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Suri K, Ramesh M, Bhandari M, Gupta V, Kumar V, Govindaraju T, Murugan NA. Role of Amyloidogenic and Non-Amyloidogenic Protein Spaces in Neurodegenerative Diseases and their Mitigation Using Theranostic Agents. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400224. [PMID: 38668376 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400224] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) refer to a complex heterogeneous group of diseases which are associated with the accumulation of amyloid fibrils or plaques in the brain leading to progressive loss of neuronal functions. Alzheimer's disease is one of the major NDD responsible for 60-80 % of all dementia cases. Currently, there are no curative or disease-reversing/modifying molecules for many of the NDDs except a few such as donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, carbidopa and levodopa which treat the disease-associated symptoms. Similarly, there are very few FDA-approved tracers such as flortaucipir (Tauvid) for tau fibril imaging and florbetaben (Neuraceq), flutemetamol (Vizamyl), and florbetapir (Amyvid) for amyloid imaging available for diagnosis. Recent advances in the cryogenic electron microscopy reported distinctly different microstructures for tau fibrils associated with different tauopathies highlighting the possibility to develop tauopathy-specific imaging agents and therapeutics. In addition, it is important to identify the proteins that are associated with disease development and progression to know about their 3D structure to develop various diagnostics, therapeutics and theranostic agents. The current article discusses in detail the disease-associated amyloid and non-amyloid proteins along with their structural insights. We comprehensively discussed various novel proteins associated with NDDs and their implications in disease pathology. In addition, we document various emerging chemical compounds developed for diagnosis and therapy of different NDDs with special emphasis on theranostic agents for better management of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kapali Suri
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) Okhla, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, India
| | - Madhu Ramesh
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Mansi Bhandari
- Department of computer science and engineering, Jamia Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi, 110062
| | - Vishakha Gupta
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) Okhla, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, India
| | - Virendra Kumar
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) Okhla, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, India
| | - Thimmaiah Govindaraju
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - N Arul Murugan
- Department of Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-Delhi) Okhla, Phase III, New Delhi, 110020, India
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2
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Woerman AL, Bartz JC. Effect of host and strain factors on α-synuclein prion pathogenesis. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:538-550. [PMID: 38806297 PMCID: PMC11236502 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.05.004] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolding of proteins into pathogenic conformations that self-template to spread disease. Although this mechanism is largely associated with the prion protein (PrP) in classical prion diseases, a growing literature indicates that other proteins, including α-synuclein, rely on a similar disease mechanism. Notably, α-synuclein misfolds into distinct conformations, or strains, that cause discrete clinical disorders including multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Because the recognized similarities between PrP and α-synuclein are increasing, this review article draws from research on PrP to identify the host and strain factors that impact disease pathogenesis, predominantly in rodent models, and focuses on key considerations for future research on α-synuclein prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Woerman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Prion Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Jason C Bartz
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Prion Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
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3
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Das D, Mattaparthi VSK. Computational investigation on the conformational dynamics of C-terminal truncated α-synuclein bound to membrane. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38321955 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2310788] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Accelerated progression rates in Parkinson's disease (PD) have been linked to C-terminal domain (CTD) truncations of monomeric α-Synuclein (α-Syn), which have been suggested to increase amyloid aggregation in vivo and in vitro. In the brain of PD patients, CTD truncated α-Syn was found to have lower cell viability and tends to increase in the formation of fibrils. The CTD of α-Syn acts as a guard for regulating the normal functioning of α-Syn. The absence of the CTD may allow the N-terminal of α-Syn to interact with the membrane thereby affecting the normal functioning of α-Syn, and all of which will affect the etiology of PD. In this study, the conformational dynamics of CTD truncated α-Syn (1-99 and 1-108) monomers and their effect on the protein-membrane interactions were demonstrated using the all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method. From the MD analyses, it was noticed that among the two truncated monomers, α-Syn (1-108) was found to be more stable, shows rigidness at the N-terminal region and contains a significant number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the non-amyloid β-component (NAC) region and membrane, and lesser number of extended strands. Further, the bending angle in the N-terminal domain was found to be lesser in the α-Syn (1-108) in comparison with the α-Syn (1-99). Our findings suggest that the truncation on the CTD of α-Syn affects its interaction with the membrane and subsequently has an impact on the aggregation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy Das
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam, India
