavior of the oligomers to monomeric α-synuclein. All oligomeric constructs remained largely disordered in solution, as determined from dynamic light scattering and size-exclusion chromatography. Electron microscopy revealed that each construct could aggregate to form fibrils similar to those formed by monomeric α-synuclein. The interactions with large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of negatively-charged lipids differed depending on size, with smaller oligomers forming more extensive helical structure as determined by CD spectroscopy. Monitoring the influx of a fluorescence bleaching agent into vesicles showed that larger oligomers were somewhat more effective at degrading vesicular integrity and inducing membrane permeabilization.

Alpha-synuclein, Proteotoxicity and Parkinson's Disease: Search for Neuroprotective Therapy

BACKGROUND

There is a growing body of evidence in animal and cell based models of Parkinson's disease (PD) to suggest that overexpression and / or abnormal accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein can trigger neuronal death. This important role of α-synuclein in PD pathogenesis is supported by the fact that duplication, triplication and mutations of α-synuclein gene cause familial forms of PD.

METHODS

A review of literature was performed by searching PubMed and Google Scholar for relevant articles highlighting the pathogenic role of α-synuclein and the potential therapeutic implications of targeting various pathways related to this protein.

RESULTS

The overexpression and accumulation of α-synuclein within neurons may involve both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms including a decreased degradation of the protein through proteasomal or autophagic processes. The mechanisms of monomeric α-synuclein aggregating to oligomers and fibrils have been investigated intensively, but it is still not certain which form of this natively unfolded protein is responsible for toxicity. Likewise the proteotoxic pathways induced by α- synuclein leading to neuronal death are not elucidated completely but mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and altered ER-golgi transport may play crucial roles in this process. At the molecular level, the ability of α-synuclein to form pores in biomembranes or to interact with specific proteins of the cell organelles and the cytosol could be determining factors in the toxicity of this protein.

CONCLUSION

Despite many limitations in our present knowledge of physiological and pathological functions of α-synuclein, it appears that this protein may be a target for the development of neuroprotective drugs against PD. This review has discussed many such potential drugs which prevent the expression, accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein or its interactions with mitochondria or ER and thereby effectively abolish α-synuclein mediated toxicity in different experimental models.

DOPAL derived alpha-synuclein oligomers impair synaptic vesicles physiological function

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons and by accumulation of alpha-synuclein (aS) aggregates in the surviving neurons. The dopamine catabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) is a highly reactive and toxic molecule that leads to aS oligomerization by covalent modifications to lysine residues. Here we show that DOPAL-induced aS oligomer formation in neurons is associated with damage of synaptic vesicles, and with alterations in the synaptic vesicles pools. To investigate the molecular mechanism that leads to synaptic impairment, we first aimed to characterize the biochemical and biophysical properties of the aS-DOPAL oligomers; heterogeneous ensembles of macromolecules able to permeabilise cholesterol-containing lipid membranes. aS-DOPAL oligomers can induce dopamine leak in an in vitro model of synaptic vesicles and in cellular models. The dopamine released, after conversion to DOPAL in the cytoplasm, could trigger a noxious cycle that further fuels the formation of aS-DOPAL oligomers, inducing neurodegeneration.

Alpha-synuclein at the intracellular and the extracellular side: functional and dysfunctional implications

Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is an abundant neuronal protein whose physiological function, even if still not completely understood, has been consistently related to synaptic function and vesicle trafficking. A group of disorders known as synucleinopathies, among which Parkinson’s disease (PD), is deeply associated with the misfolding and aggregation of α-syn, which can give rise to proteinaceous inclusion known as Lewy bodies (LB). Proteostasis stress is a relevant aspect in these diseases and, currently, the presence of oligomeric α-syn species rather than insoluble aggregated forms, appeared to be associated with cytotoxicity. Many observations suggest that α-syn is responsible for neurodegeneration by interfering with multiple signaling pathways. α-syn protein can directly form plasma membrane channels or modify with their activity, thus altering membrane permeability to ions, abnormally associate with mitochondria and cause mitochondrial dysfunction (i.e. mitochondrial depolarization, Ca2+ dys-homeostasis, cytochrome c release) and interfere with autophagy regulation. The picture is further complicated by the fact that single point mutations, duplications and triplication in α-syn gene are linked to autosomal dominant forms of PD. In this review we discuss the multi-faced aspect of α-syn biology and address the main hypothesis at the basis of its involvement in neuronal degeneration.

