1
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Canet G, Gratuze M, Zussy C, Bouali ML, Diaz SD, Rocaboy E, Laliberté F, El Khoury NB, Tremblay C, Morin F, Calon F, Hébert SS, Julien C, Planel E. Age-dependent impact of streptozotocin on metabolic endpoints and Alzheimer's disease pathologies in 3xTg-AD mice. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 198:106526. [PMID: 38734152 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106526] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease with a complex origin, thought to involve a combination of genetic, biological and environmental factors. Insulin dysfunction has emerged as a potential factor contributing to AD pathogenesis, particularly in individuals with diabetes, and among those with insulin deficiency or undergoing insulin therapy. The intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ) is widely used in rodent models to explore the impact of insulin deficiency on AD pathology, although prior research predominantly focused on young animals, with no comparative analysis across different age groups. Our study aimed to fill this gap by analyzing the impact of insulin dysfunction in 7 and 23 months 3xTg-AD mice, that exhibit both amyloid and tau pathologies. Our objective was to elucidate the age-specific consequences of insulin deficiency on AD pathology. STZ administration led to insulin deficiency in the younger mice, resulting in an increase in cortical amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau aggregation, while tau phosphorylation was not significantly affected. Conversely, older mice displayed an unexpected resilience to the peripheral metabolic impact of STZ, while exhibiting an increase in both tau phosphorylation and aggregation without significantly affecting amyloid pathology. These changes were paralleled with alterations in signaling pathways involving tau kinases and phosphatases. Several markers of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity declined with age in 3xTg-AD mice, which might have facilitated a direct neurotoxic effect of STZ in older mice. Overall, our research confirms the influence of insulin signaling dysfunction on AD pathology, but also advises careful interpretation of data related to STZ-induced effects in older animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Canet
- Laval University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Neurosciences axis, CHU de Québec Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada.
| | - Maud Gratuze
- Laval University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Institute of Neurophysiopathology (INP), University of Aix-Marseille, CNRS UMR 7051, 13385 Marseille, France.
| | - Charleine Zussy
- Laval University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Neurosciences axis, CHU de Québec Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada.
| | - Mohamed Lala Bouali
- Laval University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Sofia Diego Diaz
- Laval University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Emma Rocaboy
- Laval University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Francis Laliberté
- Neurosciences axis, CHU de Québec Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Noura B El Khoury
- Laval University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; University of Balamand, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Departement of Psychology, Tueini Building Kalhat, Al-Kurah, P.O. Box 100, Tripoli, Lebanon.
| | - Cyntia Tremblay
- Neurosciences axis, CHU de Québec Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada.
| | - Françoise Morin
- Neurosciences axis, CHU de Québec Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada.
| | - Frédéric Calon
- Neurosciences axis, CHU de Québec Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Laval University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Sébastien S Hébert
- Laval University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Neurosciences axis, CHU de Québec Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada.
| | - Carl Julien
- Research Center in Animal Sciences of Deschambault, Québec, QC G0A 1S0, Canada; Laval University, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Emmanuel Planel
- Laval University, Faculty of Medicine, Neurosciences and Psychiatry department, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Neurosciences axis, CHU de Québec Research Center, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada.
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2
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Kochen NN, Seaney D, Vasandani V, Murray M, Braun AR, Sachs JN. Post-translational modification sites are present in hydrophilic cavities of alpha-synuclein, tau, FUS, and TDP-43 fibrils: A molecular dynamics study. Proteins 2024; 92:854-864. [PMID: 38458997 PMCID: PMC11147710 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Hydration plays a crucial role in the refolding of intrinsically disordered proteins into amyloid fibrils; however, the specific interactions between water and protein that may contribute to this process are still unknown. In our previous studies of alpha-synuclein (aSyn), we have shown that waters confined in fibril cavities are stabilizing features of this pathological fold; and that amino acids that hydrogen bond with these confined waters modulate primary and seeded aggregation. Here, we extend our aSyn molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with three new polymorphs and correlate MD trajectory information with known post-translational modifications (PTMs) and experimental data. We show that cavity residues are more evolutionarily conserved than non-cavity residues and are enriched with PTM sites. As expected, the confinement within hydrophilic cavities results in more stably hydrated amino acids. Interestingly, cavity PTM sites display the longest protein-water hydrogen bond lifetimes, three-fold greater than non-PTM cavity sites. Utilizing the deep mutational screen dataset by Newberry et al. and the Thioflavin T aggregation review by Pancoe et al. parsed using a fibril cavity/non-cavity definition, we show that hydrophobic changes to amino acids in cavities have a larger effect on fitness and aggregation rate than residues outside cavities, supporting our hypothesis that these sites are involved in the inhibition of aSyn toxic fibrillization. Finally, we expand our study to include analysis of fibril structures of tau, FUS, TDP-43, prion, and hnRNPA1; all of which contained hydrated cavities, with tau, FUS, and TDP-43 recapitulating our PTM results in aSyn fibril cavities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Nathan Kochen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Darren Seaney
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Vivek Vasandani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Marguerite Murray
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Anthony R Braun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jonathan N Sachs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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3
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Yang J, Shen N, Shen J, Yang Y, Li HL. Complicated Role of Post-translational Modification and Protease-Cleaved Fragments of Tau in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Tauopathies. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:4712-4731. [PMID: 38114762 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03867-x] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Tau, a microtubule-associated protein predominantly localized in neuronal axons, plays a crucial role in promoting microtubule assembly, stabilizing their structure, and participating in axonal transport. Perturbations in tau's structure and function are implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as tauopathies, the most common disorder of which is Alzheimer's disease (AD). In tauopathies, it has been found that tau has a variety of post-translational modification (PTM) abnormalities and/or tau is cleaved into a variety of fragments by some specific proteolytic enzymes; however, the precise contributions of these abnormal modifications and fragments to disease onset and progression remain incompletely understood. Herein, we provide an overview about the involvement of distinctive abnormal tau PTMs and different tau fragments in the pathogenesis of AD and other tauopathies and discuss the involvement of proteolytic enzymes such as caspases, calpains, and asparagine endopeptidase in mediating tau cleavage while also addressing the intercellular transmission role played by tau. We anticipate that further exploration into PTMs and fragmented forms of tau will yield valuable insights for diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions targeting AD and other related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Naiting Shen
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jianying Shen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hong-Lian Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry, Hubei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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4
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Hole KL, Zhu B, Huggon L, Brown JT, Mason JM, Williams RJ. Tau P301L disengages from the proteosome core complex and neurogranin coincident with enhanced neuronal network excitability. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:429. [PMID: 38890273 PMCID: PMC11189525 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06815-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies are characterised by the pathological accumulation of misfolded tau. The emerging view is that toxic tau species drive synaptic dysfunction and potentially tau propagation before measurable neurodegeneration is evident, but the underlying molecular events are not well defined. Human non-mutated 0N4R tau (tauWT) and P301L mutant 0N4R tau (tauP301L) were expressed in mouse primary cortical neurons using adeno-associated viruses to monitor early molecular changes and synaptic function before the onset of neuronal loss. In this model tauP301L was differentially phosphorylated relative to tauwt with a notable increase in phosphorylation at ser262. Affinity purification - mass spectrometry combined with tandem mass tagging was used to quantitatively compare the tauWT and tauP301L interactomes. This revealed an enrichment of tauP301L with ribosomal proteins but a decreased interaction with the proteasome core complex and reduced tauP301L degradation. Differences in the interaction of tauP301L with members of a key synaptic calcium-calmodulin signalling pathway were also identified, most notably, increased association with CaMKII but reduced association with calcineurin and the candidate AD biomarker neurogranin. Decreased association of neurogranin to tauP301L corresponded with the appearance of enhanced levels of extracellular neurogranin suggestive of potential release or leakage from synapses. Finally, analysis of neuronal network activity using micro-electrode arrays showed that overexpression of tauP301L promoted basal hyperexcitability coincident with these changes in the tau interactome and implicating tau in specific early alterations in synaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katriona L Hole
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Bangfu Zhu
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Laura Huggon
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jon T Brown
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jody M Mason
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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5
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Yagishita S, Shibata M, Furuno A, Wakatsuki S, Araki T. Neuronal Excitation Induces Tau Protein Dephosphorylation via Protein Phosphatase 1 Activation to Promote Its Binding with Stable Microtubules. Neurol Int 2024; 16:653-662. [PMID: 38921953 PMCID: PMC11206689 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint16030049] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule stabilization. The phosphorylation of the tau protein has been linked to its dissociation from microtubules. Here, we examined the relationship between neuronal depolarization activity and tau protein phosphorylation by employing model systems in culture as well as in vivo. The KCl-evoked depolarization of cultured neurons has often been used to investigate the effects of neuronal activity. We found dephosphorylation at AT8 sites (S202, T205), T212, AT180 sites (T231, S235), and S396 in KCl-simulated cultured neurons. We also found that the KCl-induced tau protein dephosphorylation increases the level of the tau protein fractionated with stable microtubules. In an in vivo experiment, we demonstrated that the exposure of mice to a new environment activates protein phosphatase 1 in the mouse hippocampus and induces tau protein dephosphorylation. We also found an increased amount of the tau protein in a stable microtubule fraction, suggesting that the dephosphorylation of the tau protein may lead to its increased microtubule association in vivo. These results suggest that the association of microtubules with tau proteins may be regulated by the tau protein phosphorylation status affected by neuronal electrical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Toshiyuki Araki
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
