1
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Litwiniuk A, Kalisz M, Domańska A, Chmielowska M, Martyńska L, Baranowska-Bik A, Bik W. Nicotinic acid attenuates amyloid β 1-42-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibits the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Neurochem Int 2024; 178:105772. [PMID: 38789043 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory loss and behavioral disorders. The excessive accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) damage synaptic connections and the death of neurons. However, the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis of AD remain unclear. Growing evidence indicates that impaired mitochondrial function may play a crucial role in the development of AD. In the current study, we investigated whether nicotinic acid (NA) could protect against amyloid β1-42-induced cytotoxicity in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Our results revealed the neuroprotective effects of NA on the differentiated SH-SY5Y cells treated with Aβ1-42. In detail, the 1-h pre-incubation with NA increased cell viability and lowered LDH levels. NA pre-incubation abolished Aβ1-42 treatment-associated alterations of mRNA levels of synaptic genes and enhanced the relative β3 Tubulin fluorescence intensity. NA eliminated the Aβ1-42-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing the potential of mitochondrial membranes and maintaining a balance between the fusion and fission of mitochondria. Moreover, Aβ1-42 decreased mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic bcl2 and increased mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic: bim, bak, cytochrome c, and caspase 9. At the same time, the NA pre-treatment reduced Aβ1-42-dependent apoptotic death of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. The above data suggest that NA presents a protective activity against Aβ1-42-induced cytotoxicity in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells by inhibiting the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and restoring the proper function of mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Litwiniuk
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Małgorzata Kalisz
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anita Domańska
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Chmielowska
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lidia Martyńska
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Baranowska-Bik
- Department of Endocrinology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Cegłowska 80, 01-809, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Bik
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813, Warsaw, Poland
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2
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Jiang R, Li L, Wang B, Liu L, Liu L, Xian X, Li W. Ceftriaxone Modulates Ubiquitination of α-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4-Isoxazole Propionic Acid Receptors to Improve Long-Term Potentiation Impairment Induced by Exogenous β-Amyloid in a Glutamate Transporter-1 Dependent Manner. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:7181-7194. [PMID: 38374316 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04037-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors (AMPARs) are crucial for properties of synaptic plasticity, such as long-term potentiation (LTP). LTP impairment can occur early in the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The downregulation or decreased abundance of AMPAR expression in the postsynaptic membrane is closely associated with LTP impairment. Ceftriaxone (Cef) can improve LTP impairment in the early stages of AD in a mouse model. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism underlying this process from the aspects of AMPAR expression and ubiquitination degree. In this study, we found that β-amyloid (Aβ) treatment induced hippocampal LTP impairment and AMPAR downregulation and ubiquitination. Cef pretreatment ameliorated Aβ-induced hippocampal LTP impairment, reduced AMPAR ubiquitination, and increased AMPAR expression, especially in the plasma membrane, in Aβ-treated mice. Administration of USP46 siRNA and DHK (a specific blocker of glutamate transporter-1) significantly inhibited the above effects of Cef, suggesting a role for anti-AMPAR ubiquitination and upregulation of glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) in the Cef-induced improvements mentioned above. The above findings demonstrate that pretreatment with Cef effectively mitigated Aβ-induced impairment of hippocampal LTP by suppressing the ubiquitination process of AMPARs in a GLT-1-dependent manner. These results provide novel insights into the underlying mechanisms elucidating the anti-AD by Cef.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Jiang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Critical Disease Mechanism and Intervention, Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, People's Republic of China
- School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, 309 Jianhua South Street, Shijiazhuang, 050000, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Central Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping West Road, Shijiazhuang, 050000, People's Republic of China
| | - Bu Wang
- Department of Emergency Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping West Road, Shijiazhuang, 050000, People's Republic of China
| | - Lizhe Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Critical Disease Mechanism and Intervention, Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, People's Republic of China
| | - Lirong Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Critical Disease Mechanism and Intervention, Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohui Xian
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Critical Disease Mechanism and Intervention, Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenbin Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Critical Disease Mechanism and Intervention, Department of Pathophysiology, Neuroscience Research Center, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Gatch AJ, Ding F. TDP-43 Promotes Amyloid-Beta Toxicity by Delaying Fibril Maturation via Direct Molecular Interaction. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2936-2953. [PMID: 39073874 PMCID: PMC11323227 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) is a peptide that undergoes self-assembly into amyloid fibrils, which compose the hallmark plaques observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a protein with mislocalization and aggregation implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. Recent work suggests that TDP-43 may interact with Aβ, inhibiting the formation of amyloid fibrils and worsening AD pathology, but the molecular details of their interaction remain unknown. Using all-atom discrete molecular dynamics simulations, we systematically investigated the direct molecular interaction between Aβ and TDP-43. We found that Aβ monomers were able to bind near the flexible nuclear localization sequence of the N-terminal domain (NTD) of TDP-43, adopting β-sheet rich conformations that were promoted by the interaction. Furthermore, Aβ associated with the nucleic acid binding interface of the tandem RNA recognition motifs of TDP-43 via electrostatic interactions. Using the computational peptide array method, we found the strongest C-terminal domain interaction with Aβ to be within the amyloidogenic core region of TDP-43. With experimental evidence suggesting that the NTD is necessary for inhibiting Aβ fibril growth, we also simulated the NTD with an Aβ40 fibril seed. We found that the NTD was able to strongly bind the elongation surface of the fibril seed via extensive hydrogen bonding and could also diffuse along the lateral surface via electrostatic interactions. Our results suggest that TDP-43 binding to the elongation surface, thereby sterically blocking Aβ monomer addition, is responsible for the experimentally observed inhibition of fibril growth. We conclude that TDP-43 may promote Aβ toxicity by stabilizing the oligomeric state and kinetically delaying fibril maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J. Gatch
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
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4
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Marshall KE, Mengham K, Spink MC, Vania L, Pollard HJ, Darrow MC, Duke E, Harkiolaki M, Serpell LC. Correlative cryo-soft X-ray tomography and cryo-structured illumination microscopy reveal changes to lysosomes in amyloid-β-treated neurons. Structure 2024; 32:585-593.e3. [PMID: 38471506 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Protein misfolding is common to neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) including Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is partly characterized by the self-assembly and accumulation of amyloid-beta in the brain. Lysosomes are a critical component of the proteostasis network required to degrade and recycle material from outside and within the cell and impaired proteostatic mechanisms have been implicated in NDs. We have previously established that toxic amyloid-beta oligomers are endocytosed, accumulate in lysosomes, and disrupt the endo-lysosomal system in neurons. Here, we use pioneering correlative cryo-structured illumination microscopy and cryo-soft X-ray tomography imaging techniques to reconstruct 3D cellular architecture in the native state revealing reduced X-ray density in lysosomes and increased carbon dense vesicles in oligomer treated neurons compared with untreated cells. This work provides unprecedented visual information on the changes to neuronal lysosomes inflicted by amyloid beta oligomers using advanced methods in structural cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E Marshall
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK.
| | - Kurtis Mengham
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK
| | - Matthew C Spink
- Diamond Light Source, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
| | - Lyra Vania
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK
| | - Hannah Jane Pollard
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK
| | - Michele C Darrow
- Diamond Light Source, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
| | - Elizabeth Duke
- Diamond Light Source, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
| | - Maria Harkiolaki
- Diamond Light Source, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Avenue, OX11 0DE Didcot, UK
| | - Louise C Serpell
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, BN1 9QG Brighton, UK.
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5
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Daniel G, Hilan G, Ploeg L, Sabatino D. Self-assembly of amphiphilic helical-coiled peptide nanofibers and inhibition of fibril formation with curcumin. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2024; 102:129682. [PMID: 38432287 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2024.129682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Amphiphilic peptide sequences are conducive to secondary structures that self-assemble into higher-ordered peptide nanostructures. A select set of amphiphilic polycationic peptides displayed stable helical-coiled structures that self-assembled into peptide nanofibers. The progression of peptide fibril formation revealed short protofibrils that extended into thin filaments and into an entangled network of nanofibers over an extended (5 days) incubation period. Ligand binding with 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (ANS) and Congo Red (CR) confirmed the amphiphilic helical-coiled peptide structure assembly into nanofibers, whereas curcumin treatment led to inhibition of fibril formation. Considering the vast repertoire of fibrous biomaterials and peptide or protein (mis)folding contingent on fibril formation, this work relates the molecular interplay in between sequence composition, structural folding and the ligand binding events impacting peptide self-assembly into nanofibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Daniel
- Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada; Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - George Hilan
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Lisa Ploeg
- Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - David Sabatino
- Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada; Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada.
