1
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Lin X, Mandal S, Nithun RV, Kolla R, Bouri B, Lashuel HA, Jbara M. A Versatile Method for Site-Specific Chemical Installation of Aromatic Posttranslational Modification Analogs into Proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 39224092 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c08416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins play central roles in regulating the protein structure, interactome, and functions. A notable modification site is the aromatic side chain of Tyr, which undergoes modifications such as phosphorylation and nitration. Despite the biological and physiological importance of Tyr-PTMs, our current understanding of the mechanisms by which these modifications contribute to human health and disease remains incomplete. This knowledge gap arises from the absence of natural amino acids that can mimic these PTMs and the lack of synthetic tools for the site-specific introduction of aromatic PTMs into proteins. Herein, we describe a facile method for the site-specific chemical installation of aromatic PTMs into proteins through palladium-mediated S-C(sp2) bond formation under ambient conditions. We demonstrate the incorporation of novel PTMs such as Tyr-nitration and phosphorylation analogs to synthetic and recombinantly expressed Cys-containing peptides and proteins within minutes and in good yields. To demonstrate the versatility of our approach, we employed it to prepare 10 site-specifically modified proteins, including nitrated and phosphorylated analogs of Myc and Max proteins. Furthermore, we prepared a focused library of site-specifically nitrated and phosphorylated α-synuclein (α-Syn) protein, which enabled, for the first time, deciphering the role of these competing modifications in regulating α-Syn conformation aggregation in vitro. Our strategy offers advantages over synthetic or semisynthetic approaches, as it enables rapid and selective transfer of rarely explored aromatic PTMs into recombinant proteins, thus facilitating the generation of novel libraries of homogeneous posttranslationally modified proteins for biomarker discovery, mechanistic studies, and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxi Lin
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Shaswati Mandal
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Raj V Nithun
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Rajasekhar Kolla
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Bouchra Bouri
- Protein Production and Structure core facility, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Muhammad Jbara
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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2
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Viola G, Trivellato D, Meulli L, Tira R, Lauriola A, Munari F, Montagnana M, Buffelli M, Assfalg M, D'Onofrio M. Stable ubiquitin conjugation for biological interrogation of ubiquitinated tau repeat domain. Bioorg Chem 2024; 150:107549. [PMID: 38896934 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Protein semisynthesis approaches are key for gaining insights into the effects of post-translational modifications (PTMs) on the structure and function of modified proteins. Among PTMs, ubiquitination involves the conjugation of a small protein modifier to a substrate amino acid residue and is unique in controlling a variety of cellular processes. Interest has grown in understanding the role of ubiquitination in neurodegenerative conditions, including tauopathies. The latter are characterized by the accumulation of the intrinsically disordered protein tau in the form of neurofibrillary tangles in the brains of patients. The presence of ubiquitinated tau in the pathological aggregates suggests that ubiquitination might play a role in the formation of abnormal protein deposits. In this study, we developed a new strategy, based on dehydroalanine chemistry, to install wild type ubiquitin on a tau repeat domain construct with site-specificity. We optimized a three-step reaction which yielded a good amount of highly pure tau repeat domain ubiquitinated in position 353. The structural features of the conjugate were examined by circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy. The ubiquitinated tau was challenged in a number of assays: fibrils formation under aggregating conditions in vitro, chemical stability upon exposure to a variety of biological media including cell extracts, and internalization into astrocytes. The results demonstrated the wide applicability of the new semisynthetic strategy for the investigation of ubiquitinated substrates in vitro or in cell, and in particular for studying if ubiquitination has a role in the molecular mechanisms that underlie the aberrant transition of tau into pathological aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Viola
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Meulli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Roberto Tira
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Angela Lauriola
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Munari
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Martina Montagnana
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Mario Buffelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Michael Assfalg
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
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3
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Powell WC, Nahum M, Pankratz K, Herlory M, Greenwood J, Poliyenko D, Holland P, Jing R, Biggerstaff L, Stowell MHB, Walczak MA. Post-Translational Modifications Control Phase Transitions of Tau. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.08.583040. [PMID: 38559065 PMCID: PMC10979912 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.08.583040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The self-assembly of Tau(297-391) into filaments, which mirror the structures observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, raises questions about the role of AD-specific post-translational modifications (PTMs) in the formation of paired helical filaments (PHFs). To investigate this, we developed a synthetic approach to produce Tau(291-391) featuring N-acetyllysine, phosphoserine, phosphotyrosine, and N-glycosylation at positions commonly modified in post-mortem AD brains, thus facilitating the study of their roles in Tau pathology. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and a range of optical microscopy techniques, we discovered that these modifications generally hinder the in vitro assembly of Tau into PHFs. Interestingly, while acetylation's effect on Tau assembly displayed variability, either promoting or inhibiting phase transitions in the context of cofactor free aggregation, heparin-induced aggregation, and RNA-mediated liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), phosphorylation uniformly mitigated these processes. Our observations suggest that PTMs, particularly those situated outside the fibril's rigid core are pivotal in the nucleation of PHFs. Moreover, in scenarios involving heparin-induced aggregation leading to the formation of heterogeneous aggregates, most AD-specific PTMs, except for K311, appeared to decelerate the aggregation process. The impact of acetylation on RNA-induced LLPS was notably site-dependent, exhibiting both facilitative and inhibitory effects, whereas phosphorylation consistently reduced LLPS across all proteoforms examined. These insights underscore the complex interplay between site-specific PTMs and environmental factors in modulating Tau aggregation kinetics, enhancing our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of Tau pathology in AD and highlighting the critical role of PTMs located outside the ordered filament core in driving the self-assembly of Tau into PHF structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wyatt C. Powell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - McKinley Nahum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Karl Pankratz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Morgane Herlory
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - James Greenwood
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Darya Poliyenko
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Patrick Holland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Ruiheng Jing
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Luke Biggerstaff
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Michael H. B. Stowell
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Maciej A. Walczak
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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4