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Piemontese E, Herfort A, Perevedentseva Y, Möller HM, Seitz O. Multiphosphorylation-Dependent Recognition of Anti-pS2 Antibodies against RNA Polymerase II C-Terminal Domain Revealed by Chemical Synthesis. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:12074-12086. [PMID: 38639141 PMCID: PMC11066871 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c01902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Phosphorylation is a major constituent of the CTD code, which describes the set of post-translational modifications on 52 repeats of a YSPTSPS consensus heptad that orchestrates the binding of regulatory proteins to the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II. Phospho-specific antibodies are used to detect CTD phosphorylation patterns. However, their recognition repertoire is underexplored due to limitations in the synthesis of long multiphosphorylated peptides. Herein, we describe the development of a synthesis strategy that provides access to multiphosphorylated CTD peptides in high purity without HPLC purification for immobilization onto microtiter plates. Native chemical ligation was used to assemble 12 heptad repeats in various phosphoforms. The synthesis of >60 CTD peptides, 48-90 amino acids in length and containing up to 6 phosphosites, enabled a detailed and rapid analysis of the binding characteristics of different anti-pSer2 antibodies. The three antibodies tested showed positional selectivity with marked differences in the affinity of the antibodies for pSer2-containing peptides. Furthermore, the length of the phosphopeptides allowed a systematic analysis of the multivalent chelate-type interactions. The absence of multivalency-induced binding enhancements is probably due to the high flexibility of the CTD scaffold. The effect of clustered phosphorylation proved to be more complex. Recognition of pSer2 by anti-pSer2-antibodies can be prevented and, perhaps surprisingly, enhanced by the phosphorylation of "bystander" amino acids in the vicinity. The results have relevance for functional analysis of the CTD in cell biological experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Piemontese
- Institut
für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Straße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alina Herfort
- Institut
für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Straße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yulia Perevedentseva
- Institut
für Chemie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476 Golm, Germany
| | - Heiko M. Möller
- Institut
für Chemie, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476 Golm, Germany
| | - Oliver Seitz
- Institut
für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Straße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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7
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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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8
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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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9
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Liu Y, Feng W, Wang Y, Wu B. Crosstalk between protein post-translational modifications and phase separation. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:110. [PMID: 38347544 PMCID: PMC10860296 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01380-1] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The phenomenon of phase separation is quite common in cells, and it is involved in multiple processes of life activities. However, the current research on the correlation between protein modifications and phase separation and the interference with the tendency of phase separation has some limitations. Here we focus on several post-translational modifications of proteins, including protein phosphorylation modification at multiple sites, methylation modification, acetylation modification, ubiquitination modification, SUMOylation modification, etc., which regulate the formation of phase separation and the stability of phase separation structure through multivalent interactions. This regulatory role is closely related to the development of neurodegenerative diseases, tumors, viral infections, and other diseases, and also plays essential functions in environmental stress, DNA damage repair, transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, and cell homeostasis of living organisms, which provides an idea to explore the interaction between novel protein post-translational modifications and phase separation. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wenjuan Feng
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yunshan Wang
- Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
- Basic Medical Research Center, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.
| | - Bin Wu
- Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.
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10
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Louros N, Wilkinson M, Tsaka G, Ramakers M, Morelli C, Garcia T, Gallardo R, D'Haeyer S, Goossens V, Audenaert D, Thal DR, Mackenzie IR, Rademakers R, Ranson NA, Radford SE, Rousseau F, Schymkowitz J. Local structural preferences in shaping tau amyloid polymorphism. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1028. [PMID: 38310108 PMCID: PMC10838331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45429-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies encompass a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterised by diverse tau amyloid fibril structures. The persistence of polymorphism across tauopathies suggests that distinct pathological conditions dictate the adopted polymorph for each disease. However, the extent to which intrinsic structural tendencies of tau amyloid cores contribute to fibril polymorphism remains uncertain. Using a combination of experimental approaches, we here identify a new amyloidogenic motif, PAM4 (Polymorphic Amyloid Motif of Repeat 4), as a significant contributor to tau polymorphism. Calculation of per-residue contributions to the stability of the fibril cores of different pathologic tau structures suggests that PAM4 plays a central role in preserving structural integrity across amyloid polymorphs. Consistent with this, cryo-EM structural analysis of fibrils formed from a synthetic PAM4 peptide shows that the sequence adopts alternative structures that closely correspond to distinct disease-associated tau strains. Furthermore, in-cell experiments revealed that PAM4 deletion hampers the cellular seeding efficiency of tau aggregates extracted from Alzheimer's disease, corticobasal degeneration, and progressive supranuclear palsy patients, underscoring PAM4's pivotal role in these tauopathies. Together, our results highlight the importance of the intrinsic structural propensity of amyloid core segments to determine the structure of tau in cells, and in propagating amyloid structures in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Louros
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martin Wilkinson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Grigoria Tsaka
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Meine Ramakers
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chiara Morelli
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Teresa Garcia
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rodrigo Gallardo
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sam D'Haeyer
- VIB Screening Core, Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vera Goossens
- VIB Screening Core, Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dominique Audenaert
- VIB Screening Core, Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Neuropathology, KU Leuven, and Department of Pathology, UZ Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ian R Mackenzie
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- Applied and Translational Neurogenomics, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Neil A Ranson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sheena E Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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11
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Paterno G, Bell BM, Riley-DiPaolo A, LaVoie MJ, Giasson BI. Polymerization of recombinant tau core fragments in vitro and seeding studies in cultured cells. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1268360. [PMID: 38161790 PMCID: PMC10757379 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1268360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The relative polymerization of specific tau protein cores that define Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease and corticobasal degeneration were investigated using amyloid fluorometry and electron microscopy. In addition, the relative prion-like activities of polymers comprised of these respective tau protein segments were investigated in a cell-based assay. It is demonstrated that the seeding activities of specific tau core fibrils are affected by the presence of pathogenic tau missense mutations and the microtubule binding domain composition of tau. The unique impact of tau phosphorylation on seeding propensity was also investigated by altering stretches of phospho-mimetic and phospho-null residues in the presence of Alzheimer's disease tau core fibrils. These results have important mechanistic implications for mutation and isoform-specific driven pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giavanna Paterno
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Brach M. Bell
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexis Riley-DiPaolo
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Matthew J. LaVoie
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Benoit I. Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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12
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Tarutani A, Kametani F, Tahira M, Saito Y, Yoshida M, Robinson AC, Mann DMA, Murayama S, Tomita T, Hasegawa M. Distinct tau folds initiate templated seeding and alter the post-translational modification profile. Brain 2023; 146:4988-4999. [PMID: 37904205 PMCID: PMC10690015 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological tau accumulates in the brain in tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration, and forms amyloid-like filaments incorporating various post-translational modifications (PTMs). Cryo-electron microscopic (cryo-EM) studies have demonstrated that tau filaments extracted from tauopathy brains are characteristic of the disease and share a common fold(s) in the same disease group. Furthermore, the tau PTM profile changes during tau pathology formation and disease progression, and disease-specific PTMs are detected in and around the filament core. In addition, templated seeding has been suggested to trigger pathological tau amplification and spreading in vitro and in vivo, although the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Recently, we reported that the cryo-EM structures of tau protofilaments in SH-SY5Y cells seeded with patient-derived tau filaments show a core structure(s) resembling that of the original seeds. Here, we investigated PTMs of tau filaments accumulated in the seeded cells by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and compared them with the PTMs of patient-derived tau filaments. Examination of insoluble tau extracted from SH-SY5Y cells showed that numerous phosphorylation, deamidation and oxidation sites detected in the fuzzy coat in the original seeds were well reproduced in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, templated tau filament formation preceded both truncation of the N-/C-terminals of tau and PTMs in and around the filament core, indicating these PTMs may predominantly be introduced after the degradation of the fuzzy coat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Airi Tarutani
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Fuyuki Kametani
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Marina Tahira
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
| | - Yuko Saito
- Department of Neuropathology (Brain Bank for Aging Research), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Geratrics and Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Andrew C Robinson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - David M A Mann
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology (Brain Bank for Aging Research), Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Geratrics and Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
- Brain Bank for Neurodevelopmental, Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Taisuke Tomita
- Laboratory of Neuropathology and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan
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13
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Davidson R, Krider RI, Borsellino P, Noorda K, Alhwayek G, Vida TA. Untangling Tau: Molecular Insights into Neuroinflammation, Pathophysiology, and Emerging Immunotherapies. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:8816-8839. [PMID: 37998730 PMCID: PMC10670294 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45110553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation, a core pathological feature observed in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), is rapidly gaining attention as a target in understanding the molecular underpinnings of these disorders. Glial cells, endothelial cells, peripheral immune cells, and astrocytes produce a variety of pro-inflammatory mediators that exacerbate the disease progression. Additionally, microglial cells play a complex role in AD, facilitating the clearance of pathological amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) plaques and aggregates of the tau protein. Tau proteins, traditionally associated with microtubule stabilization, have come under intense scrutiny for their perturbed roles in neurodegenerative conditions. In this narrative review, we focus on recent advances from molecular insights that have revealed aberrant tau post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation and acetylation, serving as pathological hallmarks. These modifications also trigger the activation of CNS-resident immune cells, such as microglia and astrocytes substantially contributing to neuroinflammation. This intricate relationship between tau pathologies and neuroinflammation fosters a cascading impact on neural pathophysiology. Furthermore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning tau's influence on neuroinflammation presents a frontier for the development of innovative immunotherapies. Neurodegenerative diseases have been relatively intractable to conventional pharmacology using small molecules. We further comprehensively document the many alternative approaches using immunotherapy targeting tau pathological epitopes and structures with a wide array of antibodies. Clinical trials are discussed using these therapeutic approaches, which have both promising and disappointing outcomes. Future directions for tau immunotherapies may include combining treatments with Aβ immunotherapy, which may result in more significant clinical outcomes for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Thomas A. Vida
- Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, 625 Shadow Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89106, USA; (R.D.); (R.I.K.); (P.B.); (K.N.); (G.A.)