Ion Channel Formation by Amyloid-β42 Oligomers but Not Amyloid-β40 in Cellular Membranes

A central hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the presence of extracellular amyloid plaques chiefly consisting of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides in the brain interstitium. Aβ largely exists in two isoforms, 40 and 42 amino acids long, but a large body of evidence points to Aβ(1-42) rather than Aβ(1-40) as the cytotoxic form. One proposed mechanism by which Aβ exerts toxicity is the formation of ion channel pores that disrupt intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis. However, previous studies using membrane mimetics have not identified any notable difference in the channel forming properties between Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(1-42). Here, we tested whether a more physiological environment, membranes excised from HEK293 cells of neuronal origin, would reveal differences in the relative channel forming ability of monomeric, oligomeric, and fibrillar forms of both Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(1-42). Aβ preparations were characterized with transmission electron microscopy and thioflavin T fluorescence. Aβ was then exposed to the extracellular face of excised membranes, and transmembrane currents were monitored using patch clamp. Our data indicated that Aβ(1-42) assemblies in oligomeric preparations form voltage-independent, non-selective ion channels. In contrast, Aβ(1-40) oligomers, fibers, and monomers did not form channels. Ion channel conductance results suggested that Aβ(1-42) oligomers, but not monomers and fibers, formed three distinct pore structures with 1.7-, 2.1-, and 2.4-nm pore diameters. Our findings demonstrate that only Aβ(1-42) contains unique structural features that facilitate membrane insertion and channel formation, now aligning ion channel formation with the differential neurotoxic effect of Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(1-42) in Alzheimer's disease.

Intracellular soluble α-synuclein oligomers reduce pyramidal cell excitability

Key points

The presynaptic protein α‐synuclein forms aggregates during Parkinson's disease.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the small soluble oligomers of α‐synuclein are more toxic than the larger aggregates appearing later in the disease.

The link between oligomer toxicity and structure still remains unclear.

In the present study, we have produced two structurally‐defined oligomers that have a similar morphology but differ in secondary structure.

These oligomers were introduced into neocortical pyramidal cells during whole‐cell recording and, using a combination of experimentation and modelling, electrophysiological parameters were extracted.

Both oligomeric species had similar effects on neuronal properties reducing input resistance, time constant and increasing capacitance. The net effect was a marked reduction in neuronal excitability that could impact on network activity.

Abstract

The presynaptic protein α‐synuclein (αSyn) aggregates during Parkinson's disease (PD) to form large proteinaceous amyloid plaques, the spread of which throughout the brain clinically defines the severity of the disease. During early stages of aggregation, αSyn forms soluble annular oligomers that show greater toxicity than much larger fibrils. These oligomers produce toxicity via a number of possible mechanisms, including the production of pore‐forming complexes that permeabilize membranes. In the present study, two well‐defined species of soluble αSyn oligomers were produced by different protocols: by polymerization of monomer and by sonication of fibrils. The two oligomeric species produced were morphologically similar, with both having an annular structure and consisting of approximately the same number of monomer subunits, although they differed in their secondary structure. Oligomeric and monomeric αSyn were injected directly into the soma of pyramidal neurons in mouse neocortical brain slices during whole‐cell patch clamp recording. Using a combined experimental and modelling approach, neuronal parameters were extracted to measure, for the first time in the neocortex, specific changes in neuronal electrophysiology. Both species of oligomer had similar effects: (i) a significant reduction in input resistance and the membrane time constant and (ii) an increase in the current required to trigger an action potential with a resultant reduction in the firing rate. Differences in oligomer secondary structure appeared to produce only subtle differences in the activity of the oligomers. Monomeric αSyn had no effect on neuronal parameters, even at high concentrations. The oligomer‐induced fall in neuronal excitability has the potential to impact both network activity and cognitive processing.