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Alhadidy MM, Kanaan NM. Biochemical approaches to assess the impact of post-translational modifications on pathogenic tau conformations using recombinant protein. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:301-318. [PMID: 38348781 PMCID: PMC10903483 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230596] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Tau protein is associated with many neurodegenerative disorders known as tauopathies. Aggregates of tau are thought of as a main contributor to neurodegeneration in these diseases. Increasingly, evidence points to earlier, soluble conformations of abnormally modified monomers and multimeric tau as toxic forms of tau. The biological processes driving tau from physiological species to pathogenic conformations remain poorly understood, but certain avenues are currently under investigation including the functional consequences of various pathological tau changes (e.g. mutations, post-translational modifications (PTMs), and protein-protein interactions). PTMs can regulate several aspects of tau biology such as proteasomal and autophagic clearance, solubility, and aggregation. Moreover, PTMs can contribute to the transition of tau from normal to pathogenic conformations. However, our understating of how PTMs specifically regulate the transition of tau into pathogenic conformations is partly impeded by the relative lack of structured frameworks to assess and quantify these conformations. In this review, we describe a set of approaches that includes several in vitro assays to determine the contribution of PTMs to tau's transition into known pathogenic conformations. The approaches begin with different methods to create recombinant tau proteins carrying specific PTMs followed by validation of the PTMs status. Then, we describe a set of biochemical and biophysical assays that assess the contribution of a given PTM to different tau conformations, including aggregation, oligomerization, exposure of the phosphatase-activating domain, and seeding. Together, these approaches can facilitate the advancement of our understanding of the relationships between PTMs and tau conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed M. Alhadidy
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, U.S.A
| | - Nicholas M. Kanaan
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, U.S.A
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5
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Vogl DP, Mateos B, Migotti M, Felkl M, Conibear AC, Konrat R, Becker CFW. Semisynthesis of segmentally isotope-labeled and site-specifically palmitoylated CD44 cytoplasmic tail. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 100:117617. [PMID: 38306881 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
CD44, a ubiquitously expressed transmembrane receptor, plays a crucial role in cell growth, migration, and tumor progression. Dimerization of CD44 is a key event in signal transduction and has emerged as a potential target for anti-tumor therapies. Palmitoylation, a posttranslational modification, disrupts CD44 dimerization and promotes CD44 accumulation in ordered membrane domains. However, the effects of palmitoylation on the structure and dynamics of CD44 at atomic resolution remain poorly understood. Here, we present a semisynthetic approach combining solid-phase peptide synthesis, recombinant expression, and native chemical ligation to investigate the impact of palmitoylation on the cytoplasmic domain (residues 669-742) of CD44 (CD44ct) by NMR spectroscopy. A segmentally isotope-labeled and site-specifically palmitoylated CD44 variant enabled NMR studies, which revealed chemical shift perturbations and indicated local and long-range conformational changes induced by palmitoylation. The long-range effects suggest altered intramolecular interactions and potential modulation of membrane association patterns. Semisynthetic, palmitoylated CD44ct serves as the basis for studying CD44 clustering, conformational changes, and localization within lipid rafts, and could be used to investigate its role as a tumor suppressor and to explore its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik P Vogl
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria; University of Vienna, Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry (DoSChem), Währinger Str. 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Borja Mateos
- Max Perutz Laboratories, Vienna Biocenter Campus 5, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mario Migotti
- Max Perutz Laboratories, Vienna Biocenter Campus 5, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, A-1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Manuel Felkl
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne C Conibear
- TU Wien, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Konrat
- Max Perutz Laboratories, Vienna Biocenter Campus 5, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian F W Becker
- University of Vienna, Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry (DoSChem), Währinger Str. 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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6
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Wu H, Sun Z, Li X. N,O-Benzylidene Acetal Dipeptides (NBDs) Enable the Synthesis of Difficult Peptides via a Kinked Backbone Strategy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202310624. [PMID: 37694822 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202310624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Proteins with highly hydrophobic regions or aggregation-prone sequences are typically difficult targets for chemical synthesis at the current stage, as obtaining such type of peptides via solid-phase peptide synthesis requires sophisticated operations. Herein, we report N,O-benzylidene acetal dipeptides (NBDs) as robust and effective building blocks to allow the direct synthesis of difficult peptides and proteins via a kinked backbone strategy. The effectiveness and easy accessibility of NBDs have been well demonstrated in our chemical syntheses of various challenging peptides and proteins, including chemokine, therapeutic hormones, histone, and glycosylated erythropoietin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiang Wu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Zhenquan Sun
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
| | - Xuechen Li
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, P. R. China
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7
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Abstract
Deposits of the microtubule-associated protein Tau (MAPT) serve as a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. Numerous studies have demonstrated that in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Tau undergoes extensive remodeling. The attachment of post-translational modifications distributed throughout the entire sequence of the protein correlates with clinical presentation. A systematic examination of these protein alterations can shed light on their roles in both healthy and diseased states. However, the ability to access these modifications in the entire protein chain is limited as Tau can only be produced recombinantly or through semisynthesis. In this article, we describe the first chemical synthesis of the longest 2N4R isoform of Tau, consisting of 441 amino acids. The 2N4R Tau was divided into 3 major segments and a total of 11 fragments, all of which were prepared via solid-phase peptide synthesis. The successful chemical strategy has relied on the strategic use of two cysteine sites (C291 and C322) for the native chemical ligations (NCLs). This was combined with modern preparative protein chemistries, such as mercaptothreonine ligation (T205), diselenide-selenoester ligation (D358), and mutations of mercaptoamino acids into native residues via homogeneous radical desulfurization (A40, A77, A119, A157, A246, and A390). The successful completion of the synthesis has established a robust and scalable route to the native protein in multimilligram quantities and high purity. In broader terms, the presented strategy can be applied to the preparation of other shorter isoforms of Tau as well as to introduce all post-translational modifications that are characteristic of tauopathies such as AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wyatt C Powell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Ruiheng Jing
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Maciej A Walczak
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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8
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Harel O, Jbara M. Chemical Synthesis of Bioactive Proteins. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202217716. [PMID: 36661212 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202217716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Nature has developed a plethora of protein machinery to operate and maintain nearly every task of cellular life. These processes are tightly regulated via post-expression modifications-transformations that modulate intracellular protein synthesis, folding, and activation. Methods to prepare homogeneously and precisely modified proteins are essential to probe their function and design new bioactive modalities. Synthetic chemistry has contributed remarkably to protein science by allowing the preparation of novel biomacromolecules that are often challenging or impractical to prepare via common biological means. The ability to chemically build and precisely modify proteins has enabled the production of new molecules with novel physicochemical properties and programmed activity for biomedical research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. This minireview summarizes recent developments in chemical protein synthesis to produce bioactive proteins, with emphasis on novel analogs with promising in vitro and in vivo activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer Harel