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14
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Smith ED, Vo Q, Giasson BI, Borchelt DR, Prokop S, Chakrabarty P. Human tauopathy strains defined by phosphorylation in R1-R2 repeat domains of tau. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:172. [PMID: 37891635 PMCID: PMC10612232 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01664-0] [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: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Distinctive post-translational modifications (PTM) characterize tau inclusions found in tauopathy patients. Using detergent-insoluble tau isolated from Alzheimer's disease (AD-tau) or Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP-tau) patients, we provide insights into whether phosphorylation of critical residues determine templated tau seeding. Our initial data with phosphorylation-ablating mutations (Ser/Thr → Ala) on select sites of P301L tau showed no changes in seeding efficacy by AD-tau or PSP-tau. Interestingly, when specific sites in the R1-R2 repeat domains (Ser262/Thr263/Ser289/Ser305) were mutated to phosphorylation-mimicking amino acid Glu, it substantially reduced the seeding efficiency of AD-tau, but not PSP-tau seeds. The resultant detergent-insoluble tau shows deficient phosphorylation on AT8, AT100, AT180 and PHF1 epitopes, indicating inter-domain cooperativity. We further identify Ser305 as a critical determinant of AD-tau-specific seeding, whereby the phospho-mimicking Ser305Glu tau abrogates seeding by AD-tau but not PSP-tau. This suggests that phosphorylation on Ser305 could be related to the formation of disease-specific tau strains. Our results highlight the existence of a phospho-PTM code in tau seeding and further demonstrate the distinctive nature of this code in 4R tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan D Smith
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, BMS J484, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Quan Vo
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, BMS J484, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, BMS J484, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - David R Borchelt
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, BMS J484, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Stefan Prokop
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, BMS J484, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Pathology, Immunology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Paramita Chakrabarty
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, BMS J484, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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15
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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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16
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Le LTHL, Lee J, Im D, Park S, Hwang K, Lee JH, Jiang Y, Lee Y, Suh YH, Kim HI, Lee MJ. Self-Aggregating Tau Fragments Recapitulate Pathologic Phenotypes and Neurotoxicity of Alzheimer's Disease in Mice. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302035. [PMID: 37594721 PMCID: PMC10582461 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
In tauopathy conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), highly soluble and natively unfolded tau polymerizes into an insoluble filament; however, the mechanistic details of this process remain unclear. In the brains of AD patients, only a minor segment of tau forms β-helix-stacked protofilaments, while its flanking regions form disordered fuzzy coats. Here, it is demonstrated that the tau AD nucleation core (tau-AC) sufficiently induced self-aggregation and recruited full-length tau to filaments. Unexpectedly, phospho-mimetic forms of tau-AC (at Ser324 or Ser356) show markedly reduced oligomerization and seeding propensities. Biophysical analysis reveal that the N-terminus of tau-AC facilitates the fibrillization kinetics as a nucleation motif, which becomes sterically shielded through phosphorylation-induced conformational changes in tau-AC. Tau-AC oligomers are efficiently internalized into cells via endocytosis and induced endogenous tau aggregation. In primary hippocampal neurons, tau-AC impaired axon initial segment plasticity upon chronic depolarization and is mislocalized to the somatodendritic compartments. Furthermore, it is observed significantly impaired memory retrieval in mice intrahippocampally injected with tau-AC fibrils, which corresponds to the neuropathological staining and neuronal loss in the brain. These findings identify tau-AC species as a key neuropathological driver in AD, suggesting novel strategies for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Thi Huong Luu Le
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Jeeyoung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Brain Science InstituteKorea Institute of Science and TechnologySeoul02792South Korea
| | - Dongjoon Im
- Department of ChemistryKorea UniversitySeoul02841South Korea
| | - Sunha Park
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Kyoung‐Doo Hwang
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of PhysiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Jung Hoon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Yanxialei Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- School of MedicineLinyi UniversityLinyi276000China
| | - Yong‐Seok Lee
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of PhysiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Neuroscience Research InstituteSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Young Ho Suh
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Neuroscience Research InstituteSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
| | - Hugh I. Kim
- Department of ChemistryKorea UniversitySeoul02841South Korea
| | - Min Jae Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
- Department of Biomedical SciencesSeoul National University Graduate SchoolSeoul03080South Korea
- Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Convergence Research Center for DementiaSeoul National University College of MedicineSeoul03080South Korea
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17
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Limorenko G, Tatli M, Kolla R, Nazarov S, Weil MT, Schöndorf DC, Geist D, Reinhardt P, Ehrnhoefer DE, Stahlberg H, Gasparini L, Lashuel HA. Fully co-factor-free ClearTau platform produces seeding-competent Tau fibrils for reconstructing pathological Tau aggregates. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3939. [PMID: 37402718 PMCID: PMC10319797 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39314-7] [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: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein fibrillization is implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as Tauopathies. For decades, investigating Tau fibrillization in vitro has required the addition of polyanions or other co-factors to induce its misfolding and aggregation, with heparin being the most commonly used. However, heparin-induced Tau fibrils exhibit high morphological heterogeneity and a striking structural divergence from Tau fibrils isolated from Tauopathies patients' brains at ultra- and macro-structural levels. To address these limitations, we developed a quick, cheap, and effective method for producing completely co-factor-free fibrils from all full-length Tau isoforms and mixtures thereof. We show that Tau fibrils generated using this ClearTau method - ClearTau fibrils - exhibit amyloid-like features, possess seeding activity in biosensor cells and hiPSC-derived neurons, retain RNA-binding capacity, and have morphological properties and structures more reminiscent of the properties of the brain-derived Tau fibrils. We present the proof-of-concept implementation of the ClearTau platform for screening Tau aggregation-modifying compounds. We demonstrate that these advances open opportunities to investigate the pathophysiology of disease-relevant Tau aggregates and will facilitate the development of Tau pathology-targeting and modifying therapies and PET tracers that can distinguish between different Tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Limorenko
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Meltem Tatli
- Laboratory of Biological Electron Microscopy, Institute of Physics, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rajasekhar Kolla
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sergey Nazarov
- Biological Electron Microscopy Facility, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Theres Weil
- Neuroscience Discovery, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co KG, Knollstrasse, 67061, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - David C Schöndorf
- Neuroscience Discovery, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co KG, Knollstrasse, 67061, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Daniela Geist
- Neuroscience Discovery, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co KG, Knollstrasse, 67061, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Peter Reinhardt
- Neuroscience Discovery, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co KG, Knollstrasse, 67061, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Dagmar E Ehrnhoefer
- Neuroscience Discovery, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co KG, Knollstrasse, 67061, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Henning Stahlberg
- Laboratory of Biological Electron Microscopy, Institute of Physics, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Fund. Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laura Gasparini
- Neuroscience Discovery, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co KG, Knollstrasse, 67061, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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18
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Nadel CM, Thwin AC, Callahan M, Lee K, Connelly E, Craik CS, Southworth DR, Gestwicki JE. The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase, CHIP/STUB1, Inhibits Aggregation of Phosphorylated Proteoforms of Microtubule-associated Protein Tau (MAPT). J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168026. [PMID: 37330289 PMCID: PMC10491737 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168026] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Hyper-phosphorylated tau accumulates as insoluble fibrils in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias. The strong correlation between phosphorylated tau and disease has led to an interest in understanding how cellular factors discriminate it from normal tau. Here, we screen a panel of chaperones containing tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domains to identify those that might selectively interact with phosphorylated tau. We find that the E3 ubiquitin ligase, CHIP/STUB1, binds 10-fold more strongly to phosphorylated tau than unmodified tau. The presence of even sub-stoichiometric concentrations of CHIP strongly suppresses aggregation and seeding of phosphorylated tau. We also find that CHIP promotes rapid ubiquitination of phosphorylated tau, but not unmodified tau, in vitro. Binding to phosphorylated tau requires CHIP's TPR domain, but the binding mode is partially distinct from the canonical one. In cells, CHIP restricts seeding by phosphorylated tau, suggesting that it could be an important barrier in cell-to-cell spreading. Together, these findings show that CHIP recognizes a phosphorylation-dependent degron on tau, establishing a pathway for regulating the solubility and turnover of this pathological proteoform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory M Nadel
- Departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA; Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA
| | - Aye C Thwin
- Biochemistry & Biophysics and the University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA; Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA
| | - Matthew Callahan
- Departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA; Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA
| | - Kanghyun Lee
- Biochemistry & Biophysics and the University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA; Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA
| | - Emily Connelly
- Departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA
| | - Charles S Craik
- Departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA
| | - Daniel R Southworth
- Biochemistry & Biophysics and the University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA; Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA.