| | - Venkata Satish Kumar Mattaparthi
- Molecular Modelling and Simulation Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam, India
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4
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Suthar SK, Lee SY. Truncation or proteolysis of α-synuclein in Parkinsonism. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 90:101978. [PMID: 37286088 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Posttranslational modifications of α-synuclein, such as truncation or abnormal proteolysis, are implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). A key focus of this article includes the proteases responsible for inducing truncation, the specific sites susceptible to truncation, and the resultant influence of these truncated species on the seeding and aggregation of endogenous α-synuclein. We also shed light on the unique structural attributes of these truncated species, and how these modifications can lead to distinctive forms of synucleinopathies. In addition, we explore the comparative toxic potentials of various α-synuclein species. An extensive analysis of available evidence of truncated α-synuclein species in human-synucleinopathy brains is also provided. Lastly, we delve into the detrimental impact of truncated species on key cellular structures such as the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Our article discusses enzymes involved in α-synuclein truncation, including 20 S proteasome, cathepsins, asparagine endopeptidase, caspase-1, calpain-1, neurosin/kallikrein-6, matrix metalloproteinase-1/-3, and plasmin. Truncation patterns impact α-synuclein aggregation - C-terminal truncation accelerates aggregation with larger truncations correlated with shortened aggregation lag times. N-terminal truncation affects aggregation differently based on the truncation location. C-terminally truncated α-synuclein forms compact, shorter fibrils compared to the full-length (FL) protein. N-terminally truncated monomers form fibrils similar in length to FL α-synuclein. Truncated forms show distinct fibril morphologies, increased β-sheet structures, and greater protease resistance. Misfolded α-synuclein can adopt various conformations, leading to unique aggregates and distinct synucleinopathies. Fibrils, with prion-like transmission, are potentially more toxic than oligomers, though this is still debated. Different α-synuclein variants with N- and C-terminal truncations, namely 5-140, 39-140, 65-140, 66-140, 68-140, 71-140, 1-139, 1-135, 1-133, 1-122, 1-119, 1-115, 1-110, and 1-103 have been found in PD, DLB, and MSA patients' brains. In Parkinsonism, excess misfolded α-synuclein overwhelms the proteasome degradation system, resulting in truncated protein production and accumulation in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sang-Yoon Lee
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea; Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea.
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Qi Z, Wan M, Zhang J, Li Z. Influence of Cholesterol on the Membrane Binding and Conformation of α-Synuclein. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:1956-1964. [PMID: 36812386 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c08077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The α-Synuclein (α-Syn) plays an important role in the pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD), and its oligomers and fibrils are toxic to the nervous system. As organisms age, the cholesterol content in biological membranes increases, which is a potential cause of PD. Cholesterol may affect the membrane binding of α-Syn and its abnormal aggregation, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we present our molecular dynamics simulation studies on the interaction between α-Syn and lipid membranes, with or without cholesterol. It is demonstrated that cholesterol provides additional hydrogen bond interaction with α-Syn; however, the coulomb interaction and hydrophobic interaction between α-Syn and lipid membranes could be weakened by cholesterol. In addition, cholesterol leads to the shrinking of lipid packing defects and the decrease of lipid fluidity, thereby shortening the membrane binding region of α-Syn. Under these multifaceted effects of cholesterol, membrane-bound α-Syn shows signs of forming a β-sheet structure, which may further induce the formation of abnormal α-Syn fibrils. These results provide important information for the understanding of membrane binding of α-Syn, and they are expected to promote the bridging between cholesterol and the pathological aggregation of α-Syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqiang Qi
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Menglin Wan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Zhen Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
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Zhang C, Pei Y, Zhang Z, Xu L, Liu X, Jiang L, Pielak GJ, Zhou X, Liu M, Li C. C-terminal truncation modulates α-Synuclein's cytotoxicity and aggregation by promoting the interactions with membrane and chaperone. Commun Biol 2022; 5:798. [PMID: 35945337 PMCID: PMC9363494 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03768-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn) is the main protein component of Lewy bodies, the major pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). C-terminally truncated α-syn is found in the brain of PD patients, reduces cell viability and tends to form fibrils. Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the role of C-terminal truncation on the cytotoxicity and aggregation of α-syn. Here, we use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to show that the truncation alters α-syn conformation, resulting in an attractive interaction of the N-terminus with membranes and molecular chaperone, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). The truncated protein is more toxic to mitochondria than full-length protein and diminishes the effect of PDI on α-syn fibrillation. Our findings reveal a modulatory role for the C-terminus in the cytotoxicity and aggregation of α-syn by interfering with the N-terminus binding to membranes and chaperone, and provide a molecular basis for the pathological role of C-terminal truncation in PD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Yunshan Pei
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Zeting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China.