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Muhammad Jbara
- School of Chemistry, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
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9
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Wu H, Tan Y, Ngai WL, Li X. Total synthesis of interleukin-2 via a tunable backbone modification strategy. Chem Sci 2023; 14:1582-1589. [PMID: 36794182 PMCID: PMC9906654 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc05660g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical synthesis of hydrophobic proteins presents a formidable task as they are often difficultly achieved via peptide synthesis, purification, and peptide ligation. Thus, peptide solubilizing strategies are needed to integrate with peptide ligation to achieve protein total synthesis. Herein, we report a tunable backbone modification strategy, taking advantage of the tunable stability of the Cys/Pen ligation intermediate, which allows for readily introducing a solubilizing tag for both peptide purification and ligation processes. The effectiveness of this strategy was demonstrated by the chemical synthesis of interleukin-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiang Wu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR P. R. China
| | - Yi Tan
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR P. R. China
| | - Wai Lok Ngai
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR P. R. China
| | - Xuechen Li
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR P. R. China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology Qingdao 266237 P. R. China
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10
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Berkeley RF, Debelouchina GT. Chemical tools for study and modulation of biomolecular phase transitions. Chem Sci 2022; 13:14226-14245. [PMID: 36545140 PMCID: PMC9749140 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc04907d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular phase transitions play an important role in organizing cellular processes in space and time. Methods and tools for studying these transitions, and the intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) that often drive them, are typically less developed than tools for studying their folded protein counterparts. In this perspective, we assess the current landscape of chemical tools for studying IDPs, with a specific focus on protein liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). We highlight methodologies that enable imaging and spectroscopic studies of these systems, including site-specific labeling with small molecules and the diverse range of capabilities offered by inteins and protein semisynthesis. We discuss strategies for introducing post-translational modifications that are central to IDP and LLPS function and regulation. We also investigate the nascent field of noncovalent small-molecule modulators of LLPS. We hope that this review of the state-of-the-art in chemical tools for interrogating IDPs and LLPS, along with an associated perspective on areas of unmet need, can serve as a valuable and timely resource for these rapidly expanding fields of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond F. Berkeley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San DiegoLa JollaCAUSA
| | - Galia T. Debelouchina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San DiegoLa JollaCAUSA
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11
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Wu H, Wei T, Ngai WL, Zhou H, Li X. Ligation Embedding Aggregation Disruptor Strategy Enables the Chemical Synthesis of PD-1 Immunoglobulin and Extracellular Domains. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:14748-14757. [PMID: 35918891 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c05350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Chemical synthesis of proteins with aggregable or colloidal peptide segments presents a formidable task, as such peptides prove to be difficult for both solid-phase peptide synthesis and peptide ligation. To address this issue, we have developed ligation embedding aggregation disruptor (LEAD) as an effective strategy for the chemical synthesis of difficult-to-obtain proteins. The N,O/S-benzylidene acetals generated from Ser/Thr ligation and Cys/Pen ligation are found to effectively disrupt peptide aggregation, and they can be carried for sequential ligations toward protein synthesis. The effectiveness and generality of this strategy have been demonstrated with total syntheses of programmed cell death protein 1 immunoglobulin like V-type domain and extracellular domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiang Wu
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Tongyao Wei
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Wai Lok Ngai
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuechen Li
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, People's Republic of China
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12
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Bilbrough T, Piemontese E, Seitz O. Dissecting the role of protein phosphorylation: a chemical biology toolbox. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:5691-5730. [PMID: 35726784 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00991e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation is a crucial regulator of protein and cellular function, yet, despite identifying an enormous number of phosphorylation sites, the role of most is still unclear. Each phosphoform, the particular combination of phosphorylations, of a protein has distinct and diverse biological consequences. Aberrant phosphorylation is implicated in the development of many diseases. To investigate their function, access to defined protein phosphoforms is essential. Materials obtained from cells often are complex mixtures. Recombinant methods can provide access to defined phosphoforms if site-specifically acting kinases are known, but the methods fail to provide homogenous material when several amino acid side chains compete for phosphorylation. Chemical and chemoenzymatic synthesis has provided an invaluable toolbox to enable access to previously unreachable phosphoforms of proteins. In this review, we selected important tools that enable access to homogeneously phosphorylated protein and discuss examples that demonstrate how they can be applied. Firstly, we discuss the synthesis of phosphopeptides and proteins through chemical and enzymatic means and their advantages and limitations. Secondly, we showcase illustrative examples that applied these tools to answer biological questions pertaining to proteins involved in signal transduction, control of transcription, neurodegenerative diseases and aggregation, apoptosis and autophagy, and transmembrane proteins. We discuss the opportunities and challenges in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Bilbrough
- Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Emanuele Piemontese
- Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Oliver Seitz
- Department of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
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13
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Gao KX, Zhou Z, Yao L, Wang S, Zhang Y, Zou Q, Ma LX, Wang HX. Aspartic Acid-Assisted Size-Controllable Synthesis of Nanoscale Spherical Covalent Organic Frameworks with Chiral Interfaces for Inhibiting Amyloid-β Fibrillation. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2022; 5:1210-1221. [PMID: 35191674 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c01245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Covalent organic framework nanospheres (COF NSs) have garnered special attention due to their uniform sphere morphology, adjustable particle size, and mesoporous microenvironment. However, methods to control an optimal particle size scale while achieving solution dispersibility and specific surface properties remain underdeveloped, which precludes many of the biomedical applications. Here, we propose and develop a general strategy to access simultaneous size control and surface functionalization of uniform spherical COF NSs in a single step using aspartic acid (d-/l-Asp) that plays center roles in an acid catalyst, hydrophilicity, size-controllable synthesis, and chiral enantiomer. In this study, for the first time, we have employed a surface chemistry engineering study to create a variety of nanoscale spherical COFs and subsequently measure parameters to evaluate the effectiveness of Asp in the regulation of the particle size. Moreover, the potential utilization of the d/l-enantiomeric Asp-COF NSs in preventing β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation is investigated by analyzing their interactions with Aβ amyloids using a multitechnique experimental approach. To our knowledge, our strategy is the first synthesis of hydrophilic COF NSs with an optimal length scale and a chiral-selective targeting surface, which are crucial for the inhibition of Aβ fibrillation for Alzheimer's disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Xiang Gao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, No. 368 Youyi Avenue, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Zhe Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, No. 1 Donggang West Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Linli Yao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, No. 368 Youyi Avenue, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Suxiao Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, No. 368 Youyi Avenue, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Yuexing Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, No. 368 Youyi Avenue, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Qichao Zou