| | - Jason E Gestwicki
- Departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA; Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94508, USA.
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19
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Denechaud M, Geurs S, Comptdaer T, Bégard S, Garcia-Núñez A, Pechereau LA, Bouillet T, Vermeiren Y, De Deyn PP, Perbet R, Deramecourt V, Maurage CA, Vanderhaegen M, Vanuytven S, Lefebvre B, Bogaert E, Déglon N, Voet T, Colin M, Buée L, Dermaut B, Galas MC. Tau promotes oxidative stress-associated cycling neurons in S phase as a pro-survival mechanism: Possible implication for Alzheimer's disease. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 223:102386. [PMID: 36481386 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence have linked oxidative stress, tau pathology and neuronal cell cycle re-activation to Alzheimer's disease (AD). While a prevailing idea is that oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell cycle reactivation acts as an upstream trigger for pathological tau phosphorylation, others have identified tau as an inducer of cell cycle abnormalities in both mitotic and postmitotic conditions. In addition, nuclear hypophosphorylated tau has been identified as a key player in the DNA damage response to oxidative stress. Whether and to what extent these observations are causally linked remains unclear. Using immunofluorescence, fluorescence-activated nucleus sorting and single-nucleus sequencing, we report an oxidative stress-associated accumulation of nuclear hypophosphorylated tau in a subpopulation of cycling neurons confined in S phase in AD brains, near amyloid plaques. Tau downregulation in murine neurons revealed an essential role for tau to promote cell cycle progression to S phase and prevent apoptosis in response to oxidative stress. Our results suggest that tau holds oxidative stress-associated cycling neurons in S phase to escape cell death. Together, this study proposes a tau-dependent protective effect of neuronal cell cycle reactivation in AD brains and challenges the current view that the neuronal cell cycle is an early mediator of tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Denechaud
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Sarah Geurs
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Human Genetics, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Thomas Comptdaer
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Séverine Bégard
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Alejandro Garcia-Núñez
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Louis-Adrien Pechereau
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Thomas Bouillet
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Yannick Vermeiren
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, and Biobank, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Antwerpen, Belgium.
| | - Peter P De Deyn
- Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behavior, and Biobank, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Antwerpen, Belgium; Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Hospital Network Antwerp (ZNA) Middelheim and Hoge Beuken, eindendreef 1, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium.
| | - Romain Perbet
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Vincent Deramecourt
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France; Department of Pathological Anatomy, University of Lille, CHU Lille, Lille, France.
| | - Claude-Alain Maurage
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France; Department of Pathological Anatomy, University of Lille, CHU Lille, Lille, France.
| | - Michiel Vanderhaegen
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Sebastiaan Vanuytven
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Bruno Lefebvre
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Elke Bogaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Thierry Voet
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Morvane Colin
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Luc Buée
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Bart Dermaut
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Marie-Christine Galas
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France.
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20
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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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21
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Lander AJ, Jin Y, Luk LYP. D-Peptide and D-Protein Technology: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202200537. [PMID: 36278392 PMCID: PMC10805118 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Total chemical protein synthesis provides access to entire D-protein enantiomers enabling unique applications in molecular biology, structural biology, and bioactive compound discovery. Key enzymes involved in the central dogma of molecular biology have been prepared in their D-enantiomeric forms facilitating the development of mirror-image life. Crystallization of a racemic mixture of L- and D-protein enantiomers provides access to high-resolution X-ray structures of polypeptides. Additionally, D-enantiomers of protein drug targets can be used in mirror-image phage display allowing discovery of non-proteolytic D-peptide ligands as lead candidates. This review discusses the unique applications of D-proteins including the synthetic challenges and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Lander
- School of ChemistryCardiff UniversityMain Building, Park PlaceCardiffCF10 3ATUK
| | - Yi Jin
- Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of ManchesterManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Louis Y. P. Luk
- School of ChemistryCardiff UniversityMain Building, Park PlaceCardiffCF10 3ATUK
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22
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Li L, Nguyen B, Mullapudi V, Saelices L, Joachimiak LA. Disease-associated patterns of acetylation stabilize tau fibril formation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.10.523459. [PMID: 36711822 PMCID: PMC9882070 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.10.523459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Assembly of the microtubule-associated protein into tauopathy fibril conformations dictates the pathology of a diversity of diseases. Recent cryogenic Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) structures have uncovered distinct fibril conformations in different tauopathies but it remains unknown how these structures fold from a single protein sequence. It has been proposed that post-translational modifications may drive tau assembly but no direct mechanism for how modifications drive assembly has emerged. Leveraging established aggregation-regulating tau fragments that are normally inert, we tested the effect of chemical modification of lysines with acetyl groups on tau fragment conversion into amyloid aggregates. We identify specific patterns of acetylation that flank amyloidogenic motifs on the tau fragments that drive rapid fibril assembly. To understand how this pattern of acetylation may drive assembly, we determined a 3.9 Å cryo-EM structure of an amyloid fibril assembled from an acetylated tau fragment. The structure uncovers how lysine acetylation patterns mediate gain-of-function interactions to promote amyloid assembly. Comparison of the structure to an ex vivo tau fibril conformation from Pick's Disease reveals regions of high structural similarity. Finally, we show that our lysine- acetylated sequences exhibit fibril assembly activity in cell-based tau aggregation assays. Our data uncover the dual role of lysine residues in limiting aggregation while their acetylation leads to stabilizing pro-aggregation interactions. Design of tau sequence with specific acetylation patterns may lead to controllable tau aggregation to direct folding of tau into distinct folds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Binh Nguyen
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Vishruth Mullapudi
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Lukasz A. Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
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23
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The Strategies for Treating "Alzheimer's Disease": Insulin Signaling May Be a Feasible Target. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:6172-6188. [PMID: 36547082 PMCID: PMC9777526 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44120421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by senile plaques formed by amyloid-beta (Aβ) extracellularly and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein intracellularly. Apart from these two features, insulin deficiency and insulin resistance have also been observed in AD brains. Thus, AD has also been referred to as type 3 diabetes by some of the scientists in this field. Insulin plays a pivotal role in learning and memory and is involved in regulating tau phosphorylation though the PI3KAkt-GSK3b signaling pathway. Interestingly, recent studies revealed that in AD brains the microglia transformed into a disease-associated microglia (DAM) status in a TREM2-dependent manner to restrain the toxicity of Aβ and propagation of tau. This also correlated with PI3K-Akt signaling through the adaptor of TREM2. Whether insulin has any effect on microglia activation in AD pathology is unclear so far. However, many studies demonstrated that diabetes increased the risk of AD. In this review, we summarize the main strategies for curing AD, including lowering the level of Aβ, suppressing the phosphorylation of tau, the ablation and/or repopulation of microglia, and especially the supply of insulin. We also propose that attention should be given to the influences of insulin on microglia in AD.