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China.
| | - Lingling Xu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Gary J Pielak
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Maili Liu
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 100049, Beijing, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China
| | - Conggang Li
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 430071, Wuhan, China.
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Science, 100049, Beijing, China.
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430071, Wuhan, China.
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7
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Li D, Ren T, Li H, Liao G, Zhang X. Porphyromonas gingivalis: A key role in Parkinson's disease with cognitive impairment? Front Neurol 2022; 13:945523. [PMID: 35959396 PMCID: PMC9363011 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.945523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common complication of Parkinson's disease (PD). The major features of Parkinson's disease with cognitive impairment (PD-CI) include convergence of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) and Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathologies, neuroinflammation, and dysbiosis of gut microbiota. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is an important pathogen in periodontitis. Recent research has suggested a role of P. gingivalis and its virulence factor in the pathogenesis of PD and AD, in particular concerning neuroinflammation and deposition of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) and amyloid-β (Aβ). Furthermore, in animal models, oral P. gingivalis could cause neurodegeneration through regulating the gut-brain axis, suggesting an oral-gut-brain axis might exist. In this article, we discussed the pathological characteristics of PD-CI and the role of P. gingivalis in them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongcheng Li
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Maoming People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Maoming, China
| | - Tengzhu Ren
- Department of Neurology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Maoming People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Maoming, China
| | - Geng Liao
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Maoming People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Maoming, China
| | - Xiong Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Maoming People's Hospital, Southern Medical University, Maoming, China
- *Correspondence: Xiong Zhang
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Moretto E, Stuart S, Surana S, Vargas JNS, Schiavo G. The Role of Extracellular Matrix Components in the Spreading of Pathological Protein Aggregates. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:844211. [PMID: 35573838 PMCID: PMC9100790 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.844211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Several neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the accumulation of aggregated misfolded proteins. These pathological agents have been suggested to propagate in the brain via mechanisms similar to that observed for the prion protein, where a misfolded variant is transferred from an affected brain region to a healthy one, thereby inducing the misfolding and/or aggregation of correctly folded copies. This process has been characterized for several proteins, such as α-synuclein, tau, amyloid beta (Aβ) and less extensively for huntingtin and TDP-43. α-synuclein, tau, TDP-43 and huntingtin are intracellular proteins, and their aggregates are located in the cytosol or nucleus of neurons. They have been shown to spread between cells and this event occurs, at least partially, via secretion of these protein aggregates in the extracellular space followed by re-uptake. Conversely, Aβ aggregates are found mainly extracellularly, and their spreading occurs in the extracellular space between brain regions. Due to the inherent nature of their spreading modalities, these proteins are exposed to components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), including glycans, proteases and core matrix proteins. These ECM components can interact with or process pathological misfolded proteins, potentially changing their properties and thus regulating their spreading capabilities. Here, we present an overview of the documented roles of ECM components in the spreading of pathological protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases with the objective of identifying the current gaps in knowledge and stimulating further research in the field. This could potentially lead to the identification of druggable targets to slow down the spreading and/or progression of these pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Moretto
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, CNR, Milan, Italy
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Edoardo Moretto,
| | - Skye Stuart
