1
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Duan P, Hong M. Selective Detection of Intermediate-Amplitude Motion by Solid-State NMR. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:2293-2303. [PMID: 38417154 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06839] [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: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
The coexistence of rigid and mobile molecules or molecular segments abounds in biomolecular assemblies. Examples include the carbohydrate-rich cell walls of plants and intrinsically disordered proteins that contain rigid β-sheet cores. In solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, dipolar polarization transfer experiments are well suited for detecting rigid components, whereas scalar-coupling experiments are well suited for detecting highly mobile components. However, few NMR methods are available to detect the segments that undergo intermediate-amplitude fast motion. Here, we introduce two NMR experiments, a two-dimensional T2H-filtered CP-hCH correlation and a three-dimensional J-INADEQUATE CCH correlation, to observe this intermediate-amplitude motion. Both experiments involve 1H detection under fast magic-angle spinning (MAS). By combining 1H transverse relaxation (T2H) filters with dipolar polarization transfer, we suppress the signals of both highly rigid and highly mobile species, thus revealing the signals of intermediate mobile species. 1H detection under fast MAS is crucial for distinguishing the different motional amplitudes. We demonstrate these techniques on several plant cell wall samples and show that they allow the selective detection and resolution of certain hemicellulose and pectin signals, which are usually masked by the signals of the rigid cellulose and the highly dynamic pectins in purely dipolar and scalar NMR spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Mei Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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2
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Mammeri NE, Dregni AJ, Duan P, Hong M. Structures of AT8 and PHF1 phosphomimetic tau: Insights into the posttranslational modification code of tau aggregation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316175121. [PMID: 38408247 PMCID: PMC10927509 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316175121] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau aggregates into amyloid fibrils in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. In these tauopathies, tau is hyperphosphorylated, suggesting that this posttranslational modification (PTM) may induce tau aggregation. Tau is also phosphorylated in normal developing brains. To investigate how tau phosphorylation induces amyloid fibrils, here we report the atomic structures of two phosphomimetic full-length tau fibrils assembled without anionic cofactors. We mutated key Ser and Thr residues to Glu in two regions of the protein. One construct contains three Glu mutations at the epitope of the anti-phospho-tau antibody AT8 (AT8-3E tau), whereas the other construct contains four Glu mutations at the epitope of the antibody PHF1 (PHF1-4E tau). Solid-state NMR data show that both phosphomimetic tau mutants form homogeneous fibrils with a single set of chemical shifts. The AT8-3E tau rigid core extends from the R3 repeat to the C terminus, whereas the PHF1-4E tau rigid core spans R2, R3, and R4 repeats. Cryoelectron microscopy data show that AT8-3E tau forms a triangular multi-layered core, whereas PHF1-4E tau forms a triple-stranded core. Interestingly, a construct combining all seven Glu mutations exhibits the same conformation as PHF1-4E tau. Scalar-coupled NMR data additionally reveal the dynamics and shape of the fuzzy coat surrounding the rigid cores. These results demonstrate that specific PTMs induce structurally specific tau aggregates, and the phosphorylation code of tau contains redundancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia El Mammeri
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Aurelio J. Dregni
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Pu Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Mei Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
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3
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Oliyantakath Hassan MS, Abdul Vahid A, Sahayaraj AE, Viswanathan R, Vijayan V. NMR Relaxation Experiments Probe Monomer-Fibril Interaction and Identify Critical Interacting Residues Responsible for Distinct Tau Fibril Morphologies. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:6583-6591. [PMID: 37458827 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Tau aggregation is governed by secondary processes, a major pathological pathway for tau protein fibril propagation, yet its molecular mechanism remains unknown. This work uses saturation transfer and lifetime line-broadening experiments to identify the critical residues involved in these secondary processes. Distinct residue-specific NMR relaxation parameters were obtained for the truncated three repeat tau construct (K19) in equilibrium with structurally different, self-aggregated (saK19) or heparin-induced (hK19) fibrils. The interacting residues are restricted to R3 repeat for hK19 and to R3, R4, and R' repeats for saK19 fibrils. Furthermore, the relaxation profiles of tau monomers in equilibrium with the structurally comparable, in vitro pathological fibrils (tauAD and tauCTE) were similar but distinct from hK19 or saK19 fibrils. Thus, residue-specific relaxation identifies the important residues involved in the binding of monomers to the fibrils. The relaxation profile of the monomers in equilibrium with the NMR invisible fibril seeds potentially distinguishes the distinct structures of tau fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arshad Abdul Vahid
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Allwin Ebenezer Sahayaraj
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Renjith Viswanathan
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Vinesh Vijayan
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Vithura, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
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4
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Langer Horvat L, Španić Popovački E, Babić Leko M, Zubčić K, Horvat L, Mustapić M, Hof PR, Šimić G. Anterograde and Retrograde Propagation of Inoculated Human Tau Fibrils and Tau Oligomers in a Non-Transgenic Rat Tauopathy Model. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1004. [PMID: 37189622 PMCID: PMC10135744 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The tauopathy of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is first observed in the brainstem and entorhinal cortex, spreading trans-synaptically along specific pathways to other brain regions with recognizable patterns. Tau propagation occurs retrogradely and anterogradely (trans-synaptically) along a given pathway and through exosomes and microglial cells. Some aspects of in vivo tau spreading have been replicated in transgenic mice models expressing a mutated human MAPT (tau) gene and in wild-type mice. In this study, we aimed to characterize the propagation of different forms of tau species in non-transgenic 3-4 months old wild-type rats after a single unilateral injection of human tau oligomers and tau fibrils into the medial entorhinal cortex (mEC). We determined whether different variants of the inoculated human tau protein, tau fibrils, and tau oligomers, would induce similar neurofibrillary changes and propagate in an AD-related pattern, and how tau-related pathological changes would correlate with presumed cognitive impairment. We injected human tau fibrils and tau oligomers stereotaxically into the mEC and examined the distribution of tau-related changes at 3 days and 4, 8, and 11 months post-injection using antibodies AT8 and MC1, which reveal early phosphorylation and aberrant conformation of tau, respectively, HT7, anti-synaptophysin, and the Gallyas silver staining method. Human tau oligomers and tau fibrils exhibited some similarities and some differences in their ability to seed and propagate tau-related changes. Both human tau fibrils and tau oligomers rapidly propagated from the mEC anterogradely into the hippocampus and various parts of the neocortex. However, using a human tau-specific HT7 antibody, 3 days post-injection we found inoculated human tau oligomers in the red nucleus, primary motor, and primary somatosensory cortex, a finding not seen in animals inoculated with human tau fibrils. In animals inoculated with human tau fibrils, 3 days post-injection the HT7 antibody showed fibrils in the pontine reticular nucleus, a finding explained only by uptake of human tau fibrils by incoming presynaptic fibers to the mEC and retrograde transport of inoculated human tau fibrils to the brainstem. Rats inoculated with human tau fibrils showed as early as 4 months after inoculation a spread of phosphorylated tau protein at the AT8 epitopes throughout the brain, dramatically faster propagation of neurofibrillary changes than with human tau oligomers. The overall severity of tau protein changes 4, 8, and 11 months after inoculation of human tau oligomers and tau fibrils correlated well with spatial working memory and cognition impairments, as measured by the T-maze spontaneous alternation, novel object recognition, and object location tests. We concluded that this non-trangenic rat model of tauopathy, especially when using human tau fibrils, demonstrates rapidly developing pathologic alterations in neurons, synapses, and identifiable pathways together with cognitive and behavioral changes, through the anterograde and retrograde spreading of neurofibrillary degeneration. Therefore, it represents a promising model for future experimental studies of primary and secondary tauopathies, especially AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Langer Horvat
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ena Španić Popovački
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mirjana Babić Leko
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Klara Zubčić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Luka Horvat
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Mustapić
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Goran Šimić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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5
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Initiation and modulation of Tau protein phase separation by the drug suramin. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3963. [PMID: 36894559 PMCID: PMC9997437 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29846-9] [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: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau is an intrinsically disordered neuronal protein in the central nervous system. Aggregated Tau is the main component of neurofibrillary tangles observed in Alzheimer's disease. In vitro, Tau aggregation can be triggered by polyanionic co-factors, like RNA or heparin. At different concentration ratios, the same polyanions can induce Tau condensates via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), which over time develop pathological aggregation seeding potential. Data obtained by time resolved Dynamic Light Scattering experiments (trDLS), light and electron microscopy show that intermolecular electrostatic interactions between Tau and the negatively charged drug suramin induce Tau condensation and compete with the interactions driving and stabilizing the formation of Tau:heparin and Tau:RNA coacervates, thus, reducing their potential to induce cellular Tau aggregation. Tau:suramin condensates do not seed Tau aggregation in a HEK cell model for Tau aggregation, even after extended incubation. These observations indicate that electrostatically driven Tau condensation can occur without pathological aggregation when initiated by small anionic molecules. Our results provide a novel avenue for therapeutic intervention of aberrant Tau phase separation, utilizing small anionic compounds.