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6
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Kuhn AJ, Chan K, Sajimon M, Yoo S, Balasco Serrão VH, Lee J, Abrams B, Nowick JS, Uversky VN, Wheeler C, Raskatov JA. Amyloid-α Peptide Formed through Alternative Processing of the Amyloid Precursor Protein Attenuates Alzheimer's Amyloid-β Toxicity via Cross-Chaperoning. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2634-2645. [PMID: 38236059 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid aggregation is a key feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a primary target for past and present therapeutic efforts. Recent research is making it increasingly clear that the heterogeneity of amyloid deposits, extending past the commonly targeted amyloid-β (Aβ), must be considered for successful therapy. We recently demonstrated that amyloid-α (Aα or p3), a C-terminal peptidic fragment of Aβ, aggregates rapidly to form amyloids and can expedite the aggregation of Aβ through seeding. Here, we advance the understanding of Aα biophysics and biology in several important ways. We report the first cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of an Aα amyloid fibril, proving unambiguously that the peptide is fibrillogenic. We demonstrate that Aα induces Aβ to form amyloid aggregates that are less toxic than pure Aβ aggregates and use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to provide insights into specific interactions between Aα and Aβ in solution. This is the first evidence that Aα can coassemble with Aβ and alter its biological effects at relatively low concentrations. Based on the above, we urge researchers in the field to re-examine the significance of Aα in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel J Kuhn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Ka Chan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Maria Sajimon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Stan Yoo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Vitor Hugo Balasco Serrão
- Biomolecular Cryoelectron Microscopy Facility, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Jack Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Benjamin Abrams
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Life Sciences Microscopy Center, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - James S Nowick
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC07, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Christopher Wheeler
- World Brain Mapping Foundation, Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics, 860 Via De La Paz, Suite E-1, Pacific Palisades, California 90272-3668, United States
- StemVax Therapeutics (Subsidiary of NovAccess Global), 8584 E. Washington Street #127, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44023, United States
- StemVax Therapeutics (Subsidiary of NovAccess Global), 2265 E. Foothill Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91107, United States
- T-Neuro Pharma, 1451 Innovation Parkway SE, Suite 600, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, United States
- T-Neuro Pharma, P.O. Box 781, Aptos, California 95003, United States
| | - Jevgenij A Raskatov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
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7
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Yokoyama K, Barbour E, Hirschkind R, Martinez Hernandez B, Hausrath K, Lam T. Protein Corona Formation and Aggregation of Amyloid β 1-40-Coated Gold Nanocolloids. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:1728-1746. [PMID: 38194428 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrillogenesis is a pathogenic protein aggregation process that occurs through a highly ordered process of protein-protein interactions. To better understand the protein-protein interactions involved in amyloid fibril formation, we formed nanogold colloid aggregates by stepwise additions of ∼2 nmol of amyloid β 1-40 peptide (Aβ1-40) at pH ∼3.7 and ∼25 °C. The processes of protein corona formation and building of gold colloid [diameters (d) of 20 and 80 nm] aggregates were confirmed by a red-shift of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band, λpeak, as the number of Aβ1-40 peptides [N(Aβ1-40)] increased. The normalized red-shift of λpeak, Δλ, was correlated with the degree of protein aggregation, and this process was approximated as the adsorption isotherm explained by the Langmuir-Freundlich model. As the coverage fraction (θ) was analyzed as a function of ϕ, which is the N(Aβ1-40) per total surface area of nanogold colloids available for adsorption, the parameters for explaining the Langmuir-Freundlich model were in good agreement for both 20 and 80 nm gold, indicating that ϕ could define the stage of the aggregation process. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) imaging was conducted at designated values of ϕ and suggested that a protein-gold surface interaction during the initial adsorption stage may be dependent on the nanosize. The 20 nm gold case seems to prefer a relatively smaller contacting section, such as a -C-N or C═C bond, but a plane of the benzene ring may play a significant role for 80 nm gold. Regardless of the size of the particles, the β-sheet and random coil conformations were considered to be used to form gold colloid aggregates. The methodology developed in this study allows for new insights into protein-protein interactions at distinct stages of aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazushige Yokoyama
- Department of Chemistry, The State University of New York Geneseo College, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, New York 14454, United States
| | - Eli Barbour
- Department of Chemistry, The State University of New York Geneseo College, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, New York 14454, United States
| | - Rachel Hirschkind
- Department of Chemistry, The State University of New York Geneseo College, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, New York 14454, United States
| | - Bryan Martinez Hernandez
- Department of Chemistry, The State University of New York Geneseo College, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, New York 14454, United States
| | - Kaylee Hausrath
- Department of Chemistry, The State University of New York Geneseo College, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, New York 14454, United States
| | - Theresa Lam
- Department of Chemistry, The State University of New York Geneseo College, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, New York 14454, United States
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8
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La Manna S, Di Natale C, Panzetta V, Leone M, Mercurio FA, Cipollone I, Monti M, Netti PA, Ferraro G, Terán A, Sánchez-Peláez AE, Herrero S, Merlino A, Marasco D. A Diruthenium Metallodrug as a Potent Inhibitor of Amyloid-β Aggregation: Synergism of Mechanisms of Action. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:564-575. [PMID: 38117944 PMCID: PMC10777406 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c03441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
The physical and chemical properties of paddlewheel diruthenium compounds are highly dependent on the nature of the ligands surrounding the bimetallic core. Herein, we compare the ability of two diruthenium compounds, [Ru2Cl(D-p-FPhF)(O2CCH3)3]·H2O (1) (D-p-FPhF- = N,N'-bis(4-fluorophenyl)formamidinate) and K3[Ru2(O2CO)4]·3H2O (2), to act as inhibitors of amyloid aggregation of the Aβ1-42 peptide and its peculiar fragments, Aβ1-16 and Aβ21-40. A wide range of biophysical techniques has been used to determine the inhibition capacity against aggregation and the possible mechanism of action of these compounds (Thioflavin T fluorescence and autofluorescence assays, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and electron scanning microscopy). Data show that the most effective inhibitory effect is shown for compound 1. This compound inhibits fiber formation and completely abolishes the cytotoxicity of Aβ1-42. The antiaggregatory capacity of this complex can be explained by a binding mechanism of the dimetallic units to the peptide chain along with π-π interactions between the formamidinate ligand and the aromatic side chains. The results suggest the potential use of paddlewheel diruthenium complexes as neurodrugs and confirm the importance of the steric and charge effects on the properties of diruthenium compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara La Manna
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Concetta Di Natale
- Department
of Chemical, Materials, and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Panzetta
- Department
of Chemical, Materials, and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
- Interdisciplinary
Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), University of Naples Federico II, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Marilisa Leone
- Institute
of Biostructures and Bioimaging - CNR, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Irene Cipollone
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
“Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy
- CEINGE
Biotecnologie
Avanzate “Franco Salvatore” S.c.a r.l., 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Monti
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
“Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy
- CEINGE
Biotecnologie
Avanzate “Franco Salvatore” S.c.a r.l., 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo A. Netti
- Department
of Chemical, Materials, and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
- Interdisciplinary
Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), University of Naples Federico II, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Giarita Ferraro
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
“Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Aarón Terán
- MatMoPol
Research Group, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical
Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana E. Sánchez-Peláez
- MatMoPol
Research Group, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical
Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Herrero
- MatMoPol
Research Group, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical
Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonello Merlino
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples
“Federico II”, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Marasco
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Institute
of Biostructures and Bioimaging - CNR, 80145 Naples, Italy
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9
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Kumar M, Ivanova MI, Ramamoorthy A. Non-micellar ganglioside GM1 induces an instantaneous conformational change in Aβ 42 leading to the modulation of the peptide amyloid-fibril pathway. Biophys Chem 2023; 301:107091. [PMID: 37549471 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative condition that mainly affects cognition and memory. Recently, distinct clinical and neuropathological phenotypes have been identified in AD. Studies revealed that structural variation in Aβ fibrillar aggregates correlates with distinct disease phenotypes. Moreover, environmental surroundings, including other biomolecules such as proteins and lipids, have been shown to interact and modulate Aβ aggregation. Model membranes containing ganglioside (GM1) clusters are specifically known to promote Aβ fibrillogenesis. This study unravels the modulatory effect of non-micellar GM1, a glycosphingolipid frequently released from the damaged neuronal membranes, on Aβ42 amyloid fibril formation. Using far-UV circular dichroism experiments, we observed a change in the peptide secondary structure from random-coil to β-turn structures with subsequent generation of predominantly β-sheet-rich species upon interaction with GM1. Thioflavin-T (ThT) fluorescence assays further indicated that GM1 likely interacts with an amyloidogenic Aβ42 intermediate species leading to a possible formation of GM1-modified Aβ42 fibril. Statistically, no significant difference in toxicity to RA-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells was observed between Aβ42 fibrils and GM1-tweaked Aβ42 aggregates. Moreover, GM1-modified Aβ42 aggregates exhibited prion-like properties in catalyzing the amyloid fibril formation of both major isomers of Aβ, Aβ40, and Aβ42.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjeet Kumar
- Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
| | - Magdalena I Ivanova
- Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy
- Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA.