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sunaina Surana
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jose Norberto S. Vargas
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giampietro Schiavo
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Giampietro Schiavo,
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Huang S, Mo X, Wang J, Ye X, Yu H, Liu Y. α-Synuclein phase separation and amyloid aggregation are modulated by C-terminal truncations. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:1388-1400. [PMID: 35485974 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) is a key pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). α-Syn undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to drive amyloid aggregation. How the LLPS of α-Syn is regulated remains largely unknown. Here, we discovered that the C-terminal region modulates α-Syn phase separation through electrostatic interactions. The wild-type (WT) and PD disease-related truncated α-Syn can co-exist in the condensates. The truncated α-Syn could dramatically promote WT α-Syn phase separation. Further studies demonstrated that the truncated α-Syn accelerated WT α-Syn turning to amyloid aggregates by modulation of phase separation. Together, our findings disclose the role of the C-terminal domain in the LLPS of α-Syn and pave the path for understanding the mechanism of truncated α-Syn in PD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiaoli Mo
- Biology Department, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01610, USA
| | - Jieyi Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xinyi Ye
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Haijia Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yinghui Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
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De Giorgi F, Abdul-Shukkoor MB, Kashyrina M, Largitte LA, De Nuccio F, Kauffmann B, Lends A, Laferrière F, Bonhommeau S, Lofrumento DD, Bousset L, Bezard E, Buffeteau T, Loquet A, Ichas F. Neurons with Cat's Eyes: A Synthetic Strain of α-Synuclein Fibrils Seeding Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusions. Biomolecules 2022; 12:436. [PMID: 35327628 PMCID: PMC8946814 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The distinct neuropathological features of the different α-Synucleinopathies, as well as the diversity of the α-Synuclein (α-Syn) intracellular inclusion bodies observed in post mortem brain sections, are thought to reflect the strain diversity characterizing invasive α-Syn amyloids. However, this "one strain, one disease" view is still hypothetical, and to date, a possible disease-specific contribution of non-amyloid factors has not been ruled out. In Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), the buildup of α-Syn inclusions in oligodendrocytes seems to result from the terminal storage of α-Syn amyloid aggregates first pre-assembled in neurons. This assembly occurs at the level of neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, and even earlier, within neuronal intranuclear inclusions (NIIs). Intriguingly, α-Syn NIIs are never observed in α-Synucleinopathies other than MSA, suggesting that these inclusions originate (i) from the unique molecular properties of the α-Syn fibril strains encountered in this disease, or alternatively, (ii) from other factors specifically dysregulated in MSA and driving the intranuclear fibrillization of α-Syn. We report the isolation and structural characterization of a synthetic human α-Syn fibril strain uniquely capable of seeding α-Syn fibrillization inside the nuclear compartment. In primary mouse cortical neurons, this strain provokes the buildup of NIIs with a remarkable morphology reminiscent of cat's eye marbles (see video abstract). These α-Syn inclusions form giant patterns made of one, two, or three lentiform beams that span the whole intranuclear volume, pushing apart the chromatin. The input fibrils are no longer detectable inside the NIIs, where they become dominated by the aggregation of endogenous α-Syn. In addition to its phosphorylation at S129, α-Syn forming the NIIs acquires an epitope antibody reactivity profile that indicates its organization into fibrils, and is associated with the classical markers of α-Syn pathology p62 and ubiquitin. NIIs are also observed in vivo after intracerebral injection of the fibril strain in mice. Our data thus show that the ability to seed NIIs is a strain property that is integrally encoded in the fibril supramolecular architecture. Upstream alterations of cellular mechanisms are not required. In contrast to the lentiform TDP-43 NIIs, which are observed in certain frontotemporal dementias and which are conditional upon GRN or VCP mutations, our data support the hypothesis that the presence of α-Syn NIIs in MSA is instead purely amyloid-strain-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca De Giorgi
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, CNRS, UMR 5293, 33076 Bordeaux, France; (L.-A.L.); (F.L.); (E.B.)