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6
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Zhang S, Li J, Xu Q, Xia W, Tao Y, Shi C, Li D, Xiang S, Liu C. Conformational Dynamics of an α-Synuclein Fibril upon Receptor Binding Revealed by Insensitive Nuclei Enhanced by Polarization Transfer-Based Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Cryo-Electron Microscopy. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:4473-4484. [PMID: 36794997 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c10854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Many amyloid fibrils associated with neurodegenerative diseases consist of an ordered fibril core (FC) and disordered terminal regions (TRs). The former represents a stable scaffold, while the latter is rather active in binding with various partners. Current structural studies mainly focus on the ordered FC since the high flexibility of TRs hinders structural characterization. Here, by combining insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer-based 1H-detected solid-state NMR and cryo-EM, we explored the intact structure of an α-syn fibril including both FC and TRs and further studied the conformational dynamics of the fibril upon binding to lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3)─a cell surface receptor that is involved in α-syn fibril transmission in brains. We found that both the N- and C-TRs of α-syn are disordered in free fibrils featuring similar conformation ensembles as those in soluble monomers. While in the presence of the D1 domain of LAG3 (L3D1), the C-TR directly binds to L3D1, meanwhile the N-TR folds into a β-strand and further integrates with the FC, which leads to alteration of the overall fibril structure and surface property. Our work reveals synergistic conformational transition of the intrinsically disordered TRs of α-syn, which sheds light on mechanistic understanding of the essential role of TRs in regulating the structure and pathology of amyloid fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Juan Li
- MOE Key Lab for Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, 230026 Anhui, China
| | - Qianhui Xu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wencheng Xia
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19 A Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Youqi Tao
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Chaowei Shi
- MOE Key Lab for Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, 230026 Anhui, China
| | - Dan Li
- Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.,Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - ShengQi Xiang
- MOE Key Lab for Cellular Dynamics, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, 230026 Anhui, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bio-Organic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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7
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Montgomery K, Carroll EC, Thwin AC, Quddus AY, Hodges P, Southworth DR, Gestwicki JE. Chemical Features of Polyanions Modulate Tau Aggregation and Conformational States. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:3926-3936. [PMID: 36753572 PMCID: PMC9951223 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The aggregation of tau into insoluble fibrils is a defining feature of neurodegenerative tauopathies. However, tau has a positive overall charge and is highly soluble; so, polyanions, such as heparin, are typically required to promote its aggregation in vitro. There are dozens of polyanions in living systems, and it is not clear which ones might promote this process. Here, we systematically measure the ability of 37 diverse, anionic biomolecules to initiate tau aggregation using either wild-type (WT) tau or the disease-associated P301S mutant. We find that polyanions from many different structural classes can promote fibril formation and that P301S tau is sensitive to a greater number of polyanions (28/37) than WT tau (21/37). We also find that some polyanions preferentially reduce the lag time of the aggregation reactions, while others enhance the elongation rate, suggesting that they act on partially distinct steps. From the resulting structure-activity relationships, the valency of the polyanion seems to be an important chemical feature such that anions with low valency tend to be weaker aggregation inducers, even at the same overall charge. Finally, the identity of the polyanion influences fibril morphology based on electron microscopy and limited proteolysis. These results provide insights into the crucial role of polyanion-tau interactions in modulating tau conformational dynamics with implications for understanding the tau aggregation landscape in a complex cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly
M. Montgomery
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- The
Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Emma C. Carroll
- The
Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Aye C. Thwin
- The
Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Athena Y. Quddus
- The
Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Paige Hodges
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- The
Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Daniel R. Southworth
- The
Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University
of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Jason E. Gestwicki
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- The
Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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8
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Phase separation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:1013-1021. [PMID: 36251053 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220066] [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: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation and misfolding of the neuronal microtubule-associated protein tau is closely linked to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease and several other neurodegenerative diseases. Recent evidence suggest that tau undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation in vitro and forms or associates with membrane-less organelles in cells. Biomolecular condensation driven by phase separation can influence the biological activities of tau including its ability to polymerize tubulin into microtubules. In addition, the high concentrations that tau can reach in biomolecular condensates provide a mechanism to promote its aggregation and the formation of amyloid fibrils potentially contributing to the pathology of different tauopathies. Here, the authors discuss the role of tau phase separation in physiology and disease.
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9
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Guillemain G, Lacapere JJ, Khemtemourian L. Targeting hIAPP fibrillation: A new paradigm to prevent β-cell death? BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:184002. [PMID: 35868406 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Loss of pancreatic β-cell mass is deleterious for type 2 diabetes patients since it reduces insulin production, critical for glucose homeostasis. The main research axis developed over the last few years was to generate new pancreatic β-cells or to transplant pancreatic islets as occurring for some specific type 1 diabetes patients. We evaluate here a new paradigm consisting in preservation of β-cells by prevention of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) oligomers and fibrils formation leading to pancreatic β-cell death. We review the hIAPP physiology and the pathology that contributes to β-cell destruction, deciphering the various cellular steps that could be involved. Recent progress in understanding other amyloidosis such as Aβ, Tau, α-synuclein or prion, involved in neurodegenerative processes linked with inflammation, has opened new research lines of investigations to preserve neuronal cells. We evaluate and estimate their transposition to the pancreatic β-cells preservation. Among them is the control of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production occurring with inflammation and the possible implication of the mitochondrial translocator protein as a diagnostic and therapeutic target. The present review also focuses on other amyloid forming proteins from molecular to physiological and physiopathological points of view that could help to better decipher hIAPP-induced β-cell death mechanisms and to prevent hIAPP fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghislaine Guillemain
- Sorbonne Université, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire, Inserm UMR_S938, Institute of Cardio metabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Centre de recherche de St-Antoine (CRSA), 27 rue de Chaligny, F-75012 Paris, France.
| | - Jean-Jacques Lacapere
- Sorbonne Université, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS UMR 7203, Laboratoire des BioMolécules (LBM), 4 place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Lucie Khemtemourian
- CBMN, CNRS UMR 5248, IPB, Univ. Bordeaux, Allée Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, F-33600 Pessac, France.
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10
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Dregni AJ, Duan P, Xu H, Changolkar L, El Mammeri N, Lee VMY, Hong M. Fluent molecular mixing of Tau isoforms in Alzheimer's disease neurofibrillary tangles. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2967. [PMID: 35624093 PMCID: PMC9142584 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30585-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined by intracellular neurofibrillary tangles formed by the microtubule-associated protein tau and extracellular plaques formed by the β-amyloid peptide. AD tau tangles contain a mixture of tau isoforms with either four (4R) or three (3R) microtubule-binding repeats. Here we use solid-state NMR to determine how 4R and 3R tau isoforms mix at the molecular level in AD tau aggregates. By seeding differentially isotopically labeled 4R and 3R tau monomers with AD brain-derived tau, we measured intermolecular contacts of the two isoforms. The NMR data indicate that 4R and 3R tau are well mixed in the AD-tau seeded fibrils, with a 60:40 incorporation ratio of 4R to 3R tau and a small homotypic preference. The AD-tau templated 4R tau, 3R tau, and mixed 4R and 3R tau fibrils exhibit no structural differences in the rigid β-sheet core or the mobile domains. Therefore, 4R and 3R tau are fluently recruited into the pathological fold of AD tau aggregates, which may explain the predominance of AD among neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelio J Dregni
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Pu Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lakshmi Changolkar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Nadia El Mammeri
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Mei Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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11
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Landrieu I, Dupré E, Sinnaeve D, El Hajjar L, Smet-Nocca C. Deciphering the Structure and Formation of Amyloids in Neurodegenerative Diseases With Chemical Biology Tools. Front Chem 2022; 10:886382. [PMID: 35646824 PMCID: PMC9133342 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.886382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation into highly ordered, regularly repeated cross-β sheet structures called amyloid fibrils is closely associated to human disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, or systemic diseases like type II diabetes. Yet, in some cases, such as the HET-s prion, amyloids have biological functions. High-resolution structures of amyloids fibrils from cryo-electron microscopy have very recently highlighted their ultrastructural organization and polymorphisms. However, the molecular mechanisms and the role of co-factors (posttranslational modifications, non-proteinaceous components and other proteins) acting on the fibril formation are still poorly understood. Whether amyloid fibrils play a toxic or protective role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases remains to be elucidated. Furthermore, such aberrant protein-protein interactions challenge the search of small-molecule drugs or immunotherapy approaches targeting amyloid formation. In this review, we describe how chemical biology tools contribute to new insights on the mode of action of amyloidogenic proteins and peptides, defining their structural signature and aggregation pathways by capturing their molecular details and conformational heterogeneity. Challenging the imagination of scientists, this constantly expanding field provides crucial tools to unravel mechanistic detail of amyloid formation such as semisynthetic proteins and small-molecule sensors of conformational changes and/or aggregation. Protein engineering methods and bioorthogonal chemistry for the introduction of protein chemical modifications are additional fruitful strategies to tackle the challenge of understanding amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Landrieu
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Elian Dupré
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Davy Sinnaeve
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Léa El Hajjar
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
| | - Caroline Smet-Nocca
- University Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
- CNRS EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France
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12
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La Rocca R, Tsvetkov PO, Golovin AV, Allegro D, Barbier P, Malesinski S, Guerlesquin F, Devred F. Identification of the three zinc-binding sites on tau protein. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:779-784. [PMID: 35421417 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Tau protein has been extensively studied due to its key roles in microtubular cytoskeleton regulation and in the formation of aggregates found in some neurodegenerative diseases. Recently it has been shown that zinc is able to induce tau aggregation by interacting with several binding sites. However, the precise location of these sites and the molecular mechanism of zinc-induced aggregation remain unknown. Here we used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to identify zinc binding sites on tau. These experiments revealed three distinct zinc binding sites on tau, located in the N-terminal part, the repeat region and the C-terminal part. Further analysis enabled us to show that the N-terminal and the C-terminal sites are independent of each other. Using molecular simulations, we proposed a model of each site in a complex with zinc. Given the clinical importance of zinc in tau aggregation, our findings pave the way for designing potential therapies for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain La Rocca
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Philipp O Tsvetkov
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, PINT, Plateforme INteractome Timone, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Andrey V Golovin
- Bioengineering and Bioinformatics Department, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119992 Moscow, Russian Federation; Institute of Molecular Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya Str. 8, Moscow 119992, Russia; National Research University HSE, Myasnitskaya Str. 20, Moscow 101000, Russia.