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10
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Vargas-Rosales P, D’Addio A, Zhang Y, Caflisch A. Disrupting Dimeric β-Amyloid by Electric Fields. ACS PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY AU 2023; 3:456-466. [PMID: 37780539 PMCID: PMC10540290 DOI: 10.1021/acsphyschemau.3c00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The early oligomers of the amyloid Aβ peptide are implicated in Alzheimer's disease, but their transient nature complicates the characterization of their structure and toxicity. Here, we investigate the stability of the minimal toxic species, i.e., β-amyloid dimers, in the presence of an oscillating electric field. We first use deep learning (AlphaFold-multimer) for generating initial models of Aβ42 dimers. The flexibility and secondary structure content of the models are then analyzed by multiple runs of molecular dynamics (MD). Structurally stable models are similar to ensemble representatives from microsecond-long MD sampling. Finally, we employ the validated model as the starting structure of MD simulations in the presence of an external oscillating electric field and observe a fast decay of β-sheet content at high field strengths. Control simulations using the helical dimer of the 42-residue leucine zipper peptide show higher structural stability than the Aβ42 dimer. The simulation results provide evidence that an external electric field (oscillating at 1 GHz) can disrupt amyloid oligomers which should be further investigated by experiments with brain organoids in vitro and eventually in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessio D’Addio
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Amedeo Caflisch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
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11
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Gholami Mahmoudian Z, Ghanbari A, Rashidi I, Amiri I, Komaki A. Minocycline effects on memory and learning impairment in the beta-amyloid-induced Alzheimer's disease model in male rats using behavioral, biochemical, and histological methods. Eur J Pharmacol 2023:175784. [PMID: 37179042 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), as an advanced neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the everlasting impairment of memory, which is determined by hyperphosphorylation of intracellular Tau protein and accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) in the extracellular space. Minocycline is an antioxidant with neuroprotective effects that can freely cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This study investigated the effect of minocycline on the changes in learning and memory functions, activities of blood serum antioxidant enzymes, neuronal loss, and the number of Aβ plaques after AD induced by Aβ in male rats. Healthy adult male Wistar rats (200-220g) were divided randomly into 11 groups (n = 10). The rats received minocycline (50 and 100 mg/kg/day; per os (P.O.)) before, after, and before/after AD induction for 30 days. At the end of the treatment course, behavioral performance was measured by standardized behavioral paradigms. Subsequently, brain samples and blood serum were collected for histological and biochemical analysis. The results indicated that Aβ injection impaired learning and memory performances in the Morris water maze test, reduced exploratory/locomotor activities in the open field test, and enhanced anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze. The behavioral deficits were accompanied by hippocampal oxidative stress (decreased glutathione (GSH) peroxidase enzyme activity and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the brain (hippocampus) tissue), increased number of Aβ plaques, and neuronal loss in the hippocampus evidenced by Thioflavin S and H&E staining, respectively. Minocycline improved anxiety-like behavior, recovered Aβ-induced learning and memory deficits, increased GSH and decreased MDA levels, and prevented neuronal loss and the accumulation of Aβ plaques. Our results demonstrated that minocycline has neuroprotective effects and can reduce memory dysfunction, which are due to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Ghanbari
- Department of Anatomical Science, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Iraj Rashidi
- Department of Anatomical Science, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Iraj Amiri
- Endometrium and Endometriosis Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Alireza Komaki
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Science and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
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12
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Maina MB, Al-Hilaly YK, Serpell LC. Dityrosine cross-linking and its potential roles in Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1132670. [PMID: 37034163 PMCID: PMC10075315 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1132670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress is a significant source of damage that accumulates during aging and contributes to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Oxidation of proteins can give rise to covalent links between adjacent tyrosines known as dityrosine (DiY) cross-linking, amongst other modifications, and this observation suggests that DiY could serve as a biomarker of accumulated oxidative stress over the lifespan. Many studies have focused on understanding the contribution of DiY to AD pathogenesis and have revealed that DiY crosslinks can be found in both Aβ and tau deposits - the two key proteins involved in the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, respectively. However, there is no consensus yet in the field on the impact of DiY on Aβ and tau function, aggregation, and toxicity. Here we review the current understanding of the role of DiY on Aβ and tau gathered over the last 20 years since the first observation, and discuss the effect of this modification for Aβ and tau aggregation, and its potential as a biomarker for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud B. Maina
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom
- Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre, College of Medical Sciences, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria
| | - Youssra K. Al-Hilaly
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Louise C. Serpell
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Louise C. Serpell,
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13
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Kashif M, Sivaprakasam P, Vijendra P, Waseem M, Pandurangan AK. A Recent Update on Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Interventions of Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:3428-3441. [PMID: 38038007 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128264355231121064704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
AIM Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been identified as a progressive brain disorder associated with memory dysfunction and the accumulation of β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of τ protein. Mitochondria is crucial in maintaining cell survival, cell death, calcium regulation, and ATP synthesis. Mitochondrial dysfunction and linked calcium overload have been involved in the pathogenesis of AD. CRM2 (Collapsin response mediator protein-2) is involved in endosomal lysosomal trafficking as well as autophagy, and their reduced level is also a primary culprit in the progression of AD. In addition, Cholinergic neurotransmission and neuroinflammation are two other mechanisms implicated in AD onset and might be protective targets to attenuate disease progression. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) is another crucial target for AD treatment. Crosstalk between gut microbiota and brain mutually benefitted each other, dysbiosis in gut microbiota affects the brain functions and leads to AD progression with increased AD-causing biomarkers. Despite the complexity of AD, treatment is only limited to symptomatic management. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for novel therapeutics that target associated pathways responsible for AD pathology. This review explores the role of different mechanisms involved in AD and possible therapeutic targets to protect against disease progression. BACKGROUND Amidst various age-related diseases, AD is the most deleterious neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 24 million people globally. Every year, approximately 7.7 million new cases of dementia have been reported. However, to date, no novel disease-modifying therapies are available to treat AD. OBJECTIVE The aim of writing this review is to highlight the role of key biomarker proteins and possible therapeutic interventions that could play a crucial role in mitigating the ongoing prognosis of Alzheimer's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS The available information about the disease was collected through multiple search engines, including PubMed, Science Direct, Clinical Trials, and Google Scholar. RESULTS Accumulated pieces of evidence reveal that extracellular aggregation of β-amyloid plaques and intracellular tangles of τ protein are peculiar features of perpetuated Alzheimer's disease (AD). Further, the significant role of mitochondria, calcium, and cholinergic pathways in the pathogenesis of AD makes the respiratory cell organelle a crucial therapeutic target in this neurodegenerative disease. All currently available drugs either delay the clinical damage to cells or temporarily attenuate some symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. CONCLUSION The pathological features of AD are extracellular deposition of β-amyloid, acetylcholinesterase deregulation, and intracellular tangles of τ protein. The multifactorial heterogeneity of disease demands more research work in this field to find new therapeutic biological targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Kashif