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Muhammed Bilal Abdul-Shukkoor
- Institut de Chimie et de Biologie des Membranes et des Nano-objets, CNRS, UMR 5248, Université de Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France; (M.B.A.-S.); (A.L.); (A.L.)
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Marianna Kashyrina
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (M.K.); (F.D.N.); (D.D.L.)
| | - Leslie-Ann Largitte
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, CNRS, UMR 5293, 33076 Bordeaux, France; (L.-A.L.); (F.L.); (E.B.)
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Francesco De Nuccio
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (M.K.); (F.D.N.); (D.D.L.)
| | - Brice Kauffmann
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, UMS3033/US001, 33600 Pessac, France;
| | - Alons Lends
- Institut de Chimie et de Biologie des Membranes et des Nano-objets, CNRS, UMR 5248, Université de Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France; (M.B.A.-S.); (A.L.); (A.L.)
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Florent Laferrière
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, CNRS, UMR 5293, 33076 Bordeaux, France; (L.-A.L.); (F.L.); (E.B.)
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Sébastien Bonhommeau
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, CNRS, UMR 5255, Université de Bordeaux, 33400 Talence, France; (S.B.); (T.B.)
| | - Dario Domenico Lofrumento
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (M.K.); (F.D.N.); (D.D.L.)
| | - Luc Bousset
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institut François Jacob, MIRCen, CEA, CNRS, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France;
| | - Erwan Bezard
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, CNRS, UMR 5293, 33076 Bordeaux, France; (L.-A.L.); (F.L.); (E.B.)
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Thierry Buffeteau
- Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, CNRS, UMR 5255, Université de Bordeaux, 33400 Talence, France; (S.B.); (T.B.)
| | - Antoine Loquet
- Institut de Chimie et de Biologie des Membranes et des Nano-objets, CNRS, UMR 5248, Université de Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France; (M.B.A.-S.); (A.L.); (A.L.)
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, Université de Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - François Ichas
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, CNRS, UMR 5293, 33076 Bordeaux, France; (L.-A.L.); (F.L.); (E.B.)
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Université de Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
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11
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Chen R, Gu X, Wang X. α-Synuclein in Parkinson's disease and advances in detection. Clin Chim Acta 2022; 529:76-86. [PMID: 35176268 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a threatening neurodegenerative disorder that seriously affects patients' life quality. Substantial evidence links the overexpression and abnormal aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) to PD. α-Syn has been identified as a characteristic biomarker of PD, which indicates its great value of diagnosis and designing effective therapeutic strategy. This article systematically summarizes the pathogenic process of α-Syn based on recent researches, outlines and compares commonly used analysis and detection technologies of α-Syn. Specifically, the detection of α-Syn by new electrochemical, photochemical, and crystal biosensors is mainly examined. Furthermore, the speculation of future study orientation is discussed, which provides reference for the further research and application of α-Syn as biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Chen
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xuan Gu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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12
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Farzadfard A, Pedersen JN, Meisl G, Somavarapu AK, Alam P, Goksøyr L, Nielsen MA, Sander AF, Knowles TPJ, Pedersen JS, Otzen DE. The C-terminal tail of α-synuclein protects against aggregate replication but is critical for oligomerization. Commun Biol 2022; 5:123. [PMID: 35145226 PMCID: PMC8831632 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03059-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the 140-residue protein α-synuclein (αSN) is a key factor in the etiology of Parkinson’s disease. Although the intensely anionic C-terminal domain (CTD) of αSN does not form part of the amyloid core region or affect membrane binding ability, truncation or reduction of charges in the CTD promotes fibrillation through as yet unknown mechanisms. Here, we study stepwise truncated CTDs and identify a threshold region around residue 121; constructs shorter than this dramatically increase their fibrillation tendency. Remarkably, these effects persist even when as little as 10% of the truncated variant is mixed with the full-length protein. Increased fibrillation can be explained by a substantial increase in self-replication, most likely via fragmentation. Paradoxically, truncation also suppresses toxic oligomer formation, and oligomers that can be formed by chemical modification show reduced membrane affinity and cytotoxicity. These remarkable changes correlate to the loss of negative electrostatic potential in the CTD and highlight a double-edged electrostatic safety guard. Farzadfard et al. present a comprehensive analysis of a range of C-terminal truncations of aSN, linking the importance of high C-terminus charge for decreased fibrillation rates. The ability to formation oligomers, to disrupt synthetic vesicles and cell toxicity was reduced with truncated aSN, aiding in understanding of the intramolecular interactions of aSN which promote/inhibit aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azad Farzadfard