The presynaptic protein α‐synuclein forms aggregates during Parkinson's disease.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the small soluble oligomers of α‐synuclein are more toxic than the larger aggregates appearing later in the disease.

The link between oligomer toxicity and structure still remains unclear.

In the present study, we have produced two structurally‐defined oligomers that have a similar morphology but differ in secondary structure.

These oligomers were introduced into neocortical pyramidal cells during whole‐cell recording and, using a combination of experimentation and modelling, electrophysiological parameters were extracted.

Both oligomeric species had similar effects on neuronal properties reducing input resistance, time constant and increasing capacitance. The net effect was a marked reduction in neuronal excitability that could impact on network activity.

Understanding Caffeine's Role in Attenuating the Toxicity of α-Synuclein Aggregates: Implications for Risk of Parkinson's Disease

Epidemiological studies report a beneficial relationship between drinking coffee and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD). This is likely due to caffeine, a constituent of coffee, acting as an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist. This study was planned to investigate whether caffeine has any effect on the aggregation of α-synuclein, present in Lewy bodies, the pathological hallmark of PD, which may account for this positive association. Aggregation of recombinant α-synuclein was followed in vitro and in a well-validated yeast proteotoxicity model of PD. Caffeine was found to have twin effects: it accelerated the process of aggregation and also altered the nature of mature aggregates. Aggregates formed in the presence of caffeine displayed amorphous as well as fibrillar morphology. In the presence of caffeine, the toxicity of oligomers and aggregates was diminished, with concomitant reduction in intracellular oxidative stress, decreased oxidative proteome damage, and increased cell survival. Caffeine-treated samples showed improved binding to phospholipids, a property likely to be important in cellular functioning of α-synuclein. Far-UV CD spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching analysis revealed that caffeine induced transient changes in this intrinsically disordered protein, forming a non-native species that enhanced the rate of aggregation of α-synuclein and modified the population of mature aggregates, introducing a higher fraction of amorphous, less toxic species. Increasingly, it is felt that the process of fibrillation itself, along with the nature of mature aggregates, dictates the cytotoxicity of the process. Our results provide a rationale for the observed epidemiological link between drinking coffee and developing PD.

Structure, function and toxicity of alpha-synuclein: the Bermuda triangle in synucleinopathies

Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of currently incurable neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the misfolding and accumulation of alpha-synuclein aggregates that are commonly known as synucleinopathies. Clinically, synucleinopathies are heterogeneous, reflecting the somewhat selective neuronal vulnerability characteristic of each disease. The precise molecular underpinnings of synucleinopathies remain unclear, but the process of aggregation of alpha-synuclein appears as a central event. However, there is still no consensus with respect to the toxic forms of alpha-synuclein, hampering our ability to use the protein as a target for therapeutic intervention. To decipher the molecular bases of synucleinopathies, it is essential to understand the complex triangle formed between the structure, function and toxicity of alpha-synuclein. Recently, important steps have been undertaken to elucidate the role of the protein in both physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we provide an overview of recent findings in the field of alpha-synuclein research, and put forward a new perspective over paradigms that persist in the field. Establishing whether alpha-synuclein has a causative role in all synucleinopathies will enable the identification of targets for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for this devastating group of disorders. Alpha-synuclein is the speculated cornerstone of several neurodegenerative disorders known as Synucleinopathies. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenic effects of this protein remain unknown. Here, we review the recent findings in the three corners of alpha-synuclein biology - structure, function and toxicity - and discuss the enigmatic roads that have accompanied alpha-synuclein from the beginning. This article is part of a special issue on Parkinson disease.