- School of Life Sciences, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
| | - Prathibha Sivaprakasam
- School of Life Sciences, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
| | - Poornima Vijendra
- Department of Studies in Food Technology, Davangere University, Davangere, Karnataka, India
| | - Mohammad Waseem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, Baltimore, USA
| | - Ashok Kumar Pandurangan
- School of Life Sciences, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
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14
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Sakamuri SSVP, Sure VN, Wang X, Bix G, Fonseca VA, Mostany R, Katakam PVG. Amyloid [Formula: see text] (1-42) peptide impairs mitochondrial respiration in primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells: impact of dysglycemia and pre-senescence. GeroScience 2022; 44:2721-2739. [PMID: 35978067 PMCID: PMC9768086 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00644-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the impact of glucose concentrations on the β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced alteration of mitochondrial/cellular energetics in primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). HBMECs were grown and passaged in media containing 15 mmol/l glucose (normal) based on which the glucose levels in the media were designated as high (25 mmol/L) or low (5 mmol/L). HBMECs were treated with Aβ (1-42) (5 µmol/l) or a scrambled peptide for 24 h and mitochondrial respiratory parameters were measured using Seahorse Mito Stress Test. Aβ (1-42) decreased the mitochondrial ATP production at normal glucose levels and decreased spare respiratory capacity at high glucose levels. Aβ (1-42) diminished all mitochondrial respiratory parameters markedly at low glucose levels that were not completely recovered by restoring normal glucose levels in the media. The addition of mannitol (10 mmol/l) to low and normal glucose-containing media altered the Aβ (1-42)-induced bioenergetic defects. Even at normal glucose levels, pre-senescent HMBECs (passage 15) displayed greater Aβ (1-42)-induced mitochondrial respiratory impairments than young cells (passages 7-9). Thus, hypoglycemia, osmolarity changes, and senescence are stronger instigators of Aβ (1-42)-induced mitochondrial respiration and energetics in HBMECs and contributors to diabetes-related increased AD risk than hyperglycemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siva S. V. P. Sakamuri
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Venkata N. Sure
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, 200 Flower Hall, LA 70118 New Orleans, USA
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, 131 S. Robertson, Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Gregory Bix
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, 200 Flower Hall, LA 70118 New Orleans, USA
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, 131 S. Robertson, Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Vivian A. Fonseca
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
| | - Ricardo Mostany
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, 200 Flower Hall, LA 70118 New Orleans, USA
| | - Prasad V. G. Katakam
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, 200 Flower Hall, LA 70118 New Orleans, USA
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, 131 S. Robertson, Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA 70112 USA
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15
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Sonar K, Mancera RL. Characterization of the Conformations of Amyloid Beta 42 in Solution That May Mediate Its Initial Hydrophobic Aggregation. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:7916-7933. [PMID: 36179370 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c04743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered peptides, such as amyloid β42 (Aβ42), lack a well-defined structure in solution. Aβ42 can undergo abnormal aggregation and amyloidogenesis in the brain, forming fibrillar plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The insoluble fibrillar forms of Aβ42 exhibit well-defined, cross β-sheet structures at the molecular level and are less toxic than the soluble, intermediate disordered oligomeric forms. However, the mechanism of initial interaction of monomers and subsequent oligomerization is not well understood. The structural disorder of Aβ42 adds to the challenges of determining the structural properties of its monomers, making it difficult to understand the underlying molecular mechanism of pathogenic aggregation. Certain regions of Aβ42 are known to exhibit helical propensity in different physiological conditions. NMR spectroscopy has shown that the Aβ42 monomer at lower pH can adopt an α-helical conformation and as the pH is increased, the peptide switches to β-sheet conformation and aggregation occurs. CD spectroscopy studies of aggregation have shown the presence of an initial spike in the amount of α-helical content at the start of aggregation. Such an increase in α-helical content suggests a mechanism wherein the peptide can expose critical non-polar residues for interaction, leading to hydrophobic aggregation with other interacting peptides. We have used molecular dynamics simulations to characterize in detail the conformational landscape of monomeric Aβ42 in solution to identify molecular properties that may mediate the early stages of oligomerization. We hypothesized that conformations with α-helical structure have a higher probability of initiating aggregation because they increase the hydrophobicity of the peptide. Although random coil conformations were found to be the most dominant, as expected, α-helical conformations are thermodynamically accessible, more so than β-sheet conformations. Importantly, for the first time α-helical conformations are observed to increase the exposure of aromatic and hydrophobic residues to the aqueous solvent, favoring their hydrophobically driven interaction with other monomers to initiate aggregation. These findings constitute a first step toward characterizing the mechanism of formation of disordered, low-order oligomers of Aβ42.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krushna Sonar
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin Institute for Computation, Curtin University, P. O. Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia6845, Australia
| | - Ricardo L Mancera
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin Institute for Computation, Curtin University, P. O. Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia6845, Australia
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16
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Chen WN, San Tang K, Yeong KY. Potential Roles of α-amylase in Alzheimer's Disease: Biomarker and Drug Target. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1554-1563. [PMID: 34951390 PMCID: PMC9881084 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666211223124715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is pathologically characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. In a neurodegenerative brain, glucose metabolism is also impaired and considered as one of the key features in AD patients. The impairment causes a reduction in glucose transporters and the uptake of glucose as well as alterations in the specific activity of glycolytic enzymes. Recently, it has been reported that α-amylase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, is present in the human brain. The enzyme is known to be associated with various diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and hyperamylasaemia. With this information at hand, we hypothesize that α-amylase could have a vital role in the demented brains of AD patients. This review aims to shed insight into the possible link between the expression levels of α-amylase and AD. Lastly, we also cover the diverse role of amylase inhibitors and how they could serve as a therapeutic agent to manage or stop AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Win Ning Chen
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kim San Tang
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Keng Yoon Yeong
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia;,Address correspondence to this author at the School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia;, Tel: +603 5514 6102; E-mail:
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17
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Delport A, Hewer R. The amyloid precursor protein: a converging point in Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:4501-4516. [PMID: 35579846 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02863-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The decades of evidence that showcase the role of amyloid precursor protein (APP), and its fragment amyloidβ (Aβ), in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis are irrefutable. However, the absolute focus on the single APP metabolite Aβ as the cause for AD has resulted in APP and its other fragments that possess toxic propensity, to be overlooked as targets for treatment. The complexity of its processing and its association with systematic metabolism suggests that, if misregulated, APP has the potential to provoke an array of metabolic dysfunctions. This review discusses APP and several of its cleaved products with a particular focus on their toxicity and ability to disrupt healthy cellular function, in relation to AD development. We subsequently argue that the reduction of APP, which would result in a concurrent decrease in Aβ as well as all other toxic APP metabolites, would alleviate the toxic environment associated with AD and slow disease progression. A discussion of those drug-like compounds already identified to possess this capacity is also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandré Delport
- Discipline of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa.