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jannik Nedergaard Pedersen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Georg Meisl
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Arun Kumar Somavarapu
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Parvez Alam
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Louise Goksøyr
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Morten Agertoug Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Adam Frederik Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.,Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Jan Skov Pedersen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Daniel Erik Otzen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark. .,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
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13
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Lei Q, Wu T, Wu J, Hu X, Guan Y, Wang Y, Yan J, Shi G. Roles of α‑synuclein in gastrointestinal microbiome dysbiosis‑related Parkinson's disease progression (Review). Mol Med Rep 2021; 24:734. [PMID: 34414447 PMCID: PMC8404091 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease amongst the middle-aged and elderly populations. Several studies have confirmed that the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) serves a key role in the pathogenesis of PD. Changes to the gastrointestinal microbiome (GM) cause misfolding and abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in the intestine. Abnormal α-syn is not eliminated via physiological mechanisms and is transported into the central nervous system (CNS) via the vagus nerve. The abnormal levels of α-syn aggregate in the substantia nigra pars compacta, not only leading to the formation of eosinophilic Lewis Bodies in the cytoplasm and mitochondrial dysfunction in dopaminergic (DA) neurons, but also leading to the stimulation of an inflammatory response in the microglia. These pathological changes result in an increase in oxidative stress (OS), which triggers nerve cell apoptosis, a characteristic of PD. This increase in OS further oxidizes and intensifies abnormal aggregation of α-syn, eventually forming a positive feedback loop. The present review discusses the abnormal accumulation of α-syn in the intestine caused by the GM changes and the increased levels of α-syn transport to the CNS via the MGBA, resulting in the loss of DA neurons and an increase in the inflammatory response of microglial cells in the brain of patients with PD. In addition, relevant clinical therapeutic strategies for improving the GM and reducing α-syn accumulation to relieve the symptoms and progression of PD are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingchun Lei
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, P.R. China
| | - Tingting Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, P.R. China
| | - Jin Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Puer People's Hospital, Pu'er, Yunnan 665000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaogang Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Puer People's Hospital, Pu'er, Yunnan 665000, P.R. China
| | - Yingxia Guan
- Department of Vasculocardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650021, P.R. China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, P.R. China
| | - Jinyuan Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, P.R. China
| | - Guolin Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650101, P.R. China
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14
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McGlinchey RP, Lacy SM, Walker RL, Lee JC. Cathepsin K is a potent disaggregase of α-synuclein fibrils. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 529:1106-1111. [PMID: 32819572 PMCID: PMC7478362 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.06.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The intracellular accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) amyloid fibrils is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Because lysosomes are responsible for degrading aggregated species, enhancing lysosomal function could alleviate the overburden of α-syn. Previously, we showed that cysteine cathepsins (Cts) is the main class of lysosomal proteases that degrade α-syn, and in particular, CtsL was found to be capable of digesting α-syn fibrils. Here, we report that CtsK is a more potent protease for degrading α-syn amyloids. Using peptide mapping by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, critical cleavage sites involved in destabilizing fibril structure are identified. CtsK is only able to devour the internal regions after the removal of both N- and C-termini, indicating their protective role of the amyloid core from proteolytic attack. Our results suggest that if overexpressed in lysosomes, CtsK has the potential to ameliorate α-syn pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P McGlinchey
- Laboratory of Protein Conformation and Dynamics, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States
| | - Shannon M Lacy
- Laboratory of Protein Conformation and Dynamics, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States
| | - Robert L Walker
- Laboratory of Protein Conformation and Dynamics, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States
| | - Jennifer C Lee
- Laboratory of Protein Conformation and Dynamics, Biochemistry and Biophysics Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States.