Features of alpha-synuclein that could explain the progression and irreversibility of Parkinson's disease

Alpha-synuclein is a presynaptic protein expressed throughout the central nervous system, and it is the main component of Lewy bodies, one of the histopathological features of Parkinson's disease (PD) which is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder. The conformational flexibility of α-synuclein allows it to adopt different conformations, i.e., bound to membranes or form aggregates, the oligomers are believed to be the more toxic species. In this review, we will focus on two major features of α-synuclein, transmission and toxicity, that could help to understand the pathological characteristics of PD. One important feature of α-synuclein is its ability to be transmitted from neuron to neuron using mechanisms such as endocytosis, plasma membrane penetration or through exosomes, thus propagating the Lewy body pathology to different brain regions thereby contributing to the progressiveness of PD. The second feature of α-synuclein is that it confers cytotoxicity to recipient cells, principally when it is in an oligomeric state. This form causes mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, proteasome impairment, disruption of plasma membrane and pore formation that lead to apoptosis pathway activation and consequent cell death. The complexity of α-synuclein oligomerization and formation of toxic species could be a major factor for the irreversibility of PD and could also explain the lack of successful therapies to halt the disease.

NADH fluorescence lifetime is an endogenous reporter of α-synuclein aggregation in live cells

α-Synuclein (aS) aggregation has been amply investigated for its involvement in Parkinson's disease because its amyloid fibrils are the main constituent of Lewy bodies, one of the hallmarks of the disease. aS aggregation was studied here in vitro and in cellular models to correlate aggregation products with toxicity mechanisms. Independent results published elsewhere suggested that aS overexpression and/or aggregation may impair cellular metabolism and cause mitochondrial damage. In this context, we report the characterization of changes in NADH fluorescence properties in vitro and in human embryonic kidney 293 cells upon aS aggregation. The application of the phasor approach to study NADH fluorescence lifetime and emission allowed us to identify changes that correlate with aS aggregation. In particular, the fraction of bound NADH, characterized by longer lifetimes in comparison to free NADH, is increased, and the maximum of the NADH emission is shifted toward shorter wavelengths in the presence of aggregating aS both in vitro and in cells. These data suggest that NADH binds to aggregated aS. NMR experiments in vitro substantiate such binding, which occurs during aggregation. NADH fluorescence is thus useful to detect aS aggregation and by extension the associated oxidative stress.

Insights on the interaction of alpha-synuclein and metals in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease

The interaction of different metals with the Parkinson's disease-associated protein alpha-synuclein results in oxidative stress, protein aggregation and pathology progression.

Conformational heterogeneity of α-synuclein in membrane

α-Synuclein (αS) is a natively disordered protein in solution, thought to be involved in the fusion of neurotransmitter vesicles to cellular membranes during neurotransmission. Monomeric αS has been previously characterized in two distinct membrane-associated conformations: a broken-helix structure, and an extended helix. By employing atomistic molecular dynamics and a novel membrane representation with significantly enhanced lipid mobility (HMMM), we investigate the process of spontaneous membrane binding of αS and the conformational dynamics of monomeric αS in its membrane-bound form. By repeatedly placing helical αS monomers in solution above a planar lipid bilayer and observing their spontaneous association and its spontaneous insertion into the membrane during twenty independent unbiased simulations, we are able to characterize αS in its membrane-bound state, suggesting that αS has a highly variable membrane insertion depth at equilibrium. Our simulations also capture two distinct states of αS, the starting broken-helix conformation seen in the micelle bound NMR structures, and a semi-extended helix. Analysis of lipid distributions near αS monomers indicates that the transition to a semi-extended helix is facilitated by concentration of phosphatidyl-serine headgroups along the inner edge of the protein. Such a lipid-mediated transition between helix-turn-helix and extended conformations of αS may also occur in vivo, and may be important for the physiological function of αS.

α-Synuclein forms non-selective cation channels and stimulates ATP-sensitive potassium channels in hippocampal neurons