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24
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Vesely CH, Reardon PN, Yu Z, Barbar E, Mehl RA, Cooley RB. Accessing isotopically labeled proteins containing genetically encoded phosphoserine for NMR with optimized expression conditions. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102613. [PMID: 36265582 PMCID: PMC9678770 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoserine (pSer) sites are primarily located within disordered protein regions, making it difficult to experimentally ascertain their effects on protein structure and function. Therefore, the production of 15N- (and 13C)-labeled proteins with site-specifically encoded pSer for NMR studies is essential to uncover molecular mechanisms of protein regulation by phosphorylation. While genetic code expansion technologies for the translational installation of pSer in Escherichia coli are well established and offer a powerful strategy to produce site-specifically phosphorylated proteins, methodologies to adapt them to minimal or isotope-enriched media have not been described. This shortcoming exists because pSer genetic code expansion expression hosts require the genomic ΔserB mutation, which increases pSer bioavailability but also imposes serine auxotrophy, preventing growth in minimal media used for isotopic labeling of recombinant proteins. Here, by testing different media supplements, we restored normal BL21(DE3) ΔserB growth in labeling media but subsequently observed an increase of phosphatase activity and mis-incorporation not typically seen in standard rich media. After rounds of optimization and adaption of a high-density culture protocol, we were able to obtain ≥10 mg/L homogenously labeled, phosphorylated superfolder GFP. To demonstrate the utility of this method, we also produced the intrinsically disordered serine/arginine-rich region of the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein labeled with 15N and pSer at the key site S188 and observed the resulting peak shift due to phosphorylation by 2D and 3D heteronuclear single quantum correlation analyses. We propose this cost-effective methodology will pave the way for more routine access to pSer-enriched proteins for 2D and 3D NMR analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cat Hoang Vesely
- GCE4All Research Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Patrick N. Reardon
- Oregon State University NMR Facility, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Zhen Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Elisar Barbar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Ryan A. Mehl
- GCE4All Research Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Richard B. Cooley
- GCE4All Research Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA,For correspondence: Richard B. Cooley
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25
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Song L, Oseid DE, Wells EA, Robinson AS. The Interplay between GSK3β and Tau Ser262 Phosphorylation during the Progression of Tau Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911610. [PMID: 36232909 PMCID: PMC9569960 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau hyperphosphorylation has been linked directly to the formation of toxic neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in tauopathies, however, prior to NFT formation, the sequence of pathological events involving tau phosphorylation remains unclear. Here, the effect of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) on tau pathology was examined independently for each step of transcellular propagation; namely, tau intracellular aggregation, release, cellular uptake and seeding activity. We find that overexpression of GSK3β-induced phosphorylated 0N4R tau led to a higher level of tau oligomerization in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells than wild type 0N4R, as determined by several orthogonal assays. Interestingly, the presence of GSK3β also enhanced tau release. Further, we demonstrated that cells endocytosed more monomeric tau protein when pre-phosphorylated by GSK3β. Using an extracellular vesicle (EVs)-assisted tau neuronal delivery system, we show that exosomal GSK3β-phosphorylated tau, when added to differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, induced more efficient tau transfer, showing much higher total tau levels and increased tau aggregate formation as compared to wild type exosomal tau. The role of a primary tau phosphorylation site targeted by microtubule-affinity regulating kinases (MARKs), Ser262, was tested by pseudo-phosphorylation using site-directed mutagenesis to aspartate (S262D). S262D tau overexpression significantly enhanced tau release and intracellular tau accumulation, which were concurrent with the increase of pathological states of tau, as determined by immunodetection. Importantly, phosphorylation-induced tau accumulation was augmented by co-transfecting S262D tau with GSK3β, suggesting a possible interplay between Ser262 phosphorylation and GSK3β activity in tau pathology. Lastly, we found that pre-treatment of cells with amyloid-β (Aβ) further tau phosphorylation and accumulation when Ser262 pre-phosphorylation was present, suggesting that S262 may be a primary mediator of Aβ-induced tau toxicity. These findings provide a potential therapeutic target for treating tau-related disorders by targeting specific phospho-tau isoforms and further elucidate the GSK3β-mediated pathological seeding mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Song
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Daniel E. Oseid
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Evan A. Wells
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Anne Skaja Robinson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-412-268-7673
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26
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Zeng Z, Fichou Y, Vigers M, Tsay K, Han S. Illuminating the Structural Basis of Tau Aggregation by Intramolecular Distance Tracking: A Perspective on Methods. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:6384-6395. [PMID: 35994024 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c02022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of the tau protein is central to several neurodegenerative diseases, collectively known as tauopathies. High-resolution views of tau tangles accumulated under pathological conditions in post-mortem brains have been revealed recently by cryogenic electron microscopy. One of the striking discoveries was that fibril folds are unique to and homogeneous within one disease family, but typically different between different tauopathies. It is widely believed that seeded aggregation can achieve structural propagation of tau fibrils and generate pathological fibril structures. However, direct molecular level measurement of structural evolution during aggregation is missing. Here, we discuss our perspective on the biophysical approaches that can contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the prion-like propagation of tau and the role of cofactors. We discuss the unique potential of double electron-electron resonance (DEER)-based intramolecular distance measurement, sensitive to two to several nanometers distances. DEER can track the structural evolution of tau along the course of aggregation from the completely disordered state, to partially ordered and highly ordered fibril states, and has the potential to be a key tool to elucidate the disease-specific tau aggregation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhikai Zeng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Yann Fichou
- CNRS, Chemistry and Biology of Membranes and Nanoobjects (CBMN) UMR 5348, Institut Europeen de Chimie et Biologie (IECB), University of Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Michael Vigers
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Karen Tsay
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Songi Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
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27
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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: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [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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28
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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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29
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Permanne B, Sand A, Ousson S, Nény M, Hantson J, Schubert R, Wiessner C, Quattropani A, Beher D. O-GlcNAcase Inhibitor ASN90 is a Multimodal Drug Candidate for Tau and α-Synuclein Proteinopathies. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1296-1314. [PMID: 35357812 PMCID: PMC9026285 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative proteinopathies are characterized by the intracellular formation of insoluble and toxic protein aggregates in the brain that are closely linked to disease progression. In Alzheimer's disease and in rare tauopathies, aggregation of the microtubule-associated tau protein leads to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). In Parkinson's disease (PD) and other α-synucleinopathies, intracellular Lewy bodies containing aggregates of α-synuclein constitute the pathological hallmark. Inhibition of the glycoside hydrolase O-GlcNAcase (OGA) prevents the removal of O-linked N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (O-GlcNAc) moieties from intracellular proteins and has emerged as an attractive therapeutic approach to prevent the formation of tau pathology. Like tau, α-synuclein is known to be modified with O-GlcNAc moieties and in vitro these have been shown to prevent its aggregation and toxicity. Here, we report the preclinical discovery and development of a novel small molecule OGA inhibitor, ASN90. Consistent with the substantial exposure of the drug and demonstrating target engagement in the brain, the clinical OGA inhibitor ASN90 promoted the O-GlcNAcylation of tau and α-synuclein in brains of transgenic mice after daily oral dosing. Across human tauopathy mouse models, oral administration of ASN90 prevented the development of tau pathology (NFT formation), functional deficits in motor behavior and breathing, and increased survival. In addition, ASN90 slowed the progression of motor impairment and reduced astrogliosis in a frequently utilized α-synuclein-dependent preclinical rodent model of PD. These findings provide a strong rationale for the development of OGA inhibitors as disease-modifying agents in both tauopathies and α-synucleinopathies. Since tau and α-synuclein pathologies frequently co-exist in neurodegenerative diseases, OGA inhibitors represent unique, multimodal drug candidates for further clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Permanne
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Astrid Sand
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Solenne Ousson
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maud Nény
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Hantson
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ryan Schubert
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Wiessner
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anna Quattropani
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dirk Beher
- Asceneuron S.A., EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment B, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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30
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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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31
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Gruijs da Silva LA, Simonetti F, Hutten S, Riemenschneider H, Sternburg EL, Pietrek LM, Gebel J, Dötsch V, Edbauer D, Hummer G, Stelzl LS, Dormann D. Disease-linked TDP-43 hyperphosphorylation suppresses TDP-43 condensation and aggregation. EMBO J 2022; 41:e108443. [PMID: 35112738 PMCID: PMC9016352 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Post‐translational modifications (PTMs) have emerged as key modulators of protein phase separation and have been linked to protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disorders. The major aggregating protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, the RNA‐binding protein TAR DNA‐binding protein (TDP‐43), is hyperphosphorylated in disease on several C‐terminal serine residues, a process generally believed to promote TDP‐43 aggregation. Here, we however find that Casein kinase 1δ‐mediated TDP‐43 hyperphosphorylation or C‐terminal phosphomimetic mutations reduce TDP‐43 phase separation and aggregation, and instead render TDP‐43 condensates more liquid‐like and dynamic. Multi‐scale molecular dynamics simulations reveal reduced homotypic interactions of TDP‐43 low‐complexity domains through enhanced solvation of phosphomimetic residues. Cellular experiments show that phosphomimetic substitutions do not affect nuclear import or RNA regulatory functions of TDP‐43, but suppress accumulation of TDP‐43 in membrane‐less organelles and promote its solubility in neurons. We speculate that TDP‐43 hyperphosphorylation may be a protective cellular response to counteract TDP‐43 aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara A Gruijs da Silva
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Mainz, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Francesca Simonetti
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Mainz, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Saskia Hutten
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Erin L Sternburg
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Mainz, Germany
| | - Lisa M Pietrek
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jakob Gebel
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Volker Dötsch
- Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Dieter Edbauer
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerhard Hummer
- Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Institute for Biophysics, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lukas S Stelzl
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Mainz, Germany.,Department of Theoretical Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,KOMET1, Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Mainz, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
| | - Dorothee Dormann
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU), Mainz, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
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32
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Nguyen PH, Tufféry P, Derreumaux P. Dynamics of Amyloid Formation from Simplified Representation to Atomistic Simulations. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2405:95-113. [PMID: 35298810 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1855-4_5] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibril formation is an intrinsic property of short peptides, non-disease proteins, and proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Aggregates of the Aβ and tau proteins, the α-synuclein protein, and the prion protein are observed in the brain of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and prion disease patients, respectively. Due to the transient short-range and long-range interactions of all species and their high aggregation propensities, the conformational ensemble of these devastating proteins, the exception being for the monomeric prion protein, remains elusive by standard structural biology methods in bulk solution and in lipid membranes. To overcome these limitations, an increasing number of simulations using different sampling methods and protein models have been performed. In this chapter, we first review our main contributions to the field of amyloid protein simulations aimed at understanding the early aggregation steps of short linear amyloid peptides, the conformational ensemble of the Aβ40/42 dimers in bulk solution, and the stability of Aβ aggregates in lipid membrane models. Then we focus on our studies on the interactions of amyloid peptides/inhibitors to prevent aggregation, and long amyloid sequences, including new results on a monomeric tau construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong Hoang Nguyen
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, CNRS, Université de Paris, UPR 9080, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Tufféry
- Université de Paris, BFA, UMR 8251, CNRS, ERL U1133, Inserm, RPBS, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Derreumaux
- Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, CNRS, Université de Paris, UPR 9080, Paris, France.