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, No. 368 Youyi Avenue, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Li-Xin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Science, Hubei University, No. 368, Youyi Avenue, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Hang-Xing Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, No. 368 Youyi Avenue, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430062, China
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14
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Limorenko G, Lashuel HA. Revisiting the grammar of Tau aggregation and pathology formation: how new insights from brain pathology are shaping how we study and target Tauopathies. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 51:513-565. [PMID: 34889934 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00127b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Converging evidence continues to point towards Tau aggregation and pathology formation as central events in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and other Tauopathies. Despite significant advances in understanding the morphological and structural properties of Tau fibrils, many fundamental questions remain about what causes Tau to aggregate in the first place. The exact roles of cofactors, Tau post-translational modifications, and Tau interactome in regulating Tau aggregation, pathology formation, and toxicity remain unknown. Recent studies have put the spotlight on the wide gap between the complexity of Tau structures, aggregation, and pathology formation in the brain and the simplicity of experimental approaches used for modeling these processes in research laboratories. Embracing and deconstructing this complexity is an essential first step to understanding the role of Tau in health and disease. To help deconstruct this complexity and understand its implication for the development of effective Tau targeting diagnostics and therapies, we firstly review how our understanding of Tau aggregation and pathology formation has evolved over the past few decades. Secondly, we present an analysis of new findings and insights from recent studies illustrating the biochemical, structural, and functional heterogeneity of Tau aggregates. Thirdly, we discuss the importance of adopting new experimental approaches that embrace the complexity of Tau aggregation and pathology as an important first step towards developing mechanism- and structure-based therapies that account for the pathological and clinical heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease and Tauopathies. We believe that this is essential to develop effective diagnostics and therapies to treat these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Limorenko
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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15
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Moon SP, Balana AT, Pratt MR. Consequences of post-translational modifications on amyloid proteins as revealed by protein semisynthesis. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 64:76-89. [PMID: 34175787 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alterations to the global levels of certain types of post-translational modifications (PTMs) are commonly observed in neurodegenerative diseases. The net influence of these PTM changes to the progression of these diseases can be deduced from cellular and animal studies. However, at the molecular level, how one PTM influences a given protein is not uniform and cannot be easily generalized from systemic observations, thus requiring protein-specific interrogations. Given that protein aggregation is a shared pathological hallmark in neurodegeneration, it is important to understand how these PTMs affect the behavior of amyloid-forming proteins. For this purpose, protein semisynthesis techniques, largely via native chemical and expressed protein ligation, have been widely used. These approaches have thus far led to our increased understanding of the site-specific consequences of certain PTMs to amyloidogenic proteins' endogenous function, their propensity for aggregation, and the structural variations these PTMs induce toward the aggregates formed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart P Moon
- Departments of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Aaron T Balana
- Departments of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Matthew R Pratt
- Departments of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA; Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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16
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Lashuel HA. Rethinking protein aggregation and drug discovery in neurodegenerative diseases: Why we need to embrace complexity? Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 64:67-75. [PMID: 34174698 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
More than a century has passed since pathological protein aggregates were first identified in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Yet, we still do not have effective therapies to treat or slow the progression of these devastating diseases or diagnostics for early detection and monitoring disease progression. Herein, I reflect on recent findings that are challenging traditional views about the composition, ultrastructural properties, and diversity of protein pathologies in the brain, their mechanisms of formation and how we investigate and model pathological aggregation processes in the laboratory today. This article is an invitation to embrace the complexity of proteinopathies as an essential step to understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning NDDs and to advance translational research and drug discovery in NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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17
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Balmik AA, Chinnathambi S. Methylation as a key regulator of Tau aggregation and neuronal health in Alzheimer's disease. Cell Commun Signal 2021; 19:51. [PMID: 33962636 PMCID: PMC8103764 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-021-00732-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease involves abnormal aggregation and accumulation of toxic proteins aggregates. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of the causative proteins play an important role in the etiology of disease as they could either slow down or accelerate the disease progression. Alzheimer disease is associated with the aggregation and accumulation of two major protein aggregates-intracellular neurofibrillary tangles made up of microtubule-associated protein Tau and extracellular Amyloid-β plaques. Post-translational modifications are important for the regulation of Tau`s function but an imbalance in PTMs may lead to abnormal Tau function and aggregation. Tau methylation is one of the important PTM of Tau in its physiological state. However, the methylation signature on Tau lysine changes once it acquires pathological aggregated form. Tau methylation can compete with other PTMs such as acetylation and ubiquitination. The state of PTM at these sites determines the fate of Tau protein in terms of its function and stability. The global methylation in neurons, microglia and astrocytes are involved in multiple cellular functions involving their role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression via DNA methylation. Here, we have discussed the effect of methylation on Tau function in a site-specific manner and their cross-talk with other lysine modifications. We have also elaborated the role of methylation in epigenetic aspects and neurodegenerative conditions associated with the imbalance in methylation metabolism affecting global methylation state of cells. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Ankur Balmik
- Neurobiology Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008,, Pune, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002,, India
| | - Subashchandrabose Chinnathambi
- Neurobiology Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008,, Pune, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002,, India.