| | - Raymond Hewer
- Discipline of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa
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18
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Wiatrak B, Jawień P, Matuszewska A, Szeląg A, Kubis-Kubiak A. Effect of amyloid-β on the redox system activity in SH-SY5Y cells preincubated with lipopolysaccharide or co-cultured with microglia cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 149:112880. [PMID: 35367762 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid deposits and hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein are still believed to be the two main causes of Alzheimer's disease. However, newer studies show the beneficial (including antiradical and antimicrobial) effects of amyloid at physiological concentrations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of three amyloid fragments - 25-35, 1-40, and 1-42 at concentrations close to physiological levels on the oxidative stress induced by the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or co-culturing with microglia cells. Differentiated SH-SY5Y cells were used, constituting a model of neuronal cells that were preincubated with LPS or supernatant collected from THP-1 cell culture. The cells were treated with amyloid-β fragments at concentrations of 0.001, 0.1, and 1.0 µM, and then biological assays were carried out. The results of the study support the antioxidant properties of Aβ, which may protect neurons from the damaging effects of neuroinflammation. All tested amyloid-β fragments reduced oxidative stress and increased the levels of enzymatic stress parameters - the activity of SOD, GPx and catalase. In addition, the administration of amyloid-β at low physiological concentrations also increased reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and the ratio between reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), which is considered a good indicator of maintaining cellular redox balance. Furthermore, a stronger antioxidant effect of 1-40 fragment was observed, occurring in a wider range of concentrations, compared to the other tested fragments 25-35 and 1-42.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benita Wiatrak
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Paulina Jawień
- Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25/27, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Matuszewska
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Adam Szeląg
- Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Adriana Kubis-Kubiak
- Department of Toxicology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
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19
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Shobo A, Röntgen A, Hancock MA, Multhaup G. Biophysical characterization as a tool to predict amyloidogenic and toxic properties of amyloid-β42 peptides. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:1401-1411. [PMID: 35466397 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) peptides are central to the amyloid pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). As biological mimetics, properties of synthetic Aβ peptides usually vary between vendors and batches, thus impacting the reproducibility of experimental studies. Here, we tested recombinantly expressed Aβ42 (Asp1 to Ala42) against synthetic Aβ42 from different suppliers using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, thioflavin T aggregation, surface plasmon resonance and MTT cell viability assays. Overall, our recombinant Aβ42 provided a reproducible mimetic of desired properties. Across experimental approaches, the combined detection of Aβ42 dimers and random coil to β-sheet transition only correlated with aggregation-prone and cytotoxic peptides. Conclusively, combining MALDI-MS with CD appears to provide a rapid, reliable means to predict the "bioactivity" of Aβ42.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeola Shobo
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexander Röntgen
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Institute of Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mark A Hancock
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,SPR-MS Facility, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gerhard Multhaup
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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20
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Ge P, Yang M, Bouchard JL, Dzamko N, Lewis SJG, Halliday GM, Doran TM. Chemoselective Bioconjugation of Amyloidogenic Protein Antigens to PEGylated Microspheres Enables Detection of α-Synuclein Autoantibodies in Human Plasma. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:301-310. [PMID: 35020392 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The misfolding and subsequent aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins is a classic pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. Aggregates of the α-synuclein protein (αS) are implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis, and naturally occurring autoantibodies to these aggregates are proposed to be potential early-stage biomarkers to facilitate the diagnosis of PD. However, upon misfolding, αS forms a multitude of quaternary structures of varying functions that are unstable ex vivo. Thus, when used as a capture agent in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), significant variance among laboratories has prevented the development of these valuable diagnostic tests. We reasoned that those conflicting results arise due to the high nonspecific binding and amyloid nucleation that are typical of ELISA platforms. In this work, we describe a multiplexed, easy-to-operate immunoassay that is generally applicable to quantify the levels of amyloid proteins and their binding partners, named Oxaziridine-Assisted Solid-phase Immunosorbent (OASIS) assay. The assay is built on a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) scaffold that inhibits aggregate nucleation, which we show reduces assay variance when compared to similar ELISA measurements. To validate our OASIS assay in patient-derived samples, we measured the levels of naturally occurring antibodies against the αS monomer and oligomers in a cohort of donor plasma from patients diagnosed with PD. Using OASIS assays, we observed significantly higher titers of immunoglobulin G antibody recognizing αS oligomers in PD patients compared to those in healthy controls, while there was no significant difference in naturally occurring antibodies against the αS monomer. In addition to its development into a blood test to potentially predict or monitor PD, we anticipate that the OASIS assay will be of high utility for studies aimed at understanding protein misfolding, its pathology and symptomology in PD, and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ge
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mu Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jacob L Bouchard
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Nicolas Dzamko
- Brain and Mind Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Simon J G Lewis
- Parkinson's Disease Research Clinic, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Todd M Doran
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States.,Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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21
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Lee J, Kwag J. Activation of PLCβ1 enhances endocannabinoid mobilization to restore hippocampal spike-timing-dependent potentiation and contextual fear memory impaired by Alzheimer's amyloidosis. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2021; 13:165. [PMID: 34625112 PMCID: PMC8501622 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00901-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Background Accumulation of amyloid beta oligomers (AβO) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) impairs hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), leading to memory deficits. Thus, identifying the molecular targets of AβO involved in LTP inhibition is critical for developing therapeutics for AD. Endocannabinoid (eCB) synthesis and release, a process collectively called eCB mobilization by hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, is known to facilitate LTP induction. eCB can be mobilized either by postsynaptic depolarization in an intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i)-dependent pathway or by group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation in a phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ)-dependent pathway. Moreover, group 1 mGluR activation during postsynaptic depolarization, which is likely to occur in vivo during memory processing, can cause synergistic enhancement of eCB (S-eCB) mobilization in a PLCβ-dependent pathway. Although AβO has been shown to disrupt [Ca2+]i-dependent eCB mobilization, the effect of AβO on PLCβ-dependent S-eCB mobilization and its association with LTP and hippocampus-dependent memory impairments in AD is unknown. Methods We used in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and western blot analyses to investigate the effect of AβO on PLCβ protein levels, PLCβ-dependent S-eCB mobilization, and spike-timing-dependent potentiation (tLTP) in AβO-treated rat hippocampal slices in vitro. In addition, we assessed the relationship between PLCβ protein levels and hippocampus-dependent memory impairment by performing a contextual fear memory task in vivo in the 5XFAD mouse model of AD. Results We found that AβO treatment in rat hippocampal slices in vitro decreased hippocampal PLCβ1 protein levels and disrupted S-eCB mobilization, as measured by western blot analysis and in vitro whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. This consequently led to the impairment of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-mediated tLTP at CA3-CA1 excitatory synapses in AβO-treated rat hippocampal slices in vitro. Application of the PLCβ activator, m-3M3FBS, in rat hippocampal slices reinstated PLCβ1 protein levels to fully restore S-eCB mobilization and NMDAR-mediated tLTP. In addition, direct hippocampal injection of m-3M3FBS in 5XFAD mice reinstated PLCβ1 protein levels to those observed in wild type control mice and fully restored hippocampus-dependent contextual fear memory in vivo in 5XFAD mice. Conclusion We suggest that these results might be the consequence of memory impairment in AD by disrupting S-eCB mobilization. Therefore, we propose that PLCβ-dependent S-eCB mobilization could provide a new therapeutic strategy for treating memory deficits in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaedong Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeehyun Kwag
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
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22
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An evaluation of the self-assembly enhancing properties of cell-derived hexameric amyloid-β. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11570. [PMID: 34078941 PMCID: PMC8172837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90680-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A key hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is the extracellular deposition of amyloid plaques composed primarily of the amyloidogenic amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. The Aβ peptide is a product of sequential cleavage of the Amyloid Precursor Protein, the first step of which gives rise to a C-terminal Fragment (C99). Cleavage of C99 by γ-secretase activity releases Aβ of several lengths and the Aβ42 isoform in particular has been identified as being neurotoxic. The misfolding of Aβ leads to subsequent amyloid fibril formation by nucleated polymerisation. This requires an initial and critical nucleus for self-assembly. Here, we identify and characterise the composition and self-assembly properties of cell-derived hexameric Aβ42 and show its assembly enhancing properties which are dependent on the Aβ monomer availability. Identification of nucleating assemblies that contribute to self-assembly in this way may serve as therapeutic targets to prevent the formation of toxic oligomers.