KEY POINTS

In Parkinson's disease, the protein α-synuclein (αS) is produced within neurons and also appears in the extracellular fluid. In this study in hippocampal neurons, αS formed non-selective cation channels with multiple levels of conductance and rectification depending on their insertion site. αS channels induced local spontaneous increases in intracellular Na(+) and Ca(2+), depolarized neurons, augmented bursting activity and stimulated the opening of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels. Non-selective channels were also observed in neurons transfected with either wild-type or mutant A53T αS, and after extracellular application of these proteins. The properties of αS channels in neuronal membranes suggest that extracellular αS is more toxic than αS produced within neurons. In Parkinson's disease and several other neurodegenerative diseases, the protein α-synuclein (αS) is produced within neurons and accumulates in the extracellular fluid. Several mechanisms of αS action are proposed, one of which is the formation of cation-permeable pores that may mediate toxicity. αS induces non-selective cation channels in lipid bilayers, but whether this occurs in living neurons and which properties the channels possess have not yet been examined. In this study the properties of αS channels in dissociated hippocampal neurons are documented. In cell-attached recordings the incorporation of αS into membranes was driven by applied negative potentials. These channels exhibited multiple levels of conductance (30, 70 and 120 pS at -100 mV) and inward rectification. The persistent activity of αS channels induced local changes in intracellular Na(+) and Ca(2+), depolarized neurons and augmented bursting activity. αS channels formed by adding αS to the intracellular membrane in inside-out patches exhibited outward rectification. αS channels were equally permeable to Na(+), K(+) and Ca(2+). These channels were also observed in neurons transfected with wild-type or mutant A53T αS, and after extracellular application of wild-type or mutant A53T αS proteins. Opening of αS channels stimulated opening of ATP-sensitive K(+) (KATP ) channels and did not interfere with the activity of delayed rectifier K(+) channels. The properties of αS channels in neuronal membranes suggest stronger toxicity of extracellularly applied αS than intracellular αS. Enhancement of neuronal excitability and distortions in ion homeostasis may underlie the toxic effects of αS that can be dampened by KATP channels.

Functional characterization of sticholysin I and W111C mutant reveals the sequence of the actinoporin's pore assembly

The use of pore-forming toxins in the construction of immunotoxins against tumour cells is an alternative for cancer therapy. In this protein family one of the most potent toxins are the actinoporins, cytolysins from sea anemones. We work on the construction of tumour proteinase-activated immunotoxins using sticholysin I (StI), an actinoporin isolated from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus. To accomplish this objective, recombinant StI (StIr) with a mutation in the membrane binding region has been employed. In this work, it was evaluated the impact of mutating tryptophan 111 to cysteine on the toxin pore forming capability. StI W111C is still able to permeabilize erythrocytes and liposomes, but at ten-fold higher concentration than StI. This is due to its lower affinity for the membrane, which corroborates the importance of residue 111 for the binding of actinoporins to the lipid bilayer. In agreement, other functional characteristics not directly associated to the binding, are essentially the same for both variants, that is, pores have oligomeric structures with similar radii, conductance, cation-selectivity, and instantaneous current-voltage behavior. In addition, this work provides experimental evidence sustaining the toroidal protein-lipid actinoporins lytic structures, since the toxins provoke the trans-bilayer movement (flip-flop) of a pyrene-labeled analogue of phosphatidylcholine in liposomes, indicating the existence of continuity between the outer and the inner membrane leaflet. Finally, our planar lipid membranes results have also contributed to a better understanding of the actinoporin's pore assembly mechanism. After the toxin binding and the N-terminal insertion in the lipid membrane, the pore assembly occurs by passing through different transient sub-conductance states. These states, usually 3 or 4, are due to the successive incorporation of N-terminal α-helices and lipid heads to the growing pores until a stable toroidal oligomeric structure is formed, which is mainly tetrameric.

Role of the fast kinetics of pyroglutamate-modified amyloid-β oligomers in membrane binding and membrane permeability

Membrane permeability to ions and small molecules is believed to be a critical step in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Interactions of oligomers formed by amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides with the plasma cell membrane are believed to play a fundamental role in the processes leading to membrane permeability. Among the family of Aβs, pyroglutamate (pE)-modified Aβ peptides constitute the most abundant oligomeric species in the brains of AD patients. Although membrane permeability mechanisms have been studied for full-length Aβ_1–40/42 peptides, these have not been sufficiently characterized for the more abundant Aβ_pE3–42 fragment. Here we have compared the adsorbed and membrane-inserted oligomeric species of Aβ_pE3–42 and Aβ_1–42 peptides. We find lower concentrations and larger dimensions for both species of membrane-associated Aβ_pE3–42 oligomers. The larger dimensions are attributed to the faster self-assembly kinetics of Aβ_pE3–42, and the lower concentrations are attributed to weaker interactions with zwitterionic lipid headgroups. While adsorbed oligomers produced little or no significant membrane structural damage, increased membrane permeabilization to ionic species is understood in terms of enlarged membrane-inserted oligomers. Membrane-inserted Aβ_pE3–42 oligomers were also found to modify the mechanical properties of the membrane. Taken together, our results suggest that membrane-inserted oligomers are the primary species responsible for membrane permeability.