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18
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Lindstedt PR, Taylor RJ, Bernardes GJL, Vendruscolo M. Facile Installation of Post-translational Modifications on the Tau Protein via Chemical Mutagenesis. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:557-561. [PMID: 33464820 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-translational modifications of proteins are ubiquitous in living organisms, as they enable an accurate control of the interactions of these macromolecules. For mechanistic studies, it would be highly advantageous to be able to produce in vitro post-translationally modified proteins with site-specificity. Here, we demonstrate one facile way to achieve this goal through the use of post-translational chemical mutagenesis. We illustrate this approach by performing site-specific phosphorylation and methylation of tau, a protein that stabilizes microtubules and whose aggregation is closely linked with Alzheimer's disease. We then verify the effects of the post-translational modifications on the ability of tau to control microtubule polymerization, revealing in particular an unexpected role for phosphorylation at S199, which is outside the microtubule-binding region of tau. These results show how the chemical mutagenesis approach that we present enables the systematic analysis of site-specific post-translational modifications of a key protein involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip R. Lindstedt
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ross J. Taylor
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gonçalo J. L. Bernardes
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
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19
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Abstract
Although the majority of proteins used for biomedical research are produced using living systems such as bacteria, biological means for producing proteins can be advantageously complemented by protein semisynthesis or total chemical synthesis. The latter approach is particularly useful when the proteins to be produced are toxic for the expression system or show unusual features that cannot be easily programmed in living organisms. The aim of this review is to provide a wide overview of the use of chemical protein synthesis in medicinal chemistry with a special focus on the production of post-translationally modified proteins and backbone cyclized proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vangelis Agouridas
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019, UMR 9017, CIIL, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.,Centrale Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Ouafâa El Mahdi
- Faculté Polydisciplinaire de Taza, University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, BP 1223 Taza gare, Morocco
| | - Oleg Melnyk
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019, UMR 9017, CIIL, Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
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20
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Conibear AC. Deciphering protein post-translational modifications using chemical biology tools. Nat Rev Chem 2020; 4:674-695. [PMID: 37127974 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-020-00223-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Proteins carry out a wide variety of catalytic, regulatory, signalling and structural functions in living systems. Following their assembly on ribosomes and throughout their lifetimes, most eukaryotic proteins are modified by post-translational modifications; small functional groups and complex biomolecules are conjugated to amino acid side chains or termini, and the protein backbone is cleaved, spliced or cyclized, to name just a few examples. These modifications modulate protein activity, structure, location and interactions, and, thereby, control many core biological processes. Aberrant post-translational modifications are markers of cellular stress or malfunction and are implicated in several diseases. Therefore, gaining an understanding of which proteins are modified, at which sites and the resulting biological consequences is an important but complex challenge requiring interdisciplinary approaches. One of the key challenges is accessing precisely modified proteins to assign functional consequences to specific modifications. Chemical biologists have developed a versatile set of tools for accessing specifically modified proteins by applying robust chemistries to biological molecules and developing strategies for synthesizing and ligating proteins. This Review provides an overview of these tools, with selected recent examples of how they have been applied to decipher the roles of a variety of protein post-translational modifications. Relative advantages and disadvantages of each of the techniques are discussed, highlighting examples where they are used in combination and have the potential to address new frontiers in understanding complex biological processes.