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23
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Li Q, Cebrián R, Montalbán-López M, Ren H, Wu W, Kuipers OP. Outer-membrane-acting peptides and lipid II-targeting antibiotics cooperatively kill Gram-negative pathogens. Commun Biol 2021; 4:31. [PMID: 33398076 PMCID: PMC7782785 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01511-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The development and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens is a growing global threat to public health. Novel compounds and/or therapeutic strategies are required to face the challenge posed, in particular, by Gram-negative bacteria. Here we assess the combined effect of potent cell-wall synthesis inhibitors with either natural or synthetic peptides that can act on the outer-membrane. Thus, several linear peptides, either alone or combined with vancomycin or nisin, were tested against selected Gram-negative pathogens, and the best one was improved by further engineering. Finally, peptide D-11 and vancomycin displayed a potent antimicrobial activity at low μM concentrations against a panel of relevant Gram-negative pathogens. This combination was highly active in biological fluids like blood, but was non-hemolytic and non-toxic against cell lines. We conclude that vancomycin and D-11 are safe at >50-fold their MICs. Based on the results obtained, and as a proof of concept for the newly observed synergy, a Pseudomonas aeruginosa mouse infection model experiment was also performed, showing a 4 log10 reduction of the pathogen after treatment with the combination. This approach offers a potent alternative strategy to fight (drug-resistant) Gram-negative pathogens in humans and mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands ,grid.34418.3a0000 0001 0727 9022Present Address: State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, 430062 Wuhan, China
| | - Rubén Cebrián
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Manuel Montalbán-López
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands ,grid.4489.10000000121678994Present Address: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Av. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Huan Ren
- grid.216938.70000 0000 9878 7032State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 30071 Tianjin, China
| | - Weihui Wu
- grid.216938.70000 0000 9878 7032State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 30071 Tianjin, China
| | - Oscar P. Kuipers
- grid.4830.f0000 0004 0407 1981Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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24
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Kwon J, Choi JS, Lee J, Na J, Sung J, Lee HJ, Lee HS, Lim YB, Choi HJ. Disaggregation of Amyloid-β Plaques by a Local Electric Field Generated by a Vertical Nanowire Electrode Array. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:55596-55604. [PMID: 33269924 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c16000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aggregation and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides is a characteristic pathology for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although noninvasive therapies involving stimulation by electric field (EF) have been reported, the efficiency of Aβ disaggregation needs to be further improved for this strategy to be used in clinical settings. In this study, we show that an electrode based on a vertical nanowire electrode array (VNEA) is far more superior to a typical flat-type electrode in disaggregating Aβ plaques. The enhanced disaggregation efficiency of VNEA is due to the formation of high-strength local EF between the nanowires, as verified by in silico and empirical evidence. Compared with those of the flat electrode, the simulation data revealed that 19.8-fold and 8.8-fold higher EFs are generated above and between the nanowires, respectively. Moreover, empirical cyclic voltammetry data demonstrated that VNEA had a 2.7-fold higher charge capacity than the flat electrode; this is associated with the higher surface area of VNEA. The conformational transition of Aβ peptides between the β-sheet and α-helix could be sensitively monitored in real time by the newly designed in situ circular dichroism instrument. This highly efficient EF-configuration of VNEA will lower the stimulation power for disaggregating the Aβ plaques, compared to that of other existing field-mediated modulation systems. Considering the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatibility and biocompatible strength of the EF for perturbing the Aβ aggregation, our study could pave the way for the potential use of electric stimulation devices for in vivo therapeutic application as well as scientific studies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyoung Kwon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Shik Choi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaejun Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jukwan Na
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesuk Sung
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jung Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Soo Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Beom Lim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Heon-Jin Choi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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25
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Karikari TK, Keeling S, Hill E, Lantero Rodrı́guez J, Nagel DA, Becker B, Höglund K, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Hill EJ, Moffat KG. Extensive Plasmid Library to Prepare Tau Protein Variants and Study Their Functional Biochemistry. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:3117-3129. [PMID: 32833429 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau neurofibrillary tangles are key pathological features of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Recombinant protein technology is vital for studying the structure and function of tau in physiology and aggregation in pathophysiology. However, open-source and well-characterized plasmids for efficiently expressing and purifying different tau variants are lacking. We generated 44 sequence-verified plasmids including those encoding full length (FL) tau-441, its four-repeat microtubule-binding (K18) fragment, and their respective selected familial pathological variants (N279K, V337M, P301L, C291R, and S356T). Moreover, plasmids for expressing single (C291A), double (C291A/C322A), and triple (C291A/C322A/I260C) cysteine-modified variants were generated to study alterations in cysteine content and locations. Furthermore, protocols for producing representative tau forms were developed. We produced and characterized the aggregation behavior of the triple cysteine-modified tau-K18, often used in real-time cell internalization and aggregation studies because it can be fluorescently labeled on a cysteine outside the microtubule-binding core. Similar to the wild type (WT), triple cysteine-modified tau-K18 aggregated by progressive β-sheet enrichment, albeit at a slower rate. On prolonged incubation, cysteine-modified K18 formed paired helical filaments similar to those in Alzheimer's disease, sharing morphological phenotypes with WT tau-K18 filaments. Nonetheless, cysteine-modified tau-K18 filaments were significantly shorter (p = 0.002) and mostly wider than WT filaments, explainable by their different principal filament elongation pathways: vertical (end-to-end) and lateral growth for WT and cysteine-modified, respectively. Cysteine rearrangement may therefore induce filament polymorphism. Together, the plasmid library, the protein production methods, and the new insights into cysteine-dependent aggregation should facilitate further studies and the design of antiaggregation agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas K. Karikari
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
- Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg SE 43180, Sweden
| | - Sophie Keeling
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Emily Hill
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
| | - Juan Lantero Rodrı́guez
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg SE 43180, Sweden
| | - David A. Nagel
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, U.K
| | - Bruno Becker
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg SE 43180, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal 431 80, Sweden
| | - Kina Höglund
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg SE 43180, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal 431 80, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg SE 43180, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal 431 80, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg SE 43180, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal 431 80, Sweden
| | - Eric J. Hill
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, U.K
| | - Kevin G. Moffat
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K
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26
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Neurodegeneration-related beta-amyloid as autocatabolism-attenuator in a micro-in vivo system. IBRO Rep 2020; 9:319-323. [PMID: 33336107 PMCID: PMC7733039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibror.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bdelloids are adaptive models for studying aggregate-metabolism interactions. Starvation causes reversible organ shrinkage in bdelloids. The organ shrinkage is in connection with autocatabolic processes. Beta-amyloid attenuates the starvation-induced germovitellaria shrinkage. Human-type amyloid-aggregates are metabolism-regulators in two bdelloid species.
Investigation of human neurodegeneration-related aggregates of beta-amyloid 1–42 (Aβ42) on bdelloid rotifers is a novel interdisciplinary approach in life sciences. We reapplied an organ size-based in vivo monitoring system, exploring the autocatabolism-related alterations evoked by Aβ42, in a glucose-supplemented starvation model. The experientially easy-to-follow size reduction of the bilateral reproductive organ (germovitellaria) in fasted rotifers was rescued by Aβ42, serving as a nutrient source- and peptide sequence-specific attenuator of the organ shrinkage phase and enhancer of the regenerative one including egg reproduction. Recovery of the germovitellaria was significant in comparison with the greatly shrunken form. In contrast to the well-known neurotoxic Aβ42 (except the bdelloids) with specific regulatory roles, the artificially designed scrambled version (random order of amino acids) was inefficient in autocatabolism attenuation, behaving as negative control. This native Aβ42-related modulation of the ‘functionally reversible organ shrinkage’ can be a potential experiential and supramolecular marker of autocatabolism in vivo.