Number and Brightness analysis of alpha-synuclein oligomerization and the associated mitochondrial morphology alterations in live cells

BACKGROUND

Alpha-synuclein oligomerization is associated to Parkinson's disease etiopathogenesis. The study of alpha-synuclein oligomerization properties in live cell and the definition of their effects on cellular viability are among fields expected to provide the knowledge required to unravel the mechanism(s) of toxicity that lead to the disease.

METHODS

We used Number and Brightness method, which is a method based on fluorescence fluctuation analysis, to monitor alpha-synuclein tagged with EGFP aggregation in living SH-SY5Y cells. The presence of alpha-synuclein oligomers detected with this method was associated with intracellular structure conditions, evaluated by fluorescence confocal imaging.

RESULTS

Cells overexpressing alpha-synuclein-EGFP present a heterogeneous ensemble of oligomers constituted by less than 10 monomers, when the protein approaches a threshold concentration value of about 90nM in the cell cytoplasm. We show that the oligomeric species are partially sequestered by lysosomes and that the mitochondria morphology is altered in cells presenting oligomers, suggesting that these mitochondria may be dysfunctional.

CONCLUSIONS

We showed that alpha-synuclein overexpression in SH-SY5Y causes the formation of alpha-synuclein oligomeric species, whose presence is associated with mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagic-lysosomal pathway activation in live cells.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The unique capability provided by the Number and Brightness analysis to study alpha-synuclein oligomer distribution and properties, and the study of their association to intracellular components in single live cells is important to forward our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Parkinson's disease and it may be of general significance when applied to the study of other aggregating proteins in cellular models.

Biophysical groundwork as a hinge to unravel the biology of α-synuclein aggregation and toxicity

Alpha-synuclein (aS) and its aggregation properties are central in the development and spread of Parkinson's disease. Point mutations and multiplications of the SNCA gene encoding aS cause autosomal dominant forms of the disorder. Moreover, protein inclusions found in the surviving neurons of parkinsonian brains consist mainly of a fibrillar form of aS. Aggregates of aS, which form a transient, complex and heterogeneous ensemble, participate in a wide variety of toxic mechanisms that may be amplified by aS spreading among neighbouring neurons. Recently, significant effort has been directed into the study of the aS aggregation process and the impact of aS aggregates on neuron survival. In this review, we present state-of-the-art biophysical studies on the aS aggregation process in vitro and in cellular models. We comprehensively review the new insights generated by the recent biophysical investigations, which could provide a solid basis from which to design future biomedical studies. The diverse cellular models of aS toxicity and their potential use in the biophysical investigation are also discussed.

Structural and dynamical insights into the membrane-bound α-synuclein

Membrane-induced disorder-to-helix transition of α-synuclein, a presynaptic protein, has been implicated in a number of important neuronal functions as well as in the etiology of Parkinson’s disease. In order to obtain structural insights of membrane-bound α-synuclein at the residue-specific resolution, we took advantage of the fact that the protein is devoid of tryptophan and incorporated single tryptophan at various residue positions along the sequence. These tryptophans were used as site-specific markers to characterize the structural and dynamical aspects of α-synuclein on the negatively charged small unilamellar lipid vesicles. An array of site-specific fluorescence readouts, such as the spectral-shift, quenching efficiency and anisotropy, allowed us to discern various features of the conformational rearrangements occurring at different locations of α-synuclein on the lipid membrane. In order to define the spatial localization of various regions of the protein near the membrane surface, we utilized a unique and sensitive indicator, namely, red-edge excitation shift (REES), which originates when a fluorophore is located in a highly ordered micro-environment. The extent of REES observed at different residue positions allowed us to directly identify the residues that are localized at the membrane-water interface comprising a thin (∼ 15 Å) layer of motionally restrained water molecules and enabled us to construct a dynamic hydration map of the protein. The combination of site-specific fluorescence readouts allowed us to unravel the intriguing molecular details of α-synuclein on the lipid membrane in a direct model-free fashion. Additionally, the combination of methodologies described here are capable of distinguishing subtle but important structural alterations of α-synuclein bound to different negatively charged lipids with varied head-group chemistry. We believe that the structural modulations of α-synuclein on the membrane could potentially be related to its physiological functions as well as to the onset of Parkinson’s diseases.