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris, France.
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33
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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: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [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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34
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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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35
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Moreira GG, Cantrelle FX, Quezada A, Carvalho FS, Cristóvão JS, Sengupta U, Puangmalai N, Carapeto AP, Rodrigues MS, Cardoso I, Fritz G, Herrera F, Kayed R, Landrieu I, Gomes CM. Dynamic interactions and Ca 2+-binding modulate the holdase-type chaperone activity of S100B preventing tau aggregation and seeding. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6292. [PMID: 34725360 PMCID: PMC8560819 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26584-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau is implicated in the formation of oligomers and fibrillar aggregates that evade proteostasis control and spread from cell-to-cell. Tau pathology is accompanied by sustained neuroinflammation and, while the release of alarmin mediators aggravates disease at late stages, early inflammatory responses encompass protective functions. This is the case of the Ca2+-binding S100B protein, an astrocytic alarmin which is augmented in AD and which has been recently implicated as a proteostasis regulator, acting over amyloid β aggregation. Here we report the activity of S100B as a suppressor of tau aggregation and seeding, operating at sub-stoichiometric conditions. We show that S100B interacts with tau in living cells even in microtubule-destabilizing conditions. Structural analysis revealed that tau undergoes dynamic interactions with S100B, in a Ca2+-dependent manner, notably with the aggregation prone repeat segments at the microtubule binding regions. This interaction involves contacts of tau with a cleft formed at the interface of the S100B dimer. Kinetic and mechanistic analysis revealed that S100B inhibits the aggregation of both full-length tau and of the microtubule binding domain, and that this proceeds through effects over primary and secondary nucleation, as confirmed by seeding assays and direct observation of S100B binding to tau oligomers and fibrils. In agreement with a role as an extracellular chaperone and its accumulation near tau positive inclusions, we show that S100B blocks proteopathic tau seeding. Together, our findings establish tau as a client of the S100B chaperone, providing evidence for neuro-protective functions of this inflammatory mediator across different tauopathies. The calcium binding protein S100B is an abundantly expressed protein in the brain and has neuro-protective functions by inhibiting Aβ aggregation and metal ion toxicity. Here, the authors combine cell biology and biochemical experiments with chemical kinetics and NMR measurements and show that S100B protein is an extracellular Tau chaperone and further characterize the interactions between S100B and Tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme G Moreira
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - François-Xavier Cantrelle
- CNRS ERL9002 Integrative Structural Biology, F-59000, Lille, France.,Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Andrea Quezada
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Filipa S Carvalho
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana S Cristóvão
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Medical Research Building, Room 10.138C, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA.,Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Nicha Puangmalai
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Medical Research Building, Room 10.138C, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA.,Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Ana P Carapeto
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mário S Rodrigues
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), 4050-013, Porto, Portugal
| | - Güenter Fritz
- Institute of Biology, Department of Cellular Microbiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 70599, Germany
| | - Federico Herrera
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Medical Research Building, Room 10.138C, Galveston, TX, 77555-1045, USA.,Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- CNRS ERL9002 Integrative Structural Biology, F-59000, Lille, France.,Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Cláudio M Gomes
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. .,Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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36
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Limorenko G, Lashuel HA. To target Tau pathologies, we must embrace and reconstruct their complexities. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 161:105536. [PMID: 34718129 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of hyperphosphorylated fibrillar Tau aggregates in the brain is one of the defining hallmarks of Tauopathy diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. However, the primary events or molecules responsible for initiation of the pathological Tau aggregation and spreading remain unknown. The discovery of heparin as an effective inducer of Tau aggregation in vitro was instrumental to enabling different lines of research into the role of Tau aggregation in the pathogenesis of Tauopathies. However, recent proteomics and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies have revealed that heparin-induced Tau fibrils generated in vitro do not reproduce the biochemical and ultrastructural properties of disease-associated brain-derived Tau fibrils. These observations demand that we reassess our current approaches for investigating the mechanisms underpinning Tau aggregation and pathology formation. Our review article presents an up-to-date survey and analyses of 1) the evolution of our understanding of the interactions between Tau and heparin, 2) the various structural and mechanistic models of the heparin-induced Tau aggregation, 3) the similarities and differences between brain-derived and heparin-induced Tau fibrils; and 4) emerging concepts on the biochemical and structural determinants underpinning Tau pathological heterogeneity in Tauopathies. Our analyses identify specific knowledge gaps and call for 1) embracing the complexities of Tau pathologies; 2) reassessment of current approaches to investigate, model and reproduce pathological Tau aggregation as it occurs in the brain; 3) more research towards a better understanding of the naturally-occurring cofactor molecules that are associated with Tau brain pathology initiation and propagation; and 4) developing improved approaches for in vitro production of the Tau aggregates and fibrils that recapitulate and/or amplify the biochemical and structural complexity and diversity of pathological Tau in Tauopathies. This will result in better and more relevant tools, assays, and mechanistic models, which could significantly improve translational research and the development of drugs and antibodies that have higher chances for success in the clinic.
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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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37
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Loh D, Reiter RJ. Melatonin: Regulation of Biomolecular Condensates in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:1483. [PMID: 34573116 PMCID: PMC8465482 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10091483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are membraneless organelles (MLOs) that form dynamic, chemically distinct subcellular compartments organizing macromolecules such as proteins, RNA, and DNA in unicellular prokaryotic bacteria and complex eukaryotic cells. Separated from surrounding environments, MLOs in the nucleoplasm, cytoplasm, and mitochondria assemble by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) into transient, non-static, liquid-like droplets that regulate essential molecular functions. LLPS is primarily controlled by post-translational modifications (PTMs) that fine-tune the balance between attractive and repulsive charge states and/or binding motifs of proteins. Aberrant phase separation due to dysregulated membrane lipid rafts and/or PTMs, as well as the absence of adequate hydrotropic small molecules such as ATP, or the presence of specific RNA proteins can cause pathological protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disorders. Melatonin may exert a dominant influence over phase separation in biomolecular condensates by optimizing membrane and MLO interdependent reactions through stabilizing lipid raft domains, reducing line tension, and maintaining negative membrane curvature and fluidity. As a potent antioxidant, melatonin protects cardiolipin and other membrane lipids from peroxidation cascades, supporting protein trafficking, signaling, ion channel activities, and ATPase functionality during condensate coacervation or dissolution. Melatonin may even control condensate LLPS through PTM and balance mRNA- and RNA-binding protein composition by regulating N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications. There is currently a lack of pharmaceuticals targeting neurodegenerative disorders via the regulation of phase separation. The potential of melatonin in the modulation of biomolecular condensate in the attenuation of aberrant condensate aggregation in neurodegenerative disorders is discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Loh
- Independent Researcher, Marble Falls, TX 78654, USA
| | - Russel J. Reiter
- Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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38
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Sternburg EL, Gruijs da Silva LA, Dormann D. Post-translational modifications on RNA-binding proteins: accelerators, brakes, or passengers in neurodegeneration? Trends Biochem Sci 2021; 47:6-22. [PMID: 34366183 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are critical players in RNA expression and metabolism, thus, the proper regulation of this class of proteins is critical for cellular health. Regulation of RBPs often occurs through post-translational modifications (PTMs), which allow the cell to quickly and efficiently respond to cellular and environmental stimuli. PTMs have recently emerged as important regulators of RBPs implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, in particular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here, we summarize how disease-associated PTMs influence the biophysical properties, molecular interactions, subcellular localization, and function of ALS/FTD-linked RBPs, such as FUS and TDP-43. We will discuss how PTMs are believed to play pathological, protective, or ambiguous roles in these neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Sternburg
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU) Mainz, Faculty of Biology, Mainz, Germany
| | - Lara A Gruijs da Silva
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU) Mainz, Faculty of Biology, Mainz, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), Munich, Germany
| | - Dorothee Dormann
- Johannes Gutenberg-Universität (JGU) Mainz, Faculty of Biology, Mainz, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany.