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Key Words
- AO, acridine orange
- AVOs, acidic vesicular organelles
- Acridine orange (PubChem CID: 62344)
- Autocatabolism
- Aβ, beta-amyloid
- Bdelloid rotifer
- Beta-amyloid
- BisANS (PubChem CID: 16213473)
- BisANS, 4,4′-dianilino-1,1′-binaphthyl-5,5′-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt
- ConA, Concanamycin A
- Concanamycin A (PubChem CID: 6438151)
- D0, Day 0
- D20, Day 20
- D25, Day 25
- FROS, functionally reversible organ shrinkage
- FROSi, FROS index
- Invertebrate
- Metabolism
- NFI%, percentage of normalized fluorescence intensity
- NaOH (PubChem CID: 14798)
- Neutral red (PubChem CID: 11105)
- Organ shrinkage
- PI, propidium-iodide
- Propidium-iodide (PubChem CID: 104981)
- S-Aβ42, scrambled isoform of Aβ
- SEM, standard error of the mean
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Paul A, Frenkel-Pinter M, Escobar Alvarez D, Milordini G, Gazit E, Zacco E, Segal D. Tryptophan-galactosylamine conjugates inhibit and disaggregate amyloid fibrils of Aβ42 and hIAPP peptides while reducing their toxicity. Commun Biol 2020; 3:484. [PMID: 32879439 PMCID: PMC7468108 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01216-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembly of proteins into amyloid fibrils is a hallmark of various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Type-2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Aggregation of specific peptides, like Aβ42 in AD and hIAPP in T2DM, causes cellular dysfunction resulting in the respective pathology. While these amyloidogenic proteins lack sequence homology, they all contain aromatic amino acids in their hydrophobic core that play a major role in their self-assembly. Targeting these aromatic residues by small molecules may be an attractive approach for inhibiting amyloid aggregation. Here, various biochemical and biophysical techniques revealed that a panel of tryptophan-galactosylamine conjugates significantly inhibit fibril formation of Aβ42 and hIAPP, and disassemble their pre-formed fibrils in a dose-dependent manner. They are also not toxic to mammalian cells and can reduce the cytotoxicity induced by Aβ42 and hIAPP aggregates. These tryptophan-galactosylamine conjugates can therefore serve as a scaffold for the development of therapeutics towards AD and T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashim Paul
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Moran Frenkel-Pinter
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Daniela Escobar Alvarez
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Giulia Milordini
- The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, Brixton, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Ehud Gazit
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Elsa Zacco
- The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, Brixton, London, SE5 9RT, UK.
- RNA Central Lab, Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16152, Genova, Italy.
| | - Daniel Segal
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
- Sagol Interdisciplinary School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
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28
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Quan Q, Li X, Feng J, Hou J, Li M, Zhang B. Ginsenoside Rg1 reduces β‑amyloid levels by inhibiting CDΚ5‑induced PPARγ phosphorylation in a neuron model of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:3277-3288. [PMID: 32945455 PMCID: PMC7453505 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies have indicated that ginsenoside Rg1, a primary component of ginseng (Panax ginseng), reduces brain Aβ levels in an AD model through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), thereby regulating the expression of insulin-degrading enzyme (Ide) and β-amyloid cleavage enzyme 1 (Bace1), which are PPARγ target genes. However, the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on PPARγ remain unclear. Since cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) mediates PPARγ phosphorylation in adipose tissue, this study aimed to investigate whether ginsenoside Rg1 regulates PPARγ target genes and reduces Aβ levels by inhibiting PPARγ phosphorylation through the CDK5 pathway. In the present study, a model of AD was established by treating primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons with Aβ1-42. The cells were pretreatment with ginsenoside Rg1 and roscovitine, a CDK5-inhibitor, prior to the treatment with Aβ1-42. Neuronal apoptosis was detected using TUNEL staining. PPARγ phosphorylation and protein expression levels of PPARγ, CDK5, IDE, BACE1, amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Aβ1-42 were measured by western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of PPARγ, CDK5, IDE, BACE1 and APP were assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The results of the present study demonstrated that in an AD model induced by Aβ1-42, ginsenoside Rg1 significantly decreased CDK5 expression, inhibited PPARγ phosphorylation at serine 273, elevated IDE expression, downregulated BACE1 and APP expression, decreased Aβ1-42 levels and attenuated neuronal apoptosis. The CDK5 inhibitor, roscovitine, demonstrated similar effects. These results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 has neuroprotective properties and has potential for use in the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiankun Quan
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
| | - Jianjun Feng
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
| | - Jixing Hou
- Department of Psychiatry, Xi'an Mental Health Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
| | - Bingwei Zhang
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
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29
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Horváth D, Menyhárd DK, Perczel A. Protein Aggregation in a Nutshell: The Splendid Molecular Architecture of the Dreaded Amyloid Fibrils. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2020; 20:1077-1088. [PMID: 31553291 DOI: 10.2174/1389203720666190925102832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The recent high-resolution structures of amyloid fibrils show that the organization of peptide segments into amyloid aggregate architecture is a general process, though the morphology is more complex and intricate than suspected previously. The amyloid fibrils are often cytotoxic, accumulating as intracellular inclusions or extracellular plaques and have the ability to interfere with cellular physiology causing various cellular malfunctions. At the same time, the highly ordered amyloid structures also present an opportunity for nature to store and protect peptide chains under extreme conditions - something that might be used for designing storage, formulation, and delivery of protein medications or for contriving bio-similar materials of great resistance or structure-ordering capacity. Here we summarize amyloid characteristics; discussing the basic morphologies, sequential requirements and 3D-structure that are required for the understanding of this newly (re)discovered protein structure - a prerequisite for developing either inhibitors or promoters of amyloid-forming processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dániel Horváth
- Laboratory of Structural Chemistry & Biology and MTA-ELTE Protein Modeling Research Group at the Institute of Chemistry, Eotvos Lorand University, H-1518, 112, PO Box 32, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra K Menyhárd
- Laboratory of Structural Chemistry & Biology and MTA-ELTE Protein Modeling Research Group at the Institute of Chemistry, Eotvos Lorand University, H-1518, 112, PO Box 32, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Perczel
- Laboratory of Structural Chemistry & Biology and MTA-ELTE Protein Modeling Research Group at the Institute of Chemistry, Eotvos Lorand University, H-1518, 112, PO Box 32, Budapest, Hungary
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30
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Yu R, Liu H, Wang B, Harvey PJ, Wei N, Chu Y. Synthesis and biological activity study of the retro-isomer of RhTx against TRPV1. RSC Adv 2020; 10:2141-2145. [PMID: 35494567 PMCID: PMC9048425 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra08829f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
TRPV1 is a ligand-gated ion channel and plays an important role in detecting noxious heat and pain with an unknown mechanism. RhTx from Chinese red-headed centipede activates the TRPV1 channel through the heat activation pathway by binding to the outer pore region, and causes extreme pain. Here, we synthesized RhTx and its retro-isomer RL-RhTx. Their structures were investigated by their circular dichroic spectra and NMR spectra. The effect of RhTx and RL-RhTx on the currents of wild-type and mutants of TRPV1 indicated that RL-RhTx have comparable TRPV1 activation responses to RhTx. A mutagenesis study showed that four TRPV1 residues, including Leu461, Asp602, Tyr632 and Thr634, significantly contributed to the activation effects of RL-RhTx and RhTx, and both peptides probably bind with TRPV1 in similar binding modes. As a novel TRPV1 activator, RL-RhTx provides an essential powerful tool for the investigation of activation mechanisms of TRPV1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rilei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China Qingdao 266003 China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology Qingdao 266003 China
| | - Huijie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Qingdao 266021 China
| | - Baishi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China Qingdao 266003 China
| | - Peta J Harvey
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Ningning Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Qingdao 266021 China
| | - Yanyan Chu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China Qingdao 266003 China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology Qingdao 266003 China
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Oligomeric Aβ in the monkey brain impacts synaptic integrity and induces accelerated cortical aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:26239-26246. [PMID: 31871145 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1902301116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
As the average age of the population continues to rise, the number of individuals affected with age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has increased and is projected to cost more than $290 billion in the United States in 2019. Despite significant investment in research over the last decades, there is no effective treatment to prevent or delay AD progression. There is a translational gap in AD research, with promising drugs based on work in rodent models failing in clinical trials. Aging is the leading risk factor for developing AD and understanding neurobiological changes that affect synaptic integrity with aging will help clarify why the aged brain is vulnerable to AD. We describe here the development of a rhesus monkey model of AD using soluble oligomers of the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide (AβOs). AβOs infused into the monkey brain target a specific population of spines in the prefrontal cortex, induce neuroinflammation, and increase AD biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid to similar levels observed in patients with AD. Importantly, AβOs lead to similar dendritic spine loss to that observed in normal aging in monkeys, but so far without detection of amyloid plaques or tau pathology. Understanding the basis of synaptic impairment is the most effective route to early intervention and prevention or postponement of age-related cognitive decline and transition to AD. These initial findings support the use of monkeys as a platform to understand age-related vulnerabilities of the primate brain and may help develop effective disease-modifying therapies for treatment of AD and related dementias.