α-Synuclein oligomers induced by docosahexaenoic acid affect membrane integrity

A key feature of Parkinson disease is the aggregation of α-synuclein and its intracellular deposition in fibrillar form. Increasing evidence suggests that the pathogenicity of α-synuclein is correlated with the activity of oligomers formed in the early stages of its aggregation process. Oligomers toxicity seems to be associated with both their ability to bind and affect the integrity of lipid membranes. Previously, we demonstrated that α-synuclein forms oligomeric species in the presence of docosahexaenoic acid and that these species are toxic to cells. Here we studied how interaction of these oligomers with membranes results in cell toxicity, using cellular membrane-mimetic and cell model systems. We found that α-synuclein oligomers are able to interact with large and small unilamellar negatively charged vesicles acquiring an increased amount of α-helical structure, which induces small molecules release. We explored the possibility that oligomers effects on membranes could be due to pore formation, to a detergent-like effect or to fibril growth on the membrane. Our biophysical and cellular findings are consistent with a model where α-synuclein oligomers are embedded into the lipid bilayer causing transient alteration of membrane permeability.

Resolving the paradox for protein aggregation diseases: NMR structure and dynamics of the membrane-embedded P56S-MSP causing ALS imply a common mechanism for aggregation-prone proteins to attack membranes

Paradoxically, aggregation of specific proteins is characteristic of many human diseases and aging, yet aggregates have increasingly been found to be unnecessary for initiating pathogenesis. Here we determined the NMR topology and dynamics of a helical mutant in a membrane environment transformed from the 125-residue cytosolic all-β MSP domain of vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein B (VAPB) by the ALS-causing P56S mutation. Despite its low hydrophobicity, the P56S major sperm protein (MSP) domain becomes largely embedded in the membrane environment with high backbone rigidity. Furthermore it is composed of five helices with amphiphilicity comparable to those of the partly-soluble membrane toxin mellitin and α-synuclein causing Parkinson's disease. Consequently, the mechanism underlying this chameleon transformation becomes clear: by disrupting the specific tertiary interaction network stabilizing the native all-β MSP fold to release previously-locked amphiphilic segments, the P56S mutation acts to convert the classic MSP fold into a membrane-active protein that is fundamentally indistinguishable from mellitin and α-synuclein which are disordered in aqueous solution but spontaneously partition into membrane interfaces driven by hydrogen-bond energetics gained from forming α-helix in the membrane environments. As segments with high amphiphilicity exist in all proteins, our study successfully resolves the paradox by deciphering that the proteins with a higher tendency to aggregate have a stronger potential to partition into membranes through the same mechanism as α-synuclein to initially attack membranes to trigger pathogenesis without needing aggregates. This might represent the common first step for various kinds of aggregated proteins to trigger familiar, sporadic and aging diseases. Therefore the homeostasis of aggregated proteins in vivo is the central factor responsible for a variety of human diseases including aging. The number and degree of the membrane attacks by aggregated proteins may act as an endogenous clock to count down the aging process. Consequently, a key approach to fight against them is to develop strategies and agents to maintain or even enhance the functions of the degradation machineries.