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21
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Munari F, Barracchia CG, Parolini F, Tira R, Bubacco L, Assfalg M, D’Onofrio M. Semisynthetic Modification of Tau Protein with Di-Ubiquitin Chains for Aggregation Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124400. [PMID: 32575755 PMCID: PMC7352214 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin, a protein modifier that regulates diverse essential cellular processes, is also a component of the protein inclusions characteristic of many neurodegenerative disorders. In Alzheimer’s disease, the microtubule associated tau protein accumulates within damaged neurons in the form of cross-beta structured filaments. Both mono- and polyubiquitin were found linked to several lysine residues belonging to the region of tau protein that forms the structured core of the filaments. Thus, besides priming the substrate protein for proteasomal degradation, ubiquitin could also contribute to the assembly and stabilization of tau protein filaments. To advance our understanding of the impact of ubiquitination on tau protein aggregation and function, we applied disulfide-coupling chemistry to modify tau protein at position 353 with Lys48- or Lys63-linked di-ubiquitin, two representative polyubiquitin chains that differ in topology and structure. Aggregation kinetics experiments performed on these conjugates reveal that di-ubiquitination retards filament formation and perturbs the fibril elongation rate more than mono-ubiquitination. We further show that di-ubiquitination modulates tau-mediated microtubule assembly. The effects on tau protein aggregation and microtubule polymerization are essentially independent from polyubiquitin chain topology. Altogether, our findings provide novel insight into the consequences of ubiquitination on the functional activity and disease-related behavior of tau protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Munari
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37128 Verona, Italy; (F.M.); (C.G.B.); (F.P.); (R.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Carlo Giorgio Barracchia
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37128 Verona, Italy; (F.M.); (C.G.B.); (F.P.); (R.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Francesca Parolini
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37128 Verona, Italy; (F.M.); (C.G.B.); (F.P.); (R.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Roberto Tira
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37128 Verona, Italy; (F.M.); (C.G.B.); (F.P.); (R.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Luigi Bubacco
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy;
| | - Michael Assfalg
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37128 Verona, Italy; (F.M.); (C.G.B.); (F.P.); (R.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Mariapina D’Onofrio
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37128 Verona, Italy; (F.M.); (C.G.B.); (F.P.); (R.T.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-045-802-7801
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22
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Ait-Bouziad N, Chiki A, Limorenko G, Xiao S, Eliezer D, Lashuel HA. Phosphorylation of the overlooked tyrosine 310 regulates the structure, aggregation, and microtubule- and lipid-binding properties of Tau. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:7905-7922. [PMID: 32341125 PMCID: PMC7278352 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.012517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein Tau is implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Increasing evidence suggests that post-translational modifications play critical roles in regulating Tau's normal functions and its pathogenic properties in tauopathies. Very little is known about how phosphorylation of tyrosine residues influences the structure, aggregation, and microtubule- and lipid-binding properties of Tau. Here, we sought to determine the relative contributions of phosphorylation of one or several of the five tyrosine residues in Tau (Tyr-18, -29, -197, -310, and -394) to the regulation of its biophysical, aggregation, and functional properties. We used a combination of site-specific mutagenesis and in vitro phosphorylation by c-Abl kinase to generate Tau species phosphorylated at all five tyrosine residues, all tyrosine residues except Tyr-310 or Tyr-394 (pTau-Y310F and pTau-Y394F, respectively) and Tau phosphorylated only at Tyr-310 or Tyr-394 (4F/pTyr-310 or 4F/pTyr-394). We observed that phosphorylation of all five tyrosine residues, multiple N-terminal tyrosine residues (Tyr-18, -29, and -197), or specific phosphorylation only at residue Tyr-310 abolishes Tau aggregation and inhibits its microtubule- and lipid-binding properties. NMR experiments indicated that these effects are mediated by a local decrease in β-sheet propensity of Tau's PHF6 domain. Our findings underscore Tyr-310 phosphorylation has a unique role in the regulation of Tau aggregation, microtubule, and lipid interactions. These results also highlight the importance of conducting further studies to elucidate the role of Tyr-310 in the regulation of Tau's normal functions and pathogenic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Ait-Bouziad
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anass Chiki
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Galina Limorenko
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Shifeng Xiao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Program in Structural Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - David Eliezer
- Department of Biochemistry and Program in Structural Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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23
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Munari F, Barracchia CG, Franchin C, Parolini F, Capaldi S, Romeo A, Bubacco L, Assfalg M, Arrigoni G, D'Onofrio M. Semisynthetic and Enzyme‐Mediated Conjugate Preparations Illuminate the Ubiquitination‐Dependent Aggregation of Tau Protein. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201916756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Munari
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Carlo G. Barracchia
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Cinzia Franchin
- Department of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of Padova Padova Italy
- Proteomics CenterUniversity of Padova and Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova Padova Italy
| | - Francesca Parolini
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Stefano Capaldi
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Alessandro Romeo
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Luigi Bubacco
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Padova Padova Italy
| | - Michael Assfalg
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Giorgio Arrigoni
- Department of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of Padova Padova Italy
- Proteomics CenterUniversity of Padova and Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova Padova Italy
| | - Mariapina D'Onofrio
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
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24
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Abstract
Protein semisynthesis-defined herein as the assembly of a protein from a combination of synthetic and recombinant fragments-is a burgeoning field of chemical biology that has impacted many areas in the life sciences. In this review, we provide a comprehensive survey of this area. We begin by discussing the various chemical and enzymatic methods now available for the manufacture of custom proteins containing noncoded elements. This section begins with a discussion of methods that are more chemical in origin and ends with those that employ biocatalysts. We also illustrate the commonalities that exist between these seemingly disparate methods and show how this is allowing for the development of integrated chemoenzymatic methods. This methodology discussion provides the technical foundation for the second part of the review where we cover the great many biological problems that have now been addressed using these tools. Finally, we end the piece with a short discussion on the frontiers of the field and the opportunities available for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tom W. Muir
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Frick Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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25
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Haj‐Yahya M, Gopinath P, Rajasekhar K, Mirbaha H, Diamond MI, Lashuel HA. Site-Specific Hyperphosphorylation Inhibits, Rather than Promotes, Tau Fibrillization, Seeding Capacity, and Its Microtubule Binding. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:4059-4067. [PMID: 31863676 PMCID: PMC7065254 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201913001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The consistent observation of phosphorylated tau in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease has contributed to the emergence of a model where hyperphosphorylation triggers both tau disassociation from microtubules and its subsequent aggregation. Herein, we applied a total chemical synthetic approach to site-specifically phosphorylate the microtubule binding repeat domain of tau (K18) at single (pS356) or multiple (pS356/pS262 and pS356/pS262/pS258) residues. We show that hyperphosphorylation of K18 inhibits 1) its aggregation in vitro, 2) its seeding activity in cells, 3) its binding to microtubules, and 4) its ability to promote microtubule polymerization. The inhibition increased with increasing the number of phosphorylated sites, with phosphorylation at S262 having the strongest effect. Our results argue against the hyperphosphorylation hypothesis and underscore the importance of revisiting the role of site-specific hyperphosphorylation in regulating tau functions in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood Haj‐Yahya