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39
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Kolla R, Gopinath P, Ricci J, Reif A, Rostami I, Lashuel HA. A New Chemoenzymatic Semisynthetic Approach Provides Insight into the Role of Phosphorylation beyond Exon1 of Huntingtin and Reveals N-Terminal Fragment Length-Dependent Distinct Mechanisms of Aggregation. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:9798-9812. [PMID: 34161085 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c03108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine repeat (>36Q) in the N-terminal domain of the huntingtin protein (Htt), which renders the protein or fragments thereof more prone to aggregate and form inclusions. Although several Htt N-terminal fragments of different lengths have been identified within Htt inclusions, most studies on the mechanisms, sequence, and structural determinants of Htt aggregation have focused on the Httexon1 (Httex1). Herein, we investigated the aggregation properties of mutant N-terminal Htt fragments of various lengths (Htt171, Htt140, and Htt104) in comparison to mutant Httex1 (mHttex1). We also present a new chemoenzymatic semisynthetic strategy that enables site-specific phosphorylation of Htt beyond Httex1. These advances yielded insights into how post-translational modifications (PTMs) and structured domains beyond Httex1 influence aggregation mechanisms, kinetics, and fibril morphology of longer N-terminal Htt fragments. We demonstrate that phosphorylation at T107 significantly slows the aggregation of mHtt171, whereas phosphorylation at T107 and S116 accelerates the aggregation, underscoring the importance of crosstalk between different PTMs. The mHtt171 proteins aggregate via a different mechanism and form oligomers and fibrillar aggregates with morphological properties that are distinct from that of mHttex1. These observations suggest that different N-terminal fragments could have distinct aggregation mechanisms and that a single polyQ-targeting antiaggregation strategy may not effectively inhibit the aggregation of all N-terminal Htt fragments. Finally, our results underscore the need for further studies to investigate the aggregation mechanisms of Htt fragments and how the various fragments interact with each other and influence Htt toxicity and disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajasekhar Kolla
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, School of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pushparathinam Gopinath
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, School of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan Ricci
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, School of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Reif
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, School of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Iman Rostami
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, School of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, School of Life Sciences, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Neves AF, Camargo C, Premer C, Hare JM, Baumel BS, Pinto M. Intravenous administration of mesenchymal stem cells reduces Tau phosphorylation and inflammation in the 3xTg-AD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Exp Neurol 2021; 341:113706. [PMID: 33757765 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) administration is a novel and promising therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Focusing on an intervention easily translatable into clinical practice, we administered allogeneic bone marrow-derived MSCs intravenously in a mouse model of AD (3xTg-AD). We systematically evaluated the effects of a single-dose and multiple-doses of MSCs in young and old mice (5 or 10 months old), comparing the short-term and long-term effects after 1, 2, or 7 months of treatment. A single dose of MSCs in young mice attenuated neuroinflammation 1 and 7 months after injection, whereas multiple-doses did not show any effect. Multiple-doses of MSCs (administered at 5 to 12 mo, or 10 to 12 mo) reduced the β-secretase cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein, although levels of Aβ-42 did not change. Most interestingly, multiple doses of MSCs affected tau hyperphosphorylation. MSCs administered in young mice for 7 months decreased the pathological tau phosphorylation at T205, S214, and T231. MSCs administered in old mice for 2 months decreased tau phosphorylation at S396. Our findings show how different timing and frequency of MSC injections can affect and modulate several aspects of the AD-like neuropathology in the 3xTg-AD mouse model, strengthening the concept of fine-tuning MSC therapy for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Ferreira Neves
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 1420 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, United States of America.
| | - Christian Camargo
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 1150 Northwest 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136, United States of America.
| | - Courtney Premer
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, Biomedical Research Building, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, Suite 909, Miami, FL 33136, United States of America.
| | - Joshua M Hare
- Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, Biomedical Research Building, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, Suite 909, Miami, FL 33136, United States of America.
| | - Bernard S Baumel
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 1150 Northwest 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136, United States of America.
| | - Milena Pinto
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 1420 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, United States of America.
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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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42
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Wegmann S, Biernat J, Mandelkow E. A current view on Tau protein phosphorylation in Alzheimer's disease. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 69:131-138. [PMID: 33892381 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The functions of the neuronal microtubule-associated protein Tau in the central nervous system are regulated by manifold posttranslational modifications at more than 50 sites. Tau in healthy neurons carries multiple phosphate groups, mostly in its microtubule assembly domain. Elevated phosphorylation and aggregation of Tau are widely considered pathological hallmarks in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies, triggering the quest for Tau posttranslational modifications in the disease context. However, the phosphorylation patterns of physiological and pathological Tau are surprisingly similar and heterogenous, making it difficult to identify specific modifications as therapeutic targets and biomarkers for AD. We present a concise summary of - and view on - important previous and recent advances in Tau phosphorylation analysis in the context of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Wegmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jacek Biernat
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) & CAESAR Research Center, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) & CAESAR Research Center, Bonn, Germany
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Tseng JH, Ajit A, Tabassum Z, Patel N, Tian X, Chen Y, Prevatte AW, Ling K, Rigo F, Meeker RB, Herring LE, Cohen TJ. Tau seeds are subject to aberrant modifications resulting in distinct signatures. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109037. [PMID: 33910013 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The prion-like spread of tau pathology could underlie a spectrum of clinical syndromes including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although evidence indicates that tau is transmissible, it is unclear how pathogenic tau seeds are processed in neurons. Here, we analyze fibrillar wild-type and disease-associated P301L tau seeds by using in vitro and neuronal assays. We show that P301L seeds are uniquely modified by post-translational modifications (PTMs) within the microtubule-binding region (MTBR). Although these modifications do not alter tau seed trafficking or localization, acetylated tau variants show accelerated tau aggregation, enhanced tau PTM priming, and prion-like templating. To explain the enhanced tau seed acetylation, we demonstrate that P301L seeds undergo auto-acetylation. Moreover, tau acts generally to inhibit HDAC6 deacetylase activity by preventing HDAC6 phosphorylation, leading to increased substrate acetylation. Our study highlights complex post-translational regulation of transmissible tau seeds and provides insight into the biological properties of tau strains in AD and other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Heng Tseng
- Department of Neurology and the UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Aditi Ajit
- Department of Neurology and the UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Zarin Tabassum
- Department of Neurology and the UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Niyati Patel
- Department of Neurology and the UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xu Tian
- Department of Neurology and the UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Youjun Chen
- Department of Neurology and the UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alex W Prevatte
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Karen Ling
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
| | - Rick B Meeker
- Department of Neurology and the UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Todd J Cohen
- Department of Neurology and the UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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Leonard C, Phillips C, McCarty J. Insight Into Seeded Tau Fibril Growth From Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Alzheimer's Disease Protofibril Core. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:624302. [PMID: 33816551 PMCID: PMC8017153 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.624302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregates of the microtubule associated tau protein are a major constituent of neurofibrillary lesions that define Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. Increasing experimental evidence suggests that the spread of tau neurofibrillary tangles results from a prion-like seeding mechanism in which small oligomeric tau fibrils template the conversion of native, intrinsically disordered, tau proteins into their pathological form. By using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we investigate the stability and dissociation thermodynamics of high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of both the AD paired-helical filament (PHF) and straight filament (SF). Non-equilibrium steered MD (SMD) center-of-mass pulling simulations are used to probe the stability of the protofibril structure and identify intermolecular contacts that must be broken before a single tau peptide can dissociate from the protofibril end. Using a combination of exploratory metadynamics and umbrella sampling, we investigate the complete dissociation pathway and compute a free energy profile for the dissociation of a single tau peptide from the fibril end. Different features of the free energy surface between the PHF and SF protofibril result from a different mechanism of tau unfolding. Comparison of wild-type tau PHF and post-translationally modified pSer356 tau shows that phosphorylation at this site changes the dissociation free energy surface of the terminal peptide. These results demonstrate how different protofibril morphologies template the folding of endogenous tau in distinct ways, and how post-translational modification can perturb the folding mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cass Leonard
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Christian Phillips
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - James McCarty
- Department of Chemistry, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
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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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46