| | - Diane Allegro
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Pascale Barbier
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Soazig Malesinski
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Françoise Guerlesquin
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7255, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France.
| | - François Devred
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, PINT, Plateforme INteractome Timone, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
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13
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Ye H, Han Y, Li P, Su Z, Huang Y. The Role of Post-Translational Modifications on the Structure and Function of Tau Protein. J Mol Neurosci 2022; 72:1557-1571. [PMID: 35325356 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-022-02002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Involving addition of chemical groups or protein units to specific residues of the target protein, post-translational modifications (PTMs) alter the charge, hydrophobicity, and conformation of a protein, which in tune influences protein function, protein - protein interaction, and protein aggregation. While the occurrence of PTMs is dynamic and subject to regulations, conformational disorder of the target protein facilitates PTMs. The microtubule-associated protein tau is a typical intrinsically disordered protein that undergoes a variety of PTMs including phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, methylation, and oxidation. Accumulated evidence shows that these PTMs play a critical role in regulating tau-microtubule interaction, tau localization, tau degradation and aggregation, and reinforces the correlation between tau PTMs and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. Here, we review tau PTMs with an emphasis on their influence on tau structure. With available biophysical characterization results, we describe how PTMs induce conformational changes in tau monomer and regulate tau aggregation. Compared to functional analysis of tau PTMs, biophysical characterization of tau PTMs is lagging. While it is challenging, characterizing the specific effects of PTMs on tau conformation and interaction is indispensable to unravel the tau PTM code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqiong Ye
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Yue Han
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Ping Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Zhengding Su
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Yongqi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China. .,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China. .,Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.
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14
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Qi Z, Surewicz K, Surewicz WK, Jaroniec CP. Influence of the Dynamically Disordered N-Terminal Tail Domain on the Amyloid Core Structure of Human Y145Stop Prion Protein Fibrils. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:841790. [PMID: 35237664 PMCID: PMC8883029 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.841790] [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: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Y145Stop mutant of human prion protein (huPrP23-144) is associated with a familial prionopathy and provides a convenient in vitro model for investigating amyloid strains and cross-seeding barriers. huPrP23-144 fibrils feature a compact and relatively rigid parallel in-register β-sheet amyloid core spanning ∼30 C-terminal amino acid residues (∼112–141) and a large ∼90-residue dynamically disordered N-terminal tail domain. Here, we systematically evaluate the influence of this dynamic domain on the structure adopted by the huPrP23-144 amyloid core region, by investigating using magic-angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy a series of fibril samples formed by huPrP23-144 variants corresponding to deletions of large segments of the N-terminal tail. We find that deletion of the bulk of the N-terminal tail, up to residue 98, yields amyloid fibrils with native-like huPrP23-144 core structure. Interestingly, deletion of additional flexible residues in the stretch 99–106 located outside of the amyloid core yields shorter heterogenous fibrils with fingerprint NMR spectra that are clearly distinct from those for full-length huPrP23-144, suggestive of the onset of perturbations to the native structure and degree of molecular ordering for the core residues. For the deletion variant missing residues 99–106 we show that native huPrP23-144 core structure can be “restored” by seeding the fibril growth with preformed full-length huPrP23-144 fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Qi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Krystyna Surewicz
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Witold K. Surewicz
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Christopher P. Jaroniec
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Christopher P. Jaroniec,
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15
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Kitoka K, Skrabana R, Gasparik N, Hritz J, Jaudzems K. NMR Studies of Tau Protein in Tauopathies. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:761227. [PMID: 34859051 PMCID: PMC8632555 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.761227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), are the most troublesome of all age-related chronic conditions, as there are no well-established disease-modifying therapies for their prevention and treatment. Spatio-temporal distribution of tau protein pathology correlates with cognitive decline and severity of the disease, therefore, tau protein has become an appealing target for therapy. Current knowledge of the pathological effects and significance of specific species in the tau aggregation pathway is incomplete although more and more structural and mechanistic insights are being gained using biophysical techniques. Here, we review the application of NMR to structural studies of various tau forms that appear in its aggregation process, focusing on results obtained from solid-state NMR. Furthermore, we discuss implications from these studies and their prospective contribution to the development of new tauopathy therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Kitoka
- Laboratory of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Rostislav Skrabana
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Norbert Gasparik
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jozef Hritz
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Laboratory of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
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16
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Wang D, Huang X, Yan L, Zhou L, Yan C, Wu J, Su Z, Huang Y. The Structure Biology of Tau and Clue for Aggregation Inhibitor Design. Protein J 2021; 40:656-668. [PMID: 34401998 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-021-10017-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that is mainly expressed in central and peripheral nerve systems. Tau binds to tubulin and regulates assembly and stabilization of microtubule, thus playing a critical role in neuron morphology, axon development and navigation. Tau is highly stable under normal conditions; however, there are several factors that can induce or promote aggregation of tau, forming neurofibrillary tangles. Neurofibrillary tangles are toxic to neurons, which may be related to a series of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. Thus, tau is widely accepted as an important therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. While the monomeric structure of tau is highly disordered, the aggregate structure of tau is formed by closed packing of β-stands. Studies on the structure of tau and the structural transition mechanism provide valuable information on the occurrence, development, and therapy of tauopathies. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the structural investigation of tau and based on which we discuss aggregation inhibitor design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Xianlong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Lu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Luoqi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Chang Yan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Jinhu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Zhengding Su
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China
| | - Yongqi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China. .,Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Department of Biological Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, Hubei, China.
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17
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Chakraborty P, Rivière G, Liu S, de Opakua AI, Dervişoğlu R, Hebestreit A, Andreas LB, Vorberg IM, Zweckstetter M. Co-factor-free aggregation of tau into seeding-competent RNA-sequestering amyloid fibrils. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4231. [PMID: 34244499 PMCID: PMC8270918 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24362-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological aggregation of the protein tau into insoluble aggregates is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. The emergence of disease-specific tau aggregate structures termed tau strains, however, remains elusive. Here we show that full-length tau protein can be aggregated in the absence of co-factors into seeding-competent amyloid fibrils that sequester RNA. Using a combination of solid-state NMR spectroscopy and biochemical experiments we demonstrate that the co-factor-free amyloid fibrils of tau have a rigid core that is similar in size and location to the rigid core of tau fibrils purified from the brain of patients with corticobasal degeneration. In addition, we demonstrate that the N-terminal 30 residues of tau are immobilized during fibril formation, in agreement with the presence of an N-terminal epitope that is specifically detected by antibodies in pathological tau. Experiments in vitro and in biosensor cells further established that co-factor-free tau fibrils efficiently seed tau aggregation, while binding studies with different RNAs show that the co-factor-free tau fibrils strongly sequester RNA. Taken together the study provides a critical advance to reveal the molecular factors that guide aggregation towards disease-specific tau strains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gwladys Rivière
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shu Liu
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Rıza Dervişoğlu
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alina Hebestreit
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Loren B Andreas
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ina M Vorberg
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany.
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.