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of NeurodegenerationBrain Mind InstituteFaculty of Life SciencesEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne1015LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Pushparathinam Gopinath
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of NeurodegenerationBrain Mind InstituteFaculty of Life SciencesEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne1015LausanneSwitzerland
- Current Address: Department of ChemistrySRM Institute of Science and TechnologyChennaiTamilNaduIndia
| | - Kolla Rajasekhar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of NeurodegenerationBrain Mind InstituteFaculty of Life SciencesEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne1015LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative DiseasesPeter O'Donnell Jr. Brain InstituteUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTX75390USA
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative DiseasesPeter O'Donnell Jr. Brain InstituteUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTX75390USA
| | - Hilal A. Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of NeurodegenerationBrain Mind InstituteFaculty of Life SciencesEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne1015LausanneSwitzerland
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26
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Munari F, Barracchia CG, Franchin C, Parolini F, Capaldi S, Romeo A, Bubacco L, Assfalg M, Arrigoni G, D'Onofrio M. Semisynthetic and Enzyme‐Mediated Conjugate Preparations Illuminate the Ubiquitination‐Dependent Aggregation of Tau Protein. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:6607-6611. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201916756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Munari
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Carlo G. Barracchia
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Cinzia Franchin
- Department of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of Padova Padova Italy
- Proteomics CenterUniversity of Padova and Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova Padova Italy
| | - Francesca Parolini
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Stefano Capaldi
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Alessandro Romeo
- Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Luigi Bubacco
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Padova Padova Italy
| | - Michael Assfalg
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
| | - Giorgio Arrigoni
- Department of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of Padova Padova Italy
- Proteomics CenterUniversity of Padova and Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova Padova Italy
| | - Mariapina D'Onofrio
- Department of BiotechnologyUniversity of Verona Strada Le Grazie 15 37134 Verona Italy
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27
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Ramesh M, Gopinath P, Govindaraju T. Role of Post-translational Modifications in Alzheimer's Disease. Chembiochem 2020; 21:1052-1079. [PMID: 31863723 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The global burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is growing. Valiant efforts to develop clinical candidates for treatment have continuously met with failure. Currently available palliative treatments are temporary and there is a constant need to search for reliable disease pathways, biomarkers and drug targets for developing diagnostic and therapeutic tools to address the unmet medical needs of AD. Challenges in drug-discovery efforts raise further questions about the strategies of current conventional diagnosis; drug design; and understanding of disease pathways, biomarkers and targets. In this context, post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate protein trafficking, function and degradation, and their in-depth study plays a significant role in the identification of novel biomarkers and drug targets. Aberrant PTMs of disease-relevant proteins could trigger pathological pathways, leading to disease progression. Advancements in proteomics enable the generation of patterns or signatures of such modifications, and thus, provide a versatile platform to develop biomarkers based on PTMs. In addition, understanding and targeting the aberrant PTMs of various proteins provide viable avenues for addressing AD drug-discovery challenges. This review highlights numerous PTMs of proteins relevant to AD and provides an overview of their adverse effects on the protein structure, function and aggregation propensity that contribute to the disease pathology. A critical discussion offers suggestions of methods to develop PTM signatures and interfere with aberrant PTMs to develop viable diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhu Ramesh
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Pushparathinam Gopinath
- Department of Chemistry, SRM-Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, 603203, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Thimmaiah Govindaraju
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru, 560064, Karnataka, India
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Haj‐Yahya M, Gopinath P, Rajasekhar K, Mirbaha H, Diamond MI, Lashuel HA. Site‐Specific Hyperphosphorylation Inhibits, Rather than Promotes, Tau Fibrillization, Seeding Capacity, and Its Microtubule Binding. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201913001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood Haj‐Yahya
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration Brain Mind Institute Faculty of Life Sciences Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Pushparathinam Gopinath
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration Brain Mind Institute Faculty of Life Sciences Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
- Current Address: Department of Chemistry SRM Institute of Science and Technology Chennai TamilNadu India
| | - Kolla Rajasekhar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration Brain Mind Institute Faculty of Life Sciences Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas TX 75390 USA
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas TX 75390 USA
| | - Hilal A. Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration Brain Mind Institute Faculty of Life Sciences Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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29
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Ma C, Su J, Sun Y, Feng Y, Shen N, Li B, Liang Y, Yang X, Wu H, Zhang H, Herrmann A, Tanzi RE, Liu K, Zhang C. Significant Upregulation of Alzheimer's β-Amyloid Levels in a Living System Induced by Extracellular Elastin Polypeptides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:18703-18709. [PMID: 31609093 PMCID: PMC7187254 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201912399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the primary cause of age-related dementia. The etiology of AD is complex and has not been completely elucidated. Herein, we report that treatment with elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs), a component of the brain extracellular matrix (ECM), significantly increased the levels of AD-related amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) both in vitro and in vivo. Regarding the molecular mechanism(s), the upregulation of Aβ levels was related to increased proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein. Furthermore, nesting tests demonstrated that the ELP-treated animals showed significant neurobehavioral deficits with cognitive impairment. These results suggest that the elastin is associated with AD-related pathological and behavioral changes. This finding presents a new aspect for Alzheimer's amyloidosis event and provides a great promise in developing ELP-based model systems to better understand the pathogenesis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences130022ChangchunChina
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Juanjuan Su
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownMAUSA
| | - Yao Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS VaccineSchool of Life SciencesJilin UniversityChangchun130012China
| | - Yang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences130022ChangchunChina
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownMAUSA
| | - Nolan Shen
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownMAUSA
| | - Bo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences130022ChangchunChina
| | - Yingxia Liang
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownMAUSA
| | - Xintong Yang
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Hui Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS VaccineSchool of Life SciencesJilin UniversityChangchun130012China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences130022ChangchunChina
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
- DWI—Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsForckenbeckstr. 5052056AachenGermany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityWorringerweg 252074AachenGermany