Resolving the paradox for protein aggregation diseases: NMR structure and dynamics of the membrane-embedded P56S-MSP causing ALS imply a common mechanism for aggregation-prone proteins to attack membranes

Paradoxically, aggregation of specific proteins is characteristic of many human diseases and aging, yet aggregates have increasingly been found to be unnecessary for initiating pathogenesis. Here we determined the NMR topology and dynamics of a helical mutant in a membrane environment transformed from the 125-residue cytosolic all-β MSP domain of vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein B (VAPB) by the ALS-causing P56S mutation. Despite its low hydrophobicity, the P56S major sperm protein (MSP) domain becomes largely embedded in the membrane environment with high backbone rigidity. Furthermore it is composed of five helices with amphiphilicity comparable to those of the partly-soluble membrane toxin mellitin and α-synuclein causing Parkinson's disease. Consequently, the mechanism underlying this chameleon transformation becomes clear: by disrupting the specific tertiary interaction network stabilizing the native all-β MSP fold to release previously-locked amphiphilic segments, the P56S mutation acts to convert the classic MSP fold into a membrane-active protein that is fundamentally indistinguishable from mellitin and α-synuclein which are disordered in aqueous solution but spontaneously partition into membrane interfaces driven by hydrogen-bond energetics gained from forming α-helix in the membrane environments. As segments with high amphiphilicity exist in all proteins, our study successfully resolves the paradox by deciphering that the proteins with a higher tendency to aggregate have a stronger potential to partition into membranes through the same mechanism as α-synuclein to initially attack membranes to trigger pathogenesis without needing aggregates. This might represent the common first step for various kinds of aggregated proteins to trigger familiar, sporadic and aging diseases. Therefore the homeostasis of aggregated proteins in vivo is the central factor responsible for a variety of human diseases including aging. The number and degree of the membrane attacks by aggregated proteins may act as an endogenous clock to count down the aging process. Consequently, a key approach to fight against them is to develop strategies and agents to maintain or even enhance the functions of the degradation machineries.

Analysis of a single α-synuclein fibrillation by the interaction with a protein nanopore

The formation of an α-synuclein fibril is critical in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The native unfolded α-synuclein monomer will translocate through an α-hemolysin nanopore by applied potential at physiological conditions in vitro. Applying a potential transformed α-synuclein into a partially folded intermediate, which was monitored by capture inside the vestibule of an α-hemolysin nanopore with a capture current of 20 ± 1.0 pA. The procedure involves the critical early stage of α-synuclein structural transformation. Further elongation of the intermediate produces a block current to 5 ± 0.5 pA. It is revealed that the early stage fibril of α-synuclein inside the nanopore is affected by intrapeptide electrostatic interaction. In addition, trehalose cleared the fibrillation by changing the surface hydrophobic interaction of A53T α-synuclein, which did not show any inhibition effect from WT α-synuclein. The results proved that the interpeptide hydrophobic interactions in the elongation of A53T α-synuclein protofilaments can be greatly weakened by trehalose. This suggests that trehalose inhibits the interpeptide interaction involved in protein secondary structure. The hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions are associated with an increase in α-synuclein fibrillation propensity. This work provides unique insights into the earliest steps of the α-synuclein aggregation pathway and provides the potential basis for the development of drugs that can prevent α-synuclein aggregation at the initial stage.

The cell biology of prion-like spread of protein aggregates: mechanisms and implication in neurodegeneration

The misfolding and aggregation of specific proteins is a common hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, including highly prevalent illnesses such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as rarer disorders such as Huntington's and prion diseases. Among these, only prion diseases are ‘infectious’. By seeding misfolding of the PrPC (normal conformer prion protein) into PrPSc (abnormal disease-specific conformation of prion protein), prions spread from the periphery of the body to the central nervous system and can also be transmitted between individuals of the same or different species. However, recent exciting data suggest that the transmissibility of misfolded proteins within the brain is a property that goes way beyond the rare prion diseases. Evidence indicates that non-prion aggregates [tau, α-syn (α-synuclein), Aβ (amyloid-β) and Htt (huntingtin) aggregates] can also move between cells and seed the misfolding of their normal conformers. These findings have enormous implications. On the one hand they question the therapeutical use of transplants, and on the other they indicate that it may be possible to bring these diseases to an early arrest by preventing cell-to-cell transmission. To better understand the prion-like spread of these protein aggregates it is essential to identify the underlying cellular and molecular factors. In the present review we analyse and discuss the evidence supporting prion-like spreading of amyloidogenic proteins, especially focusing on the cellular and molecular mechanisms and their significance.