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Quan Q, Qian Y, Li X, Li M. CDK5 Participates in Amyloid-β Production by Regulating PPARγ Phosphorylation in Primary Rat Hippocampal Neurons. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 71:443-460. [PMID: 31403945 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Qiankun Quan
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi’an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Yihua Qian
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi’an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, China
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
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Perini G, Ciasca G, Minelli E, Papi M, Palmieri V, Maulucci G, Nardini M, Latina V, Corsetti V, Florenzano F, Calissano P, De Spirito M, Amadoro G. Dynamic structural determinants underlie the neurotoxicity of the N-terminal tau 26-44 peptide in Alzheimer's disease and other human tauopathies. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 141:278-289. [PMID: 31470053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.08.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The intrinsically disordered tau protein plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other human tauopathies. Abnormal post-translational modifications of tau, such as truncation, are causally involved in the onset/development of these neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, the AD-relevant N-terminal fragment mapping between 26 and 44 amino acids of protein (tau26-44) is interesting, being endowed with potent neurotoxic effects in vitro and in vivo. However, the understanding of the mechanism(s) of tau26-44 toxicity is a challenging task because, similarly to the full-length tau, it does not have a unique 3D structure but exists as dynamic ensemble of conformations. Here we use Atomic Force Spectroscopy, Small Angle X-ray Scattering and Molecular Dynamics simulation to gather structural and functional information on the tau26-44. We highlight the presence, the type and the location of its temporary secondary structures and we unveil the occurrence of relevant transient tertiary conformations that could contribute to tau26-44 toxicity. Data are compared with those obtained on the biologically-inactive, reverse-sequence (tau44-26 peptide) which has the same mass, charge, aminoacidic composition as well as the same overall unfolded character of tau26-44.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giordano Perini
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Gabriele Ciasca
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy.
| | - Eleonora Minelli
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Papi
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Valentina Palmieri
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maulucci
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Matteo Nardini
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Corsetti
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Fulvio Florenzano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Spirito
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy; Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT)-CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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Quan Q, Qian Y, Li X, Li M. Pioglitazone Reduces β Amyloid Levels via Inhibition of PPARγ Phosphorylation in a Neuronal Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:178. [PMID: 31379559 PMCID: PMC6650543 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) can regulate the transcription of its target gene, insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), and thus enhance the expression of the IDE protein. The protein can degrade β amyloid (Aβ), a core pathological product of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). PPARγ can also regulate the transcription of other target gene, β-amyloid cleavage enzyme 1 (BACE1), and thus inhibit the expression of the BACE1 protein. BACE1 can hydrolyze amyloid precursor protein (APP), the precursor of Aβ. In adipose tissue, PPARγ agonists can inhibit the phosphorylation of PPARγ by inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), which in turn affects the expression of target genes regulated by PPARγ. PPARγ agonists may also exert inhibitory effects on the phosphorylation of PPARγ in the brain, thereby affecting the expression of the aforementioned PPARγ target genes and reducing Aβ levels. The present study confirmed this hypothesis by showing that PPARγ agonist pioglitazone attenuated the neuronal apoptosis of primary rat hippocampal neurons induced by Aβ1–42, downregulated CDK5 expression, weakened the binding of CDK5 to PPARγ, reduced PPARγ phosphorylation, increased the expression of PPARγ and IDE, decreased the expression of BACE1, reduced APP production, and downregulated intraneuronal Aβ1–42 levels. These effects were inhibited by the PPARγ antagonist GW9662. After CDK5 silencing with CDK5 shRNA, the above effect of pioglitazone was not observed, except when upregulating the expression of PPARγ in Aβ1–42 treated neurons. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that pioglitazone could inhibit the phosphorylation of PPARγ in vitro by inhibiting CDK5 expression, which in turn affected the expression of PPARγ target genes Ide and Bace1, thereby promoting Aβ degradation and reducing Aβ production. This reduced Aβ levels in the brain, thereby exerting neuroprotective effects in an AD model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiankun Quan
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Yihua Qian
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China.,Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi'an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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Bera S, Arad E, Schnaider L, Shaham-Niv S, Castelletto V, Peretz Y, Zaguri D, Jelinek R, Gazit E, Hamley IW. Unravelling the role of amino acid sequence order in the assembly and function of the amyloid-β core. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:8595-8598. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cc03654g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Here we report the influence of amino acid sequence order on the self-assembly and biological functions of the core recognition motif of Amyloid β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santu Bera
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences
- Tel Aviv University
- Tel Aviv 69978
- Israel
| | - Elad Arad
- Department of Chemistry & Ilse Katz Institute (IKI) for Nanoscale Science and Technology
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Beer Sheva 8410501
- Israel
| | - Lee Schnaider
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences
- Tel Aviv University
- Tel Aviv 69978
- Israel
| | - Shira Shaham-Niv
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences
- Tel Aviv University
- Tel Aviv 69978
- Israel
| | | | - Yossef Peretz
- Department of Chemistry & Ilse Katz Institute (IKI) for Nanoscale Science and Technology
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Beer Sheva 8410501
- Israel
| | - Dor Zaguri
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences
- Tel Aviv University
- Tel Aviv 69978
- Israel
| | - Raz Jelinek
- Department of Chemistry & Ilse Katz Institute (IKI) for Nanoscale Science and Technology
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev
- Beer Sheva 8410501
- Israel
| | - Ehud Gazit
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
- George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences
- Tel Aviv University
- Tel Aviv 69978
- Israel
| | - Ian W. Hamley
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Reading
- Reading RG6 6AD
- UK
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36
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The Transcriptional Regulatory Properties of Amyloid Beta 1–42 may Include Regulation of Genes Related to Neurodegeneration. Neuromolecular Med 2018; 20:363-375. [DOI: 10.1007/s12017-018-8498-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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37
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Wang JSH, Whitehead SN, Yeung KKC. Detection of Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Oligomeric Composition Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI MS). JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2018; 29:786-795. [PMID: 29464543 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-018-1896-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The use of MALDI MS as a fast and direct method to detect the Aβ oligomers of different masses is examined in this paper. Experimental results suggest that Aβ oligomers are ionized and detected as singly charged ions, and thus, the resulting mass spectrum directly reports the oligomer size distribution. Validation experiments were performed to verify the MS data against artifacts. Mass spectra collected from modified Aβ peptides with different propensities for aggregation were compared. Generally, the relative intensities of multimers were higher from samples where oligomerization was expected to be more favorable, and vice versa. MALDI MS was also able to detect the differences in oligomeric composition before and after the incubation/oligomerization step. Such differences in sample composition were also independently confirmed with an in vitro Aβ toxicity study on primary rat cortical neurons. An additional validation was accomplished through removal of oligomers from the sample using molecular weight cutoff filters; the resulting MS data correctly reflected the removal at the expected cutoff points. The results collectively validated the ability of MALDI MS to assess the monomeric/multimeric composition of Aβ samples. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine S-H Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
- Vulnerable Brain Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Shawn N Whitehead
- Vulnerable Brain Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Ken K-C Yeung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada.
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38
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Qiu F, Tang C, Chen Y. Amyloid-like aggregation of designer bolaamphiphilic peptides: Effect of hydrophobic section and hydrophilic heads. J Pept Sci 2017; 24. [PMID: 29239498 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid-like aggregation of natural proteins or polypeptides is an important process involved in many human diseases as well as some normal biological functions. Plenty of works have been done on this ubiquitous phenomenon, but the molecular mechanism of amyloid-like aggregation has not been fully understood yet. In this study, we showed that a series of designer bolaamphiphilic peptides could undergo amyloid-like aggregation even though they didn't possess typical β-sheet secondary structure. Through systematic amino acid substitution, we found that for the self-assembling ability, the number and species of amino acid in hydrophobic section could be variable as long as enough hydrophobic interaction is provided, while different polar amino acids as the hydrophilic heads could change the self-assembling nanostructures with their aggregating behaviors affected by pH value change. Based on these results, novel self-assembling models and aggregating mechanisms were proposed, which might provide new insight into the molecular basis of amyloid-like aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Qiu
- Laboratory of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Translational Neuroscience Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chengkang Tang
- Core Facility of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yongzhu Chen
- Periodical Press of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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