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18
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Dregni AJ, Wang HK, Wu H, Duan P, Jin J, DeGrado WF, Hong M. Inclusion of the C-Terminal Domain in the β-Sheet Core of Heparin-Fibrillized Three-Repeat Tau Protein Revealed by Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:7839-7851. [PMID: 33983722 PMCID: PMC8283780 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c03314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease are characterized by pathological β-sheet filaments of the tau protein, which spread in a prion-like manner in patient brains. To date, high-resolution structures of tau filaments obtained from patient brains show that the β-sheet core only includes portions of the microtubule-binding repeat domains and excludes the C-terminal residues, indicating that the C-terminus is dynamically disordered. Here, we use solid-state NMR spectroscopy to identify the β-sheet core of full-length 0N3R tau fibrillized using heparin. Assignment of 13C and 15N chemical shifts of the rigid core of the protein revealed a single predominant β-sheet conformation, which spans not only the R3, R4, R' repeats but also the entire C-terminal domain (CT) of the protein. This massive β-sheet core qualitatively differs from all other tau fibril structures known to date. Using long-range correlation NMR experiments, we found that the R3 and R4 repeats form a β-arch, similar to that seen in some of the brain-derived tau fibrils, but the R1 and R3 domains additionally stack against the CT, reminiscent of previously reported transient interactions of the CT with the microtubule-binding repeats. This expanded β-sheet core structure suggests that the CT may have a protective effect against the formation of pathological tau fibrils by shielding the amyloidogenic R3 and R4 domains, preventing side-on nucleation. Truncation and post-translational modification of the CT in vivo may thus play an important role in the progression of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelio J. Dregni
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Harrison K. Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Haifan Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 555 Mission Bay Blvd. South, CVRB, Room 452V, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001
| | - Pu Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Jia Jin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 555 Mission Bay Blvd. South, CVRB, Room 452V, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001
| | - William F. DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 555 Mission Bay Blvd. South, CVRB, Room 452V, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-9001
| | - Mei Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 170 Albany Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
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19
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Zeng Y, Yang J, Zhang B, Gao M, Su Z, Huang Y. The structure and phase of tau: from monomer to amyloid filament. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:1873-1886. [PMID: 33078207 PMCID: PMC11073437 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03681-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein involved in regulation of assembly and spatial organization of microtubule in neurons. However, in pathological conditions, tau monomers assemble into amyloid filaments characterized by the cross-β structures in a number of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. In this review, we summarize recent progression on the characterization of structures of tau monomer and filament, as well as the dynamic liquid droplet assembly. Our aim is to reveal how post-translational modifications, amino acid mutations, and interacting molecules modulate the conformational ensemble of tau monomer, and how they accelerate or inhibit tau assembly into aggregates. Structure-based aggregation inhibitor design is also discussed in the context of dynamics and heterogeneity of tau structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bailing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengding Su
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongqi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
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20
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Savastano A, Jaipuria G, Andreas L, Mandelkow E, Zweckstetter M. Solid-state NMR investigation of the involvement of the P2 region in tau amyloid fibrils. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21210. [PMID: 33273615 PMCID: PMC7712923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78161-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau into amyloid fibrils is closely linked to the progression of Alzheimer's disease. To gain insight into the link between amyloid structure and disease, the three-dimensional structure of tau fibrils has been studied using solid-state NMR (ssNMR) and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The proline-rich region of tau remains poorly defined in the context of tau amyloid structures, despite the clustering of several phosphorylation sites, which have been associated with Alzheimer's disease. In order to gain insight into the contribution of the proline-rich region P2 of tau to amyloid fibrils, we studied in vitro aggregated amyloid fibrils of tau constructs, which contain both the proline-rich region P2 and the pseudo-repeats. Using ssNMR we show that the sequence [Formula: see text], the most hydrophobic patch within the P2 region, loses its flexibility upon formation of amyloid fibrils. The data suggest a contribution of the P2 region to tau amyloid fibril formation, which might account for some of the unassigned electron density in cryo-EM studies of tau fibrils and could be modulated by tau phosphorylation at the disease-associated AT180 epitope T231/S235.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Savastano
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Garima Jaipuria
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Loren Andreas
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Faßberg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- CAESAR Research Center, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175, Bonn, Germany
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Faßberg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
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21
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Characterization of tau binding by gosuranemab. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 146:105120. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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22
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Marreiro A, Van Kolen K, Sousa C, Temmerman L, Vasconcelos B, Crespo-Rodriguez R, van Weering JRT, Van Dam D, De Deyn PP, Apetri A, Schoofs L, Mercken MH. Comparison of size distribution and (Pro249-Ser258) epitope exposure in in vitro and in vivo derived Tau fibrils. BMC Mol Cell Biol 2020; 21:81. [PMID: 33183222 PMCID: PMC7661158 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-020-00320-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although several studies demonstrate prion-like properties of Tau fibrils, the effect of size in the seeding capacity of these aggregates is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to characterize Tau seeds by their size and seeding capacity. METHODS Tau aggregates were isolated from postmortem AD brain tissue and separated from low molecular weight species by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. Biochemical characterization of the different fractions was done by non-reducing Western blotting and aggregate-specific immuno-assays using in house developed anti-Tau monoclonal antibodies, including PT76 which binds to an epitope close to the microtubule-binding domain and, hence, also to K18. Seeding efficiency was then assessed in HEK293 cells expressing K18 FRET sensors. RESULTS We observed that upon sonication of Tau aggregates different size-distributed tau aggregates are obtained. In biochemical assays, these forms show higher signals than the non-sonicated material in some aggregation-specific Tau assays. This could be explained by an increased epitope exposure of the smaller aggregates created by the sonication. By analyzing human brain derived and recombinant (K18) Tau aggregates in a cellular FRET assay, it was observed that, in the absence of transfection reagent, sonicated aggregates showed higher aggregation induction. Preparations also showed altered profiles on native PAGE upon sonication and we could further separate different aggregate species based on their molecular weight via sucrose gradients. CONCLUSIONS This study further elucidates the molecular properties regarding relative aggregate size and seeding efficiency of sonicated vs. non-sonicated high molecular weight Tau species. This information will provide a better knowledge on how sonication, a commonly used technique in the field of study of Tau aggregation, impacts the aggregates. In addition, the description of PT76-based aggregation specific assay is a valuable tool to quantify K18 and human AD Tau fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Marreiro
- Neuroscience department, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 2340, Beerse, Belgium.,Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristof Van Kolen
- Neuroscience department, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 2340, Beerse, Belgium.
| | - Cristiano Sousa
- Neuroscience department, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Temmerman
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno Vasconcelos
- Neuroscience department, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Rosa Crespo-Rodriguez
- Janssen Prevention Center, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Archimedesweg 6, 2333, CN, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Neurochemistry Lab, Clinical Chemistry department of the Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan R T van Weering
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Debby Van Dam
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter P De Deyn
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Hospital Network Antwerp (ZNA) Middelheim and Hoge Beuken, Lindendreef 1, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.,Biobank, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Adrian Apetri
- Janssen Prevention Center, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Archimedesweg 6, 2333, CN, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marc H Mercken
- Neuroscience department, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
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23
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Zubčić K, Hof PR, Šimić G, Jazvinšćak Jembrek M. The Role of Copper in Tau-Related Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:572308. [PMID: 33071757 PMCID: PMC7533614 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.572308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
All tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), are characterized by the intracellular accumulation of abnormal forms of tau protein in neurons and glial cells, which negatively affect microtubule stability. Under physiological conditions, tubulin-associated unit (Tau) protein is intrinsically disordered, almost without secondary structure, and is not prone to aggregation. In AD, it assembles, and forms paired helical filaments (PHFs) that further build-up neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Aggregates are composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein that is more prone to aggregation. The pathology of AD is also linked to disturbed copper homeostasis, which promotes oxidative stress (OS). Copper imbalance is widely observed in AD patients. Deregulated copper ions may initiate and exacerbate tau hyperphosphorylation and formation of β-sheet-rich tau fibrils that ultimately contribute to synaptic failure, neuronal death, and cognitive decline observed in AD patients. The present review summarizes factors affecting the process of tau aggregation, conformational changes of small peptide sequences in the microtubule-binding domain required for these motifs to act as seeding sites in aggregation, and the role of copper in OS induction, tau hyperphosphorylation and tau assembly. A better understanding of the various factors that affect tau aggregation under OS conditions may reveal new targets and novel pharmacological approaches for the therapy of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Zubčić
- Laboratory for Developmental Neuropathology, Department for Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Goran Šimić
- Laboratory for Developmental Neuropathology, Department for Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Jazvinšćak Jembrek
- Laboratory for Protein Dynamics, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.,Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
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24
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Siemer AB. Advances in studying protein disorder with solid-state NMR. SOLID STATE NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE 2020; 106:101643. [PMID: 31972419 PMCID: PMC7202078 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssnmr.2020.101643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Solution NMR is a key tool to study intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), whose importance for biological function is widely accepted. However, disordered proteins are not limited to solution and are also found in non-soluble systems such as fibrils and membrane proteins. In this Trends article, I will discuss how solid-state NMR can be used to study disorder in non-soluble proteins. Techniques based on dipolar couplings can study static protein disorder which either occurs naturally as e.g. in spider silk or can be induced by freeze trapping IDPs or unfolded proteins. In this case, structural ensembles are directly reflected by a static distribution of dihedral angels that can be determined by the distribution of chemical shifts or other methods. Techniques based on J-couplings can detect dynamic protein disorder under MAS. In this case, only average chemical shifts are measured but disorder can be characterized with a variety of data including secondary chemical shifts, relaxation rates, paramagnetic relaxation enhancements, or residual dipolar couplings. I describe both technical aspects and examples of solid-state NMR on protein disorder and end the article with a discussion of challenges and opportunities of this emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ansgar B Siemer
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Univeristy of Southern California, 1501 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
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25
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Shin WS, Di J, Cao Q, Li B, Seidler PM, Murray KA, Bitan G, Jiang L. Amyloid β-protein oligomers promote the uptake of tau fibril seeds potentiating intracellular tau aggregation. Alzheimers Res Ther 2019; 11:86. [PMID: 31627745 PMCID: PMC6800506 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-019-0541-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repeated failure of drug candidates targeting Alzheimer's disease (AD) in clinical trials likely stems from a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis. Recent research has highlighted synergistic interactions between aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins in AD, but the molecular details of how these interactions drive AD pathology remain elusive and speculative. METHODS Here, we test the hypothesis that Aβ potentiates intracellular tau aggregation, and show that oligomeric Aβ specifically exacerbates proteopathic seeding by tau. Using tau-biosensor cells, we show that treatment with sub-toxic concentrations of Aβ oligomers, but not monomers or fibrils, "primes" cells, making them more susceptible to tau seeding. The treatment with Aβ oligomers enhances intracellular tau aggregation in a dose-dependent manner when the cells are seeded with either recombinant or brain-derived tau fibrils, whereas little or no aggregation is observed in the absence of Aβ-oligomer priming. RESULTS Priming by Aβ oligomers appears to be specific to tau, as α-synuclein seeding is unaffected by this treatment. Aβ oligomer-enhanced tau seeding also occurs in primary mouse neurons and human neuroblastoma cells. Using fluorescently labeled tau seeds, we find that treatment with Aβ oligomers significantly enhances the cellular uptake of tau seeds, whereas a known tau-uptake inhibitor blocks the effect of Aβ on tau uptake. CONCLUSION The ability of Aβ to promote tau seeding suggests a specific and plausible mechanism by which extracellular Aβ initiates a deleterious cascade that is unique to AD. These data suggest that the Aβ-mediated potentiation of tau uptake into cells should also be taken into account when designing Aβ-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo Shik Shin
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, 635 Charles E Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Jing Di
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, 635 Charles E Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Qin Cao
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1570 USA
| | - Binsen Li
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, 635 Charles E Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Paul M. Seidler
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1570 USA
| | - Kevin A. Murray
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1570 USA
| | - Gal Bitan
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, 635 Charles E Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
- Brain Research Institute, and Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Lin Jiang
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, 635 Charles E Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
- Brain Research Institute, and Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
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26
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In vitro 0N4R tau fibrils contain a monomorphic β-sheet core enclosed by dynamically heterogeneous fuzzy coat segments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:16357-16366. [PMID: 31358628 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906839116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Misfolding of the microtubule-binding protein tau into filamentous aggregates is characteristic of many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Determining the structures and dynamics of these tau fibrils is important for designing inhibitors against tau aggregation. Tau fibrils obtained from patient brains have been found by cryo-electron microscopy to adopt disease-specific molecular conformations. However, in vitro heparin-fibrillized 2N4R tau, which contains all four microtubule-binding repeats (4R), was recently found to adopt polymorphic structures. Here we use solid-state NMR spectroscopy to investigate the global fold and dynamics of heparin-fibrillized 0N4R tau. A single set of 13C and 15N chemical shifts was observed for residues in the four repeats, indicating a single β-sheet conformation for the fibril core. This rigid core spans the R2 and R3 repeats and adopts a hairpin-like fold that has similarities to but also clear differences from any of the polymorphic 2N4R folds. Obtaining a homogeneous fibril sample required careful purification of the protein and removal of any proteolytic fragments. A variety of experiments and polarization transfer from water and mobile side chains indicate that 0N4R tau fibrils exhibit heterogeneous dynamics: Outside the rigid R2-R3 core, the R1 and R4 repeats are semirigid even though they exhibit β-strand character and the proline-rich domains undergo large-amplitude anisotropic motions, whereas the two termini are nearly isotropically flexible. These results have significant implications for the structure and dynamics of 4R tau fibrils in vivo.