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15
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Sorrentino ZA, Giasson BI. The emerging role of α-synuclein truncation in aggregation and disease. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:10224-10244. [PMID: 32424039 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.011743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (αsyn) is an abundant brain neuronal protein that can misfold and polymerize to form toxic fibrils coalescing into pathologic inclusions in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy. These fibrils may induce further αsyn misfolding and propagation of pathologic fibrils in a prion-like process. It is unclear why αsyn initially misfolds, but a growing body of literature suggests a critical role of partial proteolytic processing resulting in various truncations of the highly charged and flexible carboxyl-terminal region. This review aims to 1) summarize recent evidence that disease-specific proteolytic truncations of αsyn occur in Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy and animal disease models; 2) provide mechanistic insights on how truncation of the amino and carboxyl regions of αsyn may modulate the propensity of αsyn to pathologically misfold; 3) compare experiments evaluating the prion-like properties of truncated forms of αsyn in various models with implications for disease progression; 4) assess uniquely toxic properties imparted to αsyn upon truncation; and 5) discuss pathways through which truncated αsyn forms and therapies targeted to interrupt them. Cumulatively, it is evident that truncation of αsyn, particularly carboxyl truncation that can be augmented by dysfunctional proteostasis, dramatically potentiates the propensity of αsyn to pathologically misfold into uniquely toxic fibrils with modulated prion-like seeding activity. Therapeutic strategies and experimental paradigms should operate under the assumption that truncation of αsyn is likely occurring in both initial and progressive disease stages, and preventing truncation may be an effective preventative strategy against pathologic inclusion formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Sorrentino
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA .,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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16
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Carboxy-terminal truncation and phosphorylation of α-synuclein elongates survival in a prion-like seeding mouse model of synucleinopathy. Neurosci Lett 2020; 732:135017. [PMID: 32371157 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Pathologic intracellular inclusions formed from polymers of misfolded α-synuclein (αsyn) protein define a group of neurodegenerative diseases termed synucleinopathies which includes Parkinson's disease (PD). Prion-like recruitment of endogenous cellular αsyn has been demonstrated to occur in animal models of synucleinopathy, whereby misfolded αsyn can induce further pathologic αsyn inclusions to form through a prion-like mechanism. It has been suggested that misfolded αsyn may assume differing conformations which lead to varied clinical and pathological manifestations of disease; this phenomenon bears similarities to that of prion strains whereby the same misfolded protein can produce unique diseases. It is unclear what factors influence the development of unique αsyn strains, however post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation and truncation that are present in misfolded αsyn in disease may play a role due to their modulation of biochemical and structural αsyn properties. Herein, we investigate the prion-like properties of misfolded αsyn polymers containing either phosphomimetic (S129E) αsyn, 5 different major carboxy (C)-truncated forms of αsyn (1-115, 1-119, 1-122, 1-125, and 1-129 αsyn), or a mixture of these PTM containing αsyn forms compared to full-length (FL) αsyn in HEK293T cells and M83 transgenic mice overexpressing A53T αsyn. It is demonstrated that upon peripheral intramuscular injection of these C-truncated or S129E αsyn polymers into M83 mice, prion-like progression and time to disease onset in this mouse model is elongated when any of these PTMs are present, demonstrating that common modifications to the C-terminus of αsyn present in disease modulates the prion-like seeding properties of αsyn.
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