| | - Rudolph E. Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownMAUSA
| | - Kai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences130022ChangchunChina
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolCharlestownMAUSA
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30
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Ma C, Su J, Sun Y, Feng Y, Shen N, Li B, Liang Y, Yang X, Wu H, Zhang H, Herrmann A, Tanzi RE, Liu K, Zhang C. Significant Upregulation of Alzheimer's β‐Amyloid Levels in a Living System Induced by Extracellular Elastin Polypeptides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201912399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences 130022 Changchun China
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Juanjuan Su
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Charlestown MA USA
| | - Yao Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS VaccineSchool of Life SciencesJilin University Changchun 130012 China
| | - Yang Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences 130022 Changchun China
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Charlestown MA USA
| | - Nolan Shen
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Charlestown MA USA
| | - Bo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences 130022 Changchun China
| | - Yingxia Liang
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Charlestown MA USA
| | - Xintong Yang
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Hui Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS VaccineSchool of Life SciencesJilin University Changchun 130012 China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences 130022 Changchun China
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials Nijenborgh 4 9747 AG Groningen The Netherlands
- DWI—Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstr. 50 52056 Aachen Germany
- Institute of Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany
| | - Rudolph E. Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Charlestown MA USA
| | - Kai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource UtilizationChangchun Institute of Applied ChemistryChinese Academy of Sciences 130022 Changchun China
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research UnitMcCance Center for Brain HealthMassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative DiseaseDepartment of NeurologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Charlestown MA USA
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31
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Conibear AC, Rosengren KJ, Becker CFW, Kaehlig H. Random coil shifts of posttranslationally modified amino acids. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2019; 73:587-599. [PMID: 31317299 PMCID: PMC6859290 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-019-00270-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Most eukaryotic proteins are modified during and/or after translation, regulating their structure, function and localisation. The role of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in both normal cellular processes and in diseases is already well recognised and methods for detection of PTMs and generation of specifically modified proteins have developed rapidly over the last decade. However, structural consequences of PTMs and their specific effects on protein dynamics and function are not well understood. Furthermore, while random coil NMR chemical shifts of the 20 standard amino acids are available and widely used for residue assignment, dihedral angle predictions and identification of structural elements or propensity, they are not available for most posttranslationally modified amino acids. Here, we synthesised a set of random coil peptides containing common naturally occurring PTMs and determined their random coil NMR chemical shifts under standardised conditions. We highlight unique NMR signatures of posttranslationally modified residues and their effects on neighbouring residues. This comprehensive dataset complements established random coil shift datasets of the 20 standard amino acids and will facilitate identification and assignment of posttranslationally modified residues. The random coil shifts will also aid in determination of secondary structure elements and prediction of structural parameters of proteins and peptides containing PTMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Conibear
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, QLD, 4072, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - K Johan Rosengren
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, QLD, 4072, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christian F W Becker
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hanspeter Kaehlig
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090, Vienna, Austria
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32
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Susceptibility of protein therapeutics to spontaneous chemical modifications by oxidation, cyclization, and elimination reactions. Amino Acids 2019; 51:1409-1431. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-019-02787-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AbstractPeptides and proteins are preponderantly emerging in the drug market, as shown by the increasing number of biopharmaceutics already approved or under development. Biomolecules like recombinant monoclonal antibodies have high therapeutic efficacy and offer a valuable alternative to small-molecule drugs. However, due to their complex three-dimensional structure and the presence of many functional groups, the occurrence of spontaneous conformational and chemical changes is much higher for peptides and proteins than for small molecules. The characterization of biotherapeutics with modern and sophisticated analytical methods has revealed the presence of contaminants that mainly arise from oxidation- and elimination-prone amino-acid side chains. This review focuses on protein chemical modifications that may take place during storage due to (1) oxidation (methionine, cysteine, histidine, tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine), (2) intra- and inter-residue cyclization (aspartic and glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamine, N-terminal dipeptidyl motifs), and (3) β-elimination (serine, threonine, cysteine, cystine) reactions. It also includes some examples of the impact of such modifications on protein structure and function.
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33
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Araman C, 't Hart BA. Neurodegeneration meets immunology - A chemical biology perspective. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:1911-1924. [PMID: 30910473 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Araman
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry and the Institute for Chemical Immunology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - B A 't Hart
- University of Groningen, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University Medical Centre, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department Anatomy and Neuroscience, Free University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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34
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Ellmer D, Brehs M, Haj‐Yahya M, Lashuel HA, Becker CFW. Single Posttranslational Modifications in the Central Repeat Domains of Tau4 Impact its Aggregation and Tubulin Binding. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:1616-1620. [PMID: 30549369 PMCID: PMC6391969 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201805238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A variety of methods have been employed to study the impact of posttranslational modifications on Tau protein function. Here, a semisynthesis strategy is described that enables selective modification within the central repeat domain of Tau4 (residues 291-321), comprising a major interaction motive with tubulin as well as one of the key hexapeptides involved in Tau aggregation. This strategy has led to the preparation of four semisynthetic Tau variants with phosphoserine residues in different positions and one with a so far largely ignored carboxymethyllysine modification that results from a non-enzymatic posttranslational modification (nPTM). The latter modification inhibits tubulin polymerization but exhibits an aggregation behavior very similar to unmodified Tau. In contrast, phosphorylated Tau variants exhibit similar binding to tubulin as unmodified Tau4 but show lower tendencies to aggregate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Ellmer
- University of ViennaFaculty of ChemistryInstitute of Biological ChemistryWähringer Str. 381090ViennaAustria
| | - Manuel Brehs
- University of ViennaFaculty of ChemistryInstitute of Biological ChemistryWähringer Str. 381090ViennaAustria
| | - Mahmood Haj‐Yahya
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Brain Mind InstituteLaboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration1015LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Hilal A. Lashuel
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Brain Mind InstituteLaboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration1015LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Christian F. W. Becker
- University of ViennaFaculty of ChemistryInstitute of Biological ChemistryWähringer Str. 381090ViennaAustria
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