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27
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Ukmar-Godec T, Wegmann S, Zweckstetter M. Biomolecular condensation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2019; 99:202-214. [PMID: 31260737 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cells contain multiple compartments dedicated to the regulation and control of biochemical reactions. Cellular compartments that are not surrounded by membranes can rapidly form and dissolve in response to changes in the cellular environment. The physicochemical processes that underlie the formation of non-membrane-bound compartments in vivo are connected to liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids in vitro. Recent evidence suggests that the protein tau, which plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, phase separates in solution, forms tau phases with microtubules, and associates with phase-separated RNA-binding protein granules in cells. Here we review the experimental evidence that supports the ability of tau to phase separate in solution and form biomolecular condensates in cells. As for other disease-relevant proteins, the physiological and pathological functions of tau are tightly connected - through loss of normal function or gain of toxic function - and we therefore discuss how tau phase separation plays a role for both, and with respect to different cellular functions of tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Ukmar-Godec
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Wegmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Chariteplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany; Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Faßberg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
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28
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Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein involved in the regulation of axonal microtubules in neurons. In pathological conditions, it forms fibrils that are molecular hallmarks of neurological disorders known as tauopathies. In the last 2 years, cryo-EM has given unprecedented high-resolution views of Tau in both physiological and pathological conditions. We review here these new findings and put them into the context of the knowledge about Tau before this structural breakthrough. The first structures of Tau fibrils, a molecular hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), were based on fibrils from the brain of an individual with AD and, along with similar patient-derived structures, have set the gold standard for the field. Cryo-EM structures of Tau fibers in three distinct diseases, AD, Pick's disease, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, represent the end points of Tau's molecular trajectory. We propose that the recent Tau structures may call for a re-examination of databases that link different Tau variants to various forms of dementia. We also address the question of how this structural information may link Tau's functional and pathological aspects. Because this structural information on Tau was obtained in a very short period, the new structures should be viewed in light of earlier structural observations and past and present functional data to shed additional light on Tau function and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Lippens
- From the Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques (LISBP), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRA, INSA, 135 avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France and
| | - Benoît Gigant
- the Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
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29
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Melková K, Zapletal V, Narasimhan S, Jansen S, Hritz J, Škrabana R, Zweckstetter M, Ringkjøbing Jensen M, Blackledge M, Žídek L. Structure and Functions of Microtubule Associated Proteins Tau and MAP2c: Similarities and Differences. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9030105. [PMID: 30884818 PMCID: PMC6468450 DOI: 10.3390/biom9030105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The stability and dynamics of cytoskeleton in brain nerve cells are regulated by microtubule associated proteins (MAPs), tau and MAP2. Both proteins are intrinsically disordered and involved in multiple molecular interactions important for normal physiology and pathology of chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Nuclear magnetic resonance and cryo-electron microscopy recently revealed propensities of MAPs to form transient local structures and long-range contacts in the free state, and conformations adopted in complexes with microtubules and filamentous actin, as well as in pathological aggregates. In this paper, we compare the longest, 441-residue brain isoform of tau (tau40), and a 467-residue isoform of MAP2, known as MAP2c. For both molecules, we present transient structural motifs revealed by conformational analysis of experimental data obtained for free soluble forms of the proteins. We show that many of the short sequence motifs that exhibit transient structural features are linked to functional properties, manifested by specific interactions. The transient structural motifs can be therefore classified as molecular recognition elements of tau40 and MAP2c. Their interactions are further regulated by post-translational modifications, in particular phosphorylation. The structure-function analysis also explains differences between biological activities of tau40 and MAP2c.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Melková
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Vojtěch Zapletal
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Subhash Narasimhan
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Séverine Jansen
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Jozef Hritz
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Rostislav Škrabana
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia.
- Axon Neuroscience R&D Services SE, Dvořákovo nábrežie 10, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
- Department of NMR-Based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
| | | | | | - Lukáš Žídek
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
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30
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Fichou Y, Al-Hilaly YK, Devred F, Smet-Nocca C, Tsvetkov PO, Verelst J, Winderickx J, Geukens N, Vanmechelen E, Perrotin A, Serpell L, Hanseeuw BJ, Medina M, Buée L, Landrieu I. The elusive tau molecular structures: can we translate the recent breakthroughs into new targets for intervention? Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:31. [PMID: 30823892 PMCID: PMC6397507 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0682-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Insights into tau molecular structures have advanced significantly in recent years. This field has been the subject of recent breakthroughs, including the first cryo-electron microscopy structures of tau filaments from Alzheimer’s and Pick’s disease inclusions, as well as the structure of the repeat regions of tau bound to microtubules. Tau structure covers various species as the tau protein itself takes many forms. We will here address a range of studies that help to define the many facets of tau protein structures and how they translate into pathogenic forms. New results shed light on previous data that need now to be revisited in order to up-date our knowledge of tau molecular structure. Finally, we explore how these data can contribute the important medical aspects of this research - diagnosis and therapeutics.
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31
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Zhang W, Falcon B, Murzin AG, Fan J, Crowther RA, Goedert M, Scheres SH. Heparin-induced tau filaments are polymorphic and differ from those in Alzheimer's and Pick's diseases. eLife 2019; 8:43584. [PMID: 30720432 PMCID: PMC6375701 DOI: 10.7554/elife.43584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Assembly of microtubule-associated protein tau into filamentous inclusions underlies a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Tau filaments adopt different conformations in Alzheimer’s and Pick’s diseases. Here, we used cryo- and immuno- electron microscopy to characterise filaments that were assembled from recombinant full-length human tau with four (2N4R) or three (2N3R) microtubule-binding repeats in the presence of heparin. 2N4R tau assembles into multiple types of filaments, and the structures of three types reveal similar ‘kinked hairpin’ folds, in which the second and third repeats pack against each other. 2N3R tau filaments are structurally homogeneous, and adopt a dimeric core, where the third repeats of two tau molecules pack in a parallel manner. The heparin-induced tau filaments differ from those of Alzheimer’s or Pick’s disease, which have larger cores with different repeat compositions. Our results illustrate the structural versatility of amyloid filaments, and raise questions about the relevance of in vitro assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Zhang
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Falcon
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alexey G Murzin
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Juan Fan
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Michel Goedert
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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32
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Tau Interacting Proteins: Gaining Insight into the Roles of Tau in Health and Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1184:145-166. [PMID: 32096036 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9358-8_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Tau is most intensely studied in relation to its executive role in Tauopathies, a family of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the accumulation of Tau aggregates [15, 21, 38, 75, 89, 111, 121, 135, 175, 176, 192]. Tau aggregation in the different Tauopathies differs in the affected cell type, the structure of aggregates and Tau isoform composition. However, in all Tauopathies, accumulation of pathological Tau in well-characterized and well-defined brain regions, correlates strongly with symptoms associated with the dysfunction of this brain region. Hence, symptoms of neurodegenerative Tauopathies can range from motoric to cognitive and behavioral symptoms, even extending to deterioration of vital functions when the disease progresses, or combinations of different symptoms governed by the affected brain regions. The most common Tauopathies are corticobasal degeneration (CBD), Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and frontotemporal dementias with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). However a growing number of diseases are characterized by Tau aggregation amounting to a large family of more than 20 disorders [176]. Most Tauopathies are sporadic, and are hence linked to a combination of environmental and genetic risk factors. However, mutations in MAPT have been identified which are autosomal dominantly linked to Tauopathies, including FTDP, PSP and CBD [94, 163, 185] (Alzforum, https://www.alzforum.org/mutations/mapt ). More than 80 mutations have been identified in MAPT, both in intronic and exonic regions of the human MAPT. These mutations can be classified as missense mutations or splicing mutations. Most missense mutations cluster in or near the microtubule binding site of Tau, while most splicing mutations affect the splicing of exon 10 (encoding the R2 domain), and hence affect the 3R/4R ratio. While Alzheimer's disease (AD), is the most prevalent Tauopathy, no mutations in MAPT associated with AD have been identified. Brains of AD patients are pathologically characterized by the combined presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles [171]. Familial forms of AD, termed early onset familial AD (EOFAD) with clinical mutations in APP or PS1/2, have an early onset, and are invariably characterized by the combined presence of amyloid and Tau pathology [24, 80, 170]. These EOFAD cases, identify a causal link between APP/PS1 misprocessing and the development of Tau pathology and neurodegeneration [80, 170]. Furthermore, combined genetic, pathological, biomarker and in vivo modelling data, indicate that amyloid pathology precedes Tau pathology, and support a role for Aβ as initiator and Tau as executor in the pathogenetic process of AD [80, 96, 97]. Hence, AD is often considered as a secondary Tauopathy (similar as for Down syndrome patients), in contrast to the primary Tauopathies described above. Tau aggregates in Tauopathies vary with respect to the ratio of different Tau isoforms (3R/4R), to the cell types displaying Tau aggregation and the structure of the aggregates. However, in all Tauopathies a strong correlation between progressive development of pathological Tau accumulation and the loss of the respective brain functions is observed.