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Nguyen PH, Ramamoorthy A, Sahoo BR, Zheng J, Faller P, Straub JE, Dominguez L, Shea JE, Dokholyan NV, De Simone A, Ma B, Nussinov R, Najafi S, Ngo ST, Loquet A, Chiricotto M, Ganguly P, McCarty J, Li MS, Hall C, Wang Y, Miller Y, Melchionna S, Habenstein B, Timr S, Chen J, Hnath B, Strodel B, Kayed R, Lesné S, Wei G, Sterpone F, Doig AJ, Derreumaux P. Amyloid Oligomers: A Joint Experimental/Computational Perspective on Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Type II Diabetes, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Chem Rev 2021; 121:2545-2647. [PMID: 33543942 PMCID: PMC8836097 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 378] [Impact Index Per Article: 126.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation is observed in many amyloidogenic diseases affecting either the central nervous system or a variety of peripheral tissues. Structural and dynamic characterization of all species along the pathways from monomers to fibrils is challenging by experimental and computational means because they involve intrinsically disordered proteins in most diseases. Yet understanding how amyloid species become toxic is the challenge in developing a treatment for these diseases. Here we review what computer, in vitro, in vivo, and pharmacological experiments tell us about the accumulation and deposition of the oligomers of the (Aβ, tau), α-synuclein, IAPP, and superoxide dismutase 1 proteins, which have been the mainstream concept underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), type II diabetes (T2D), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, respectively, for many years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong H Nguyen
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy
- Biophysics and Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Bikash R Sahoo
- Biophysics and Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Peter Faller
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - John E Straub
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Laura Dominguez
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Joan-Emma Shea
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
- Department of Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
- Molecular Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80138, Italy
| | - Buyong Ma
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Saeed Najafi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Son Tung Ngo
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics & Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Antoine Loquet
- Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nanoobjects, (UMR5248 CBMN), CNRS, Université Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Mara Chiricotto
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Pritam Ganguly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - James McCarty
- Chemistry Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington 98225, United States
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute for Computational Science and Technology, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Carol Hall
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Yiming Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Yifat Miller
- Department of Chemistry and The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva 84105, Israel
| | | | - Birgit Habenstein
- Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nanoobjects, (UMR5248 CBMN), CNRS, Université Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Stepan Timr
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Jiaxing Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
| | - Brianna Hnath
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Institute of Complex Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Sylvain Lesné
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Guanghong Wei
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, and Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Science, Multiscale Research Institute of Complex Systems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Fabio Sterpone
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Andrew J Doig
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Philippe Derreumaux
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
- Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Ulamec SM, Brockwell DJ, Radford SE. Looking Beyond the Core: The Role of Flanking Regions in the Aggregation of Amyloidogenic Peptides and Proteins. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:611285. [PMID: 33335475 PMCID: PMC7736610 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.611285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid proteins are involved in many neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease [Tau, Amyloid β (Aβ)], Parkinson’s disease [alpha-synuclein (αSyn)], and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (TDP-43). Driven by the early observation of the presence of ordered structure within amyloid fibrils and the potential to develop inhibitors of their formation, a major goal of the amyloid field has been to elucidate the structure of the amyloid fold at atomic resolution. This has now been achieved for a wide variety of sequences using solid-state NMR, microcrystallography, X-ray fiber diffraction and cryo-electron microscopy. These studies, together with in silico methods able to predict aggregation-prone regions (APRs) in protein sequences, have provided a wealth of information about the ordered fibril cores that comprise the amyloid fold. Structural and kinetic analyses have also shown that amyloidogenic proteins often contain less well-ordered sequences outside of the amyloid core (termed here as flanking regions) that modulate function, toxicity and/or aggregation rates. These flanking regions, which often form a dynamically disordered “fuzzy coat” around the fibril core, have been shown to play key parts in the physiological roles of functional amyloids, including the binding of RNA and in phase separation. They are also the mediators of chaperone binding and membrane binding/disruption in toxic amyloid assemblies. Here, we review the role of flanking regions in different proteins spanning both functional amyloid and amyloid in disease, in the context of their role in aggregation, toxicity and cellular (dys)function. Understanding the properties of these regions could provide new opportunities to target disease-related aggregation without disturbing critical biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine M Ulamec
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - David J Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Sheena E Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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Greene AN, Parks LG, Solomon MB, Privette Vinnedge LM. Loss of DEK Expression Induces Alzheimer's Disease Phenotypes in Differentiated SH-SY5Y Cells. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:594319. [PMID: 33304240 PMCID: PMC7701170 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.594319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and is characterized by the buildup of β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary Tau tangles. This leads to decreased synaptic efficacy, cell death, and, consequently, brain atrophy in patients. Behaviorally, this manifests as memory loss and confusion. Using a gene ontology analysis, we recently identified AD and other age-related dementias as candidate diseases associated with the loss of DEK expression. DEK is a nuclear phosphoprotein with roles in DNA repair, cellular proliferation, and inhibiting apoptosis. Work from our laboratory determined that DEK is highly expressed in the brain, particularly in regions relevant to learning and memory, including the hippocampus. Moreover, we have also determined that DEK is highly expressed in neurons. Consistent with our gene ontology analysis, we recently reported that cortical DEK protein levels are inversely proportional to dementia severity scores in elderly female patients. However, the functional role of DEK in neurons is unknown. Thus, we knocked down DEK in an in vitro neuronal model, differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, hypothesizing that DEK loss would result in cellular and molecular phenotypes consistent with AD. We found that DEK loss resulted in increased neuronal death by apoptosis (i.e., cleaved caspases 3 and 8), decreased β-catenin levels, disrupted neurite development, higher levels of total and phosphorylated Tau at Ser262, and protein aggregates. We have demonstrated that DEK loss in vitro recapitulates cellular and molecular phenotypes of AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allie N Greene
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Lois G Parks
- Division of Oncology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Matia B Solomon
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Lisa M Privette Vinnedge
- Division of Oncology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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49
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Brandt R, Trushina NI, Bakota L. Much More Than a Cytoskeletal Protein: Physiological and Pathological Functions of the Non-microtubule Binding Region of Tau. Front Neurol 2020; 11:590059. [PMID: 33193056 PMCID: PMC7604284 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.590059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau protein (MAPT) is classified as a microtubule-associated protein (MAP) and is believed to regulate the axonal microtubule arrangement. It belongs to the tau/MAP2/MAP4 family of MAPs that have a similar microtubule binding region at their carboxy-terminal half. In tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease, tau is distributed more in the somatodendritic compartment, where it aggregates into filamentous structures, the formation of which correlates with cognitive impairments in patients. While microtubules are the dominant interaction partners of tau under physiological conditions, tau has many additional interaction partners that can contribute to its physiological and pathological role. In particular, the amino-terminal non-microtubule binding domain (N-terminal projection region, NTR) of tau interacts with many partners that are involved in membrane organization. The NTR contains intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) that show a strong evolutionary increase in the disorder and may have been the basis for the development of new, tau-specific interactions. In this review we discuss the functional organization of the tau protein and the special features of the tau non-microtubule binding region also in the connection with the results of Tau KO models. We consider possible physiological and pathological functions of tau's non-microtubule interactions, which could indicate that interactions mediated by tau's NTR and regulated by far-reaching functional interactions of the PRR and the extreme C-terminus of tau contribute to the pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Brandt
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany.,Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany.,Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | | | - Lidia Bakota
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
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Structures of the intrinsically disordered Aβ, tau and α-synuclein proteins in aqueous solution from computer simulations. Biophys Chem 2020; 264:106421. [PMID: 32623047 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2020.106421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play many biological roles in the human proteome ranging from vesicular transport, signal transduction to neurodegenerative diseases. The Aβ and tau proteins, and the α-synuclein protein, key players in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, respectively are fully disordered at the monomer level. The structural heterogeneity of the monomeric and oligomeric states and the high self-assembly propensity of these three IDPs have precluded experimental structural determination. Simulations have been used to determine the atomic structures of these IDPs. In this article, we review recent computer models to capture the equilibrium ensemble of Aβ, tau and α-synuclein proteins at different association steps in aqueous solution and present new results of the PEP-FOLD framework on α-synuclein monomer.
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