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33
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Weismiller HA, Murphy R, Wei G, Ma B, Nussinov R, Margittai M. Structural disorder in four-repeat Tau fibrils reveals a new mechanism for barriers to cross-seeding of Tau isoforms. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:17336-17348. [PMID: 30242125 PMCID: PMC6231118 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.005316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular deposition of fibrils composed of the microtubule-associated protein Tau is a characteristic feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other fatal neurodegenerative disorders collectively known as tauopathies. Short Tau fibrils spread intracerebrally through transfer between interconnected neurons. Once taken up by a recipient cell, Tau fibrils recruit Tau monomers onto their ends. Based on the number of microtubule-binding repeats, there are two distinct groups of Tau isoforms: three-repeat (3R) Tau and four-repeat (4R) Tau. In AD, all Tau isoforms are deposited, whereas in other tauopathies, only 3R or 4R Tau isoforms are deposited. The molecular basis for these isoform-specific depositions is poorly understood, although conformation-based cross-seeding barriers are key. Here, we used sedimentation assays, EPR spectroscopy, and other structural readouts to better understand the cross-seeding barriers of 4R Tau fibrils. We observed that fibrils formed from truncated Tau (K18), but not full-length Tau (htau40), exhibit a barrier that inhibits 3R Tau recruitment. Investigating an array of differently sized fragments, we found that the Tau C terminus modulates the cross-seeding barrier and that the N terminus plays a synergistic role. Two disease-associated Tau variants, P301S and P301L, also established strong cross-seeding barriers. EPR analysis indicated that fibrils seeded with truncated and mutated Tau, but not htau40, are structurally disordered in the second half of repeat four and onward. These findings suggest that the disorder in this region diminishes the ability of 4R Tau fibrils to recruit 3R Tau monomers, revealing a new mechanism for Tau cross-seeding barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary A Weismiller
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208
| | - Rachel Murphy
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208
| | - Guanghong Wei
- the Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Science, Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures (Nanjing), Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Buyong Ma
- the Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702, and
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- the Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702, and
- the Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Martin Margittai
- From the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208,
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34
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Kim DH, Han KH. PreSMo Target-Binding Signatures in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. Mol Cells 2018; 41:889-899. [PMID: 30352491 PMCID: PMC6199570 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2018.0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are highly unorthodox proteins that do not form three-dimensional structures under physiological conditions. The discovery of IDPs has destroyed the classical structure-function paradigm in protein science, 3-D structure = function, because IDPs even without well-folded 3-D structures are still capable of performing important biological functions and furthermore are associated with fatal diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and viral pandemics. Pre-structured motifs (PreSMos) refer to transient local secondary structural elements present in the target-unbound state of IDPs. During the last two decades PreSMos have been steadily acknowledged as the critical determinants for target binding in dozens of IDPs. To date, the PreSMo concept provides the most convincing structural rationale explaining the IDP-target binding behavior at an atomic resolution. Here we present a brief developmental history of PreSMos and describe their common characteristics. We also provide a list of newly discovered PreSMos along with their functional relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do-Hyoung Kim
- Genome Editing Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 34141,
Korea
| | - Kyou-Hoon Han
- Genome Editing Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 34141,
Korea
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35
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Dan A, Chen HF. Secondary structures transition of tau protein with intrinsically disordered proteins specific force field. Chem Biol Drug Des 2018; 93:242-253. [PMID: 30259679 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Microtubule-associated Tau protein plays a key role in assembling microtubule and modulating the functional organization of the neuron and developing axonal morphology, growth, and polarity. The pathological Tau can aggregate into cross-beta amyloid as one of the hallmarks for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, one of the top priorities in AD research is to figure out the structural model of Tau aggregation and to screen the inhibitors. The latest generation intrinsically disordered protein specific force field ff14IDPSFF significantly improved the distributions of heterogeneous conformations for intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Here, the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with three force fields of ff14SB, ff14IDPs, and ff14IDPSFF were employed to investigate the secondary structures transition of Tau (267-312) fragment. The results indicate that ff14IDPSFF can generate more heterogeneous conformers, and the predicted secondary structural distribution is closer to that of the experimental observation. In addition, predicted secondary chemical shifts from ff14IDPSFF are the most approach to those of experiment. Secondary structures transition kinetics for Tau(267-312) with ff14IDPSFF shows that the secondary structures were gradually transformed from α-helix to β-strand and the β-strand located at the regions of the residues 274-280 and residues 305-311. Besides, the driving force for the secondary structures transition of Tau(267-312) is mainly hydrophobic interactions which located at hexa-peptides 275 VQIINK280 and 306 VQIVYK311 . Secondary structure transition of Tau protein can give insight into the aggregation mechanism for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aohuan Dan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, SJTU-Yale Joint Center for Biostatistics, National Experimental Teaching Center for Life Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai-Feng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, SJTU-Yale Joint Center for Biostatistics, National Experimental Teaching Center for Life Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Center for Bioinformation Technology, Shanghai, China
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36
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Passarella D, Goedert M. Beta-sheet assembly of Tau and neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 72:98-105. [PMID: 30240946 PMCID: PMC6327151 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The assembly of Tau into abundant β-sheet-rich filaments characterizes human tauopathies. A pathological pathway leading from monomeric to filamentous Tau is believed to be at the heart of these diseases. However, in Drosophila models of Tauopathy, neurodegeneration has been observed in the absence of abundant Tau filaments. Here we investigated the role of Tau assembly into β-sheets by expressing wild-type and Δ306-311 human Tau-383 in the retina and brain of Drosophila. We analyzed both lines for eye abnormalities, brain vacuolization, Tau phosphorylation and assembly, as well as climbing activity and survival. Flies expressing wild-type Tau-383 showed MC-1 staining, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and neurodegeneration. By contrast, flies expressing Δ306-311 Tau-383 had less MC-1 staining, reduced Tau hyperphosphorylation, and no detectable neurodegeneration. Their climbing ability and lifespan were similar to those of nontransgenic flies. Fluorescence spectroscopy after addition of Thioflavin T, a dye that interacts with β-sheets, showed no signal when Δ306-311 Tau-383 was incubated with heparin. These findings demonstrate that the assembly of Tau into β-sheets is necessary for neurodegeneration.
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37
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Fichou Y, Vigers M, Goring AK, Eschmann NA, Han S. Heparin-induced tau filaments are structurally heterogeneous and differ from Alzheimer's disease filaments. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:4573-4576. [PMID: 29664486 DOI: 10.1039/c8cc01355a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of tau filaments in the brain whose structure was recently solved. The formation of AD filaments is routinely modeled in vitro by mixing tau with heparin. This study shows that heparin-induced tau filaments are markedly different from the AD filaments and are highly heterogeneous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Fichou
- Department of chemistry, University of California Santa Babara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA.
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38
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Melková K, Zapletal V, Jansen S, Nomilner E, Zachrdla M, Hritz J, Nováček J, Zweckstetter M, Jensen MR, Blackledge M, Žídek L. Functionally specific binding regions of microtubule-associated protein 2c exhibit distinct conformations and dynamics. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:13297-13309. [PMID: 29925592 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.001769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein 2c (MAP2c) is a 49-kDa intrinsically disordered protein regulating the dynamics of microtubules in developing neurons. MAP2c differs from its sequence homologue Tau in the pattern and kinetics of phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Moreover, the mechanisms through which MAP2c interacts with its binding partners and the conformational changes and dynamics associated with these interactions remain unclear. Here, we used NMR relaxation and paramagnetic relaxation enhancement techniques to determine the dynamics and long-range interactions within MAP2c. The relaxation rates revealed large differences in flexibility of individual regions of MAP2c, with the lowest flexibility observed in the known and proposed binding sites. Quantitative conformational analyses of chemical shifts, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and paramagnetic relaxation enhancement measurements disclosed that MAP2c regions interacting with important protein partners, including Fyn tyrosine kinase, plectin, and PKA, adopt specific conformations. High populations of polyproline II and α-helices were found in Fyn- and plectin-binding sites of MAP2c, respectively. The region binding the regulatory subunit of PKA consists of two helical motifs bridged by a more extended conformation. Of note, although MAP2c and Tau did not differ substantially in their conformations in regions of high sequence identity, we found that they differ significantly in long-range interactions, dynamics, and local conformation motifs in their N-terminal domains. These results highlight that the N-terminal regions of MAP2c provide important specificity to its regulatory roles and indicate a close relationship between MAP2c's biological functions and conformational behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Melková
- From Masaryk University, Central European Institute of Technology, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Zapletal
- From Masaryk University, Central European Institute of Technology, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Séverine Jansen
- From Masaryk University, Central European Institute of Technology, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Erik Nomilner
- From Masaryk University, Central European Institute of Technology, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Zachrdla
- From Masaryk University, Central European Institute of Technology, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.,Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jozef Hritz
- From Masaryk University, Central European Institute of Technology, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Nováček
- From Masaryk University, Central European Institute of Technology, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- the Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.,the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Strasse 3a, 37075 Göttingen, Germany, and
| | | | | | - Lukáš Žídek
- From Masaryk University, Central European Institute of Technology, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic, .,Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Kamenice 5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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39
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Pansieri J, Halim MA, Vendrely C, Dumoulin M, Legrand F, Sallanon MM, Chierici S, Denti S, Dagany X, Dugourd P, Marquette C, Antoine R, Forge V. Mass and charge distributions of amyloid fibers involved in neurodegenerative diseases: mapping heterogeneity and polymorphism. Chem Sci 2018; 9:2791-2796. [PMID: 29732065 PMCID: PMC5914292 DOI: 10.1039/c7sc04542e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity and polymorphism are generic features of amyloid fibers with some important effects on the related disease development. We report here the characterization, by charge detection mass spectrometry, of amyloid fibers made of three polypeptides involved in neurodegenerative diseases: Aβ1-42 peptide, tau and α-synuclein. Beside the mass of individual fibers, this technique enables to characterize the heterogeneity and the polymorphism of the population. In the case of Aβ1-42 peptide and tau protein, several coexisting species could be distinguished and characterized. In the case of α-synuclein, we show how the polymorphism affects the mass and charge distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Pansieri
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes , CNRS , CEA , BIG/CBM/AFFOND , F-38000 Grenoble , France .
| | - Mohammad A Halim
- Institut Lumière Matière , UMR 5306 , Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 , CNRS , F-69622 Lyon , France .
| | - Charlotte Vendrely
- ERRMECe , I-MAT FD4122 , Université de Cergy-Pontoise , F-95302 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex , France
| | - Mireille Dumoulin
- Enzymology and Protein Folding , Centre for Protein Engineering , InBIOS , University of Liège , 4000 Liège 1 , Belgium
| | - François Legrand
- Enzymology and Protein Folding , Centre for Protein Engineering , InBIOS , University of Liège , 4000 Liège 1 , Belgium
- Centre de Recherches des Instituts Groupés , Haute Ecole Libre Mosane , Mont Saint-Martin, 41 , 4000 Liège , Belgium
| | - Marcelle Moulin Sallanon
- Radiopharmaceutique Biocliniques (INSERM U1039) , Faculté de Médecine de Grenoble , F-38700 La Tronche , France
| | - Sabine Chierici
- Département de Chimie Moléculaire , Univ. Grenoble Alpes , CNRS , UMR 5250 , F-38000 Grenoble , France
| | - Simona Denti
- Radiopharmaceutique Biocliniques (INSERM U1039) , Faculté de Médecine de Grenoble , F-38700 La Tronche , France
| | - Xavier Dagany
- Institut Lumière Matière , UMR 5306 , Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 , CNRS , F-69622 Lyon , France .
| | - Philippe Dugourd
- Institut Lumière Matière , UMR 5306 , Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 , CNRS , F-69622 Lyon , France .
| | - Christel Marquette
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes , CNRS , CEA , BIG/CBM/AFFOND , F-38000 Grenoble , France .
| | - Rodolphe Antoine
- Institut Lumière Matière , UMR 5306 , Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 , CNRS , F-69622 Lyon , France .
| | - Vincent Forge
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes , CNRS , CEA , BIG/CBM/AFFOND , F-38000 Grenoble , France .
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40
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Goedert M, Yamaguchi Y, Mishra SK, Higuchi M, Sahara N. Tau Filaments and the Development of Positron Emission Tomography Tracers. Front Neurol 2018; 9:70. [PMID: 29497399 PMCID: PMC5818396 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A pathological pathway leading from soluble, monomeric to insoluble, filamentous Tau, is believed to underlie human Tauopathies. Cases of frontotemporal dementia are caused by dominantly inherited mutations in MAPT, the Tau gene. They show that dysfunction of Tau protein is sufficient to cause neurodegeneration and dementia. Extrapolation to the more common sporadic Tauopathies leads one to conclude that the pathological pathway is central to the development of all cases of disease, even if there are multiple reasons for Tau assembly. These findings are conceptually similar to those reported for beta-amyloid, alpha-synuclein and prion protein. Here, we provide an overview of Tau filaments and their positron emission tomography ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Goedert
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Makoto Higuchi
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan
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41
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Ni R, Ji B, Ono M, Sahara N, Zhang MR, Aoki I, Nordberg A, Suhara T, Higuchi M. Comparative In Vitro and In Vivo Quantifications of Pathologic Tau Deposits and Their Association with Neurodegeneration in Tauopathy Mouse Models. J Nucl Med 2018; 59:960-966. [PMID: 29419480 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.117.201632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrillary tau aggregates in Alzheimer disease and allied neurodegenerative disorders have been visualized in vivo by PET, whereas mechanistic links between PET-detectable tau deposits and neurotoxicity remain elusive. Here, we took advantage of transgenic mouse models of tauopathies to evaluate associations between PET and postmortem measures of tau probe binding and their relation to neuronal loss. Methods: PET with a tau probe, 11C-PBB3 (2-((1E,3E)-4-(6-(11C-methylamino)pyridine-3-yl)buta-1,3-dienyl)benzo[d]thiazol-6-ol), and volumetric MRI were performed for transgenic rTg4510 mice and nontransgenic mice. Binding of 11C-PBB3 and its blockade by another tau binding compound, AV-1451 (-(6-fluoropyridine-3-yl)-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole), in homogenized brains of tauopathy patients and rTg4510 and PS19 mice were quantified, and 11C-PBB3-positive and phosphorylated tau lesions in sectioned brains of these mice were assessed. Results: In vivo 11C-PBB3 binding to the rTg4510 neocortex/hippocampus was increased relative to controls and correlated with local atrophy. In vitro 11C-PBB3 binding in the neocortex/hippocampus also correlated well with in vivo radioligand binding and regional atrophy in the same individual rTg4510 mice. By contrast, in vitro 11C-PBB3 binding was elevated in the brain stem but not hippocampus of PS19 mice, despite a pronounced loss of neurons in the hippocampus rather than brain stem. Finally, 11C-PBB3 and AV-1451 showed similar binding properties between mouse models and tauopathy patients. Conclusion: The present findings support the distinct utilities of 11C-PBB3 PET and MRI in rTg4510 and PS19 mice for quantitatively pursuing mechanisms connecting PET-detectable and PET-undetectable tau aggregations to neuronal death, which recapitulate 2 different modes of tau-provoked neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Chiba 263-8555, Japan.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; and.,Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bin Ji
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Maiko Ono
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Naruhiko Sahara
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Ming-Rong Zhang
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Ichio Aoki
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Agneta Nordberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; and.,Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tetsuya Suhara
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Makoto Higuchi
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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42
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Huang RYC, Iacob RE, Sankaranarayanan S, Yang L, Ahlijanian M, Tao L, Tymiak AA, Chen G. Probing Conformational Dynamics of Tau Protein by Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2018; 29:174-182. [PMID: 28971440 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-017-1815-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibrillization of the microtubule-associated protein tau has been recognized as one of the signature pathologies of the nervous system in Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and other tauopathies. The conformational transition of tau in the fibrillization process, tau monomer to soluble aggregates to fibrils in particular, remains unclear. Here we report on the use of hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) in combination with other biochemical approaches, including Thioflavin S fluorescence measurements, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Western blotting to understand the heparin-induced tau's fibrillization. HDX-MS studies including anti-tau antibody epitope mapping experiments provided molecular level details of the full-length tau's conformational dynamics and its regional solvent accessibility upon soluble aggregates formation. The results demonstrate that R3 region in the full-length tau's microtubule binding repeat region (MTBR) is stabilized in the aggregation process, leaving both N and C terminal regions to be solvent exposed in the soluble aggregates and fibrils. The findings also illustrate the practical utility of orthogonal analytical methodologies for the characterization of protein higher order structure. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Y-C Huang
- Bioanalytical and Discovery Analytical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Candidate Optimization, Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Roxana E Iacob
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sethu Sankaranarayanan
- Discovery Biology, Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Wallingford, CT, USA
| | - Ling Yang
- Discovery Biology, Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Wallingford, CT, USA
| | - Michael Ahlijanian
- Discovery Biology, Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Wallingford, CT, USA
| | - Li Tao
- Biologics Development, Global Product Development and Supply, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Hopewell, NJ, USA
| | - Adrienne A Tymiak
- Bioanalytical and Discovery Analytical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Candidate Optimization, Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Guodong Chen
- Bioanalytical and Discovery Analytical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Candidate Optimization, Research and Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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43
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Fitzpatrick AW, Falcon B, He S, Murzin AG, Murshudov G, Garringer HJ, Crowther RA, Ghetti B, Goedert M, Scheres SH. Cryo-EM structures of tau filaments from Alzheimer's disease. Nature 2017; 547:185-190. [PMID: 28678775 PMCID: PMC5552202 DOI: 10.1038/nature23002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1300] [Impact Index Per Article: 185.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease, and there are no mechanism-based therapies. The disease is defined by the presence of abundant neurofibrillary lesions and neuritic plaques in the cerebral cortex. Neurofibrillary lesions comprise paired helical and straight tau filaments, whereas tau filaments with different morphologies characterize other neurodegenerative diseases. No high-resolution structures of tau filaments are available. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) maps at 3.4-3.5 Å resolution and corresponding atomic models of paired helical and straight filaments from the brain of an individual with Alzheimer's disease. Filament cores are made of two identical protofilaments comprising residues 306-378 of tau protein, which adopt a combined cross-β/β-helix structure and define the seed for tau aggregation. Paired helical and straight filaments differ in their inter-protofilament packing, showing that they are ultrastructural polymorphs. These findings demonstrate that cryo-EM allows atomic characterization of amyloid filaments from patient-derived material, and pave the way for investigation of a range of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Falcon
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Shaoda He
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Alexey G. Murzin
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Garib Murshudov
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Holly J. Garringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - R. Anthony Crowther
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Michel Goedert
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Sjors H.W. Scheres
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
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44
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Di Primio C, Quercioli V, Siano G, Rovere M, Kovacech B, Novak M, Cattaneo A. The Distance between N and C Termini of Tau and of FTDP-17 Mutants Is Modulated by Microtubule Interactions in Living Cells. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:210. [PMID: 28713242 PMCID: PMC5492851 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule (MT)-associated protein Tau is a natively unfolded protein, involved in a number of neurodegenerative disorders, collectively called tauopathies, aggregating in neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). It is an open question how the conversion from a MT bound molecule to an aggregation-prone Tau species occurs and, also, if and how tauopathy-related mutations affect its behavior in the cell. To address these points, we exploited a genetically encoded FRET sensor based on the full length Tau protein, to monitor in real time Tau conformational changes in different conditions in live cells. By studying the FRET signal we found that soluble Tau molecules, detached from MTs, display an unfolded structure. On the contrary, we observed an increased FRET signal generated by Tau monomers bound to MT, indicating that the association with MTs induced a folding of Tau protein, decreasing the distance between its N and C termini. We exploited the FRET sensor to investigate the impact of FTDP-17 mutations and of phosphorylation-site mutations on Tau folding and mobility in live cells. We demonstrated that the FTDP-17 Tau mutations weaken the interaction of Tau with cellular MTs, shifting the equilibrium towards the soluble pool while, conversely, phosphorylation site mutations shift the equilibrium of Tau towards the MT-bound state and a more closed conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Giacomo Siano
- Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale SuperiorePisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Rovere
- Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale SuperiorePisa, Italy
| | - Branislav Kovacech
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Axon Neuroscience SEBratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Axon Neuroscience SEBratislava, Slovakia
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45
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Ono M, Sahara N, Kumata K, Ji B, Ni R, Koga S, Dickson DW, Trojanowski JQ, Lee VMY, Yoshida M, Hozumi I, Yoshiyama Y, van Swieten JC, Nordberg A, Suhara T, Zhang MR, Higuchi M. Distinct binding of PET ligands PBB3 and AV-1451 to tau fibril strains in neurodegenerative tauopathies. Brain 2017; 140:764-780. [PMID: 28087578 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by deposition of tau fibrils composed of conformers (i.e. strains) unique to each illness. The development of tau imaging agents has enabled visualization of tau lesions in tauopathy patients, but the modes of their binding to different tau strains remain elusive. Here we compared binding of tau positron emission tomography ligands, PBB3 and AV-1451, by fluorescence, autoradiography and homogenate binding assays with homologous and heterologous blockades using tauopathy brain samples. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated intense labelling of non-ghost and ghost tangles with PBB3 and AV-1451, while dystrophic neurites were more clearly detected by PBB3 in brains of Alzheimer's disease and diffuse neurofibrillary tangles with calcification, characterized by accumulation of all six tau isoforms. Correspondingly, partially distinct distributions of autoradiographic labelling of Alzheimer's disease slices with 11C-PBB3 and 18F-AV-1451 were noted. Neuronal and glial tau lesions comprised of 4-repeat isoforms in brains of progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration and familial tauopathy due to N279K tau mutation and 3-repeat isoforms in brains of Pick's disease and familial tauopathy due to G272V tau mutation were sensitively detected by PBB3 fluorescence in contrast to very weak AV-1451 signals. This was in line with moderate 11C-PBB3 versus faint 18F-AV-1451 autoradiographic labelling of these tissues. Radioligand binding to brain homogenates revealed multiple binding components with differential affinities for 11C-PBB3 and 18F-AV-1451, and higher availability of binding sites on progressive supranuclear palsy tau deposits for 11C-PBB3 than 18F-AV-1451. Our data indicate distinct selectivity of PBB3 compared to AV-1451 for diverse tau fibril strains. This highlights the more robust ability of PBB3 to capture wide-range tau pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Ono
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan.,Department of Molecular Neuroimaging, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Naruhiko Sahara
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Katsushi Kumata
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Bin Ji
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Ruiqing Ni
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 14157, Sweden
| | - Shunsuke Koga
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research and Institute on Aging, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research and Institute on Aging, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
| | - Isao Hozumi
- Laboratory of Medical Therapeutics and Molecular Therapeutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu 501-1196, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Yoshiyama
- Department of Neurology, Chiba-East National Hospital, Chiba 260-8712, Japan
| | - John C van Swieten
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015 CE, The Netherlands
| | - Agneta Nordberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 14157, Sweden
| | - Tetsuya Suhara
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Ming-Rong Zhang
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Makoto Higuchi
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
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46
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Wegmann S, Nicholls S, Takeda S, Fan Z, Hyman BT. Formation, release, and internalization of stable tau oligomers in cells. J Neurochem 2016; 139:1163-1174. [PMID: 27731899 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a neuronal microtubule-binding protein that, in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, can form oligomeric and large fibrillar aggregates, which deposit in neurofibrillary tangles. Tau's physiological state of multimerization appears to vary across conditions, and a stable dimeric form of soluble tau has been suggested from experiments using recombinant tau in vitro. We tested if tau dimerization or oligomerization, also occurs in cells, and if soluble tau oligomers are relevant for the release and internalization of tau. We developed a sensitive tau split-luciferase assay to show the rapid intracellular formation of stable tau dimers that are released and taken up by cells. Our data further suggest that tau dimerization can be accelerated slightly by aggregation catalysts. We conclude that tau oligomers are a stable physiological form of tau, and that tau oligomerization does not necessarily lead to tau aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Wegmann
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samantha Nicholls
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shuko Takeda
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhanyun Fan
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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47
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NMR Meets Tau: Insights into Its Function and Pathology. Biomolecules 2016; 6:biom6020028. [PMID: 27338491 PMCID: PMC4919923 DOI: 10.3390/biom6020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we focus on what we have learned from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies on the neuronal microtubule-associated protein Tau. We consider both the mechanistic details of Tau: the tubulin relationship and its aggregation process. Phosphorylation of Tau is intimately linked to both aspects. NMR spectroscopy has depicted accurate phosphorylation patterns by different kinases, and its non-destructive character has allowed functional assays with the same samples. Finally, we will discuss other post-translational modifications of Tau and its interaction with other cellular factors in relationship to its (dys)function.
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48
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Specific Knockdown of Endogenous Tau Protein by Peptide-Directed Ubiquitin-Proteasome Degradation. Cell Chem Biol 2016; 23:453-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2016.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2015] [Revised: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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49
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Akoury E, Mukrasch MD, Biernat J, Tepper K, Ozenne V, Mandelkow E, Blackledge M, Zweckstetter M. Remodeling of the conformational ensemble of the repeat domain of tau by an aggregation enhancer. Protein Sci 2016; 25:1010-20. [PMID: 26940799 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Misfolding of the microtubule-associated protein Tau is a hallmark of Alzheimer disease and several other neurodegenerative disorders. Because of the dynamic nature of the Tau protein, little is known about the changes in Tau structure that occur during misfolding. Here we studied the structural consequences upon binding of the repeat domain of Tau, which plays a key role in pathogenic aggregation, to an aggregation enhancer. By combining NMR experiments with molecular simulations we show that binding of the aggregation enhancer polyglutamic acid remodels the conformational ensemble of Tau. Our study thus provides insight into an early event during misfolding of Tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Akoury
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Marco D Mukrasch
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Jacek Biernat
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, 53175, Germany
| | - Katharina Tepper
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, 53175, Germany
| | - Valery Ozenne
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), CEA, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, 38044, France
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, 53175, Germany.,CAESAR Research Center, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, Bonn, 53175, Germany, and MPI for Metabolism Resesearch, Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Blackledge
- Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS), CEA, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, 38044, France
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, 37077, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, 37073, Germany
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50
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Protein structural and surface water rearrangement constitute major events in the earliest aggregation stages of tau. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 113:E127-36. [PMID: 26712030 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1504415113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, and the mechanism of its progression is poorly understood. Here, we examine the structural and dynamic characteristics of transiently evolving protein aggregates under ambient conditions by directly probing protein surface water diffusivity, local protein segment dynamics, and interprotein packing as a function of aggregation time, along the third repeat domain and C terminus of Δtau187 spanning residues 255-441 of the longest isoform of human tau. These measurements were achieved with a set of highly sensitive magnetic resonance tools that rely on site-specific electron spin labeling of Δtau187. Within minutes of initiated aggregation, the majority of Δtau187 that is initially homogeneously hydrated undergoes structural transformations to form partially structured aggregation intermediates. This is reflected in the dispersion of surface water dynamics that is distinct around the third repeat domain, found to be embedded in an intertau interface, from that of the solvent-exposed C terminus. Over the course of hours and in a rate-limiting process, a majority of these aggregation intermediates proceed to convert into stable β-sheet structured species and maintain their stacking order without exchanging their subunits. The population of β-sheet structured species is >5% within 5 min of aggregation and gradually grows to 50-70% within the early stages of fibril formation, while they mostly anneal block-wisely to form elongated fibrils. Our findings suggest that the formation of dynamic aggregation intermediates constitutes a major event occurring in the earliest stages of tau aggregation that precedes, and likely facilitates, fibril formation and growth.
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