Changes in protein conformation and dynamics upon complex formation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor: investigation by isotope-edited Fourier transform IR spectroscopy

Molecular mechanisms mediating a deficit in recall of fear extinction in adult mice exposed to cocaine in utero

Prenatal cocaine exposure has been shown to alter cognitive processes of exposed individuals, presumed to be a result of long-lasting molecular alterations in the brain. In adult prenatal cocaine exposed (PCOC) mice we have identified a deficit in recall of fear extinction, a behavior that is dependent on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the hippocampus. While we observed no change in the constitutive expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein and mRNA in the mPFC and hippocampus of adult PCOC mice, we observed blunted BDNF signaling in the mPFC of adult PCOC mice after fear extinction compared to the control animals. Specifically, during the consolidation phase of the extinction memory, we observed a decrease in BDNF protein and it’s phospho-TrkB receptor expression. Interestingly, at this same time point there was a significant increase in total Bdnf mRNA levels in the mPFC of PCOC mice as compared with controls. In the Bdnf gene, we identified decreased constitutive binding of the transcription factors, MeCP2 and P-CREB at the promoters of Bdnf exons I and IV in the mPFC of PCOC mice, that unlike control mice remained unchanged when measured during the behavior. Finally, bilateral infusion of recombinant BDNF protein into the infralimbic subdivision of the mPFC during the consolidation phase of the extinction memory rescued the behavioral deficit in PCOC mice. In conclusion, these findings extend our knowledge of the neurobiologic impact of prenatal cocaine exposure on the mPFC of mice, which may lead to improved clinical recognition and treatment of exposed individuals.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotype impacts the prenatal cocaine-induced mouse phenotype

Prenatal cocaine exposure leads to persistent alterations in the growth factor brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), particularly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus, brain regions important in cognitive functioning. BDNF plays an important role in the strengthening of existing synaptic connections as well as in the formation of new contacts during learning. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the BDNF gene (Val66Met), leading to a Met substitution for Val at codon 66 in the prodomain, is common in human populations, with an allele frequency of 20-30% in Caucasians. To study the interaction between prenatal cocaine exposure and BDNF, we have utilized a line of BDNF Val66Met transgenic mice on a Swiss Webster background in which BDNF(Met) is endogenously expressed. Examination of baseline levels of mature BDNF protein in the mPFC of prenatally cocaine-treated wild-type (Val66Val) and Val66Met mice revealed significantly lower levels compared to prenatally saline-treated mice. In contrast, in the hippocampus of prenatally saline- and cocaine-treated adult Val66Met mice, there were significantly lower levels of mature BDNF protein compared to Val66Val mice. In extinction of a conditioned fear, we found that prenatally cocaine-treated Val66Met mice had a deficit in recall of extinction. Examination of mature BDNF protein levels immediately after the test for extinction recall revealed lower levels in the mPFC of prenatally cocaine-treated Val66Met mice compared to saline-treated mice. However, 2 h after the extinction test, there was increased BDNF exons I, IV, and IX mRNA expression in the prelimbic cortex of the mPFC in the prenatally cocaine-treated BDNF Val66Met mice compared to prenatally saline-treated mice. Taken together, our results suggest the possibility that prenatal cocaine-induced constitutive alterations in BDNF mRNA and protein expression in the mPFC differentially poises animals for alterations in behaviorally induced gene activation, which are interactive with BDNF genotype and differentially impact those behaviors. Such findings in our prenatal cocaine mouse model suggest a gene X environment interaction of potential clinical relevance.

Structural differences of proteins between solution state and solid state probed by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

A Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic method combined with an attenuated total reflection (ATR) sampling technique has been developed to analyze protein secondary structure in both solid and solution states. The method has been applied to analyze the protein structural differences between solution state and solid state. For alpha-helix dominant proteins, beta-sheet structures increase significantly in the solid state, with significant decrease in alpha-helical structures. For beta-sheet dominant proteins, beta-sheet structures increase only moderately in the solid state. When proteins are re-dissolved in solution, their structures are re-natured to their native structures, as suggested by the fact that their structures in solution state are similar to those determined by X-ray crystallography or other spectroscopic methods in solution state. The ATR sampling technique avoids the high pressure and chemicals that are needed for the conventional potassium bromide (KBr) disc method for solid samples in FT-IR spectroscopy. Our approach from this study demonstrated that ATR sampling is more appropriate for analysis of protein structures in the solid state.

Docosahexaenoic acid dietary supplementation enhances the effects of exercise on synaptic plasticity and cognition

Omega-3 fatty acids (i.e. docosahexaenoic acid; DHA), similar to exercise, improve cognitive function, promote neuroplasticity, and protect against neurological lesion. In this study, we investigated a possible synergistic action between DHA dietary supplementation and voluntary exercise on modulating synaptic plasticity and cognition. Rats received DHA dietary supplementation (1.25% DHA) with or without voluntary exercise for 12 days. We found that the DHA-enriched diet significantly increased spatial learning ability, and these effects were enhanced by exercise. The DHA-enriched diet increased levels of pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and mature BDNF, whereas the additional application of exercise boosted the levels of both. Furthermore, the levels of the activated forms of CREB and synapsin I were incremented by the DHA-enriched diet with greater elevation by the concurrent application of exercise. While the DHA diet reduced hippocampal oxidized protein levels, a combination of a DHA diet and exercise resulted in a greater reduction rate. The levels of activated forms of hippocampal Akt and CaMKII were increased by the DHA-enriched diet, and with even greater elevation by a combination of diet and exercise. Akt and CaMKII signaling are crucial step by which BDNF exerts its action on synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. These results indicate that the DHA diet enhanced the effects of exercise on cognition and BDNF-related synaptic plasticity, a capacity that may be used to promote mental health and reduce risk of neurological disorders.

Folding and assembly of large macromolecular complexes monitored by hydrogen-deuterium exchange and mass spectrometry

Recent advances in protein mass spectrometry (MS) have enabled determinations of hydrogen deuterium exchange (HDX) in large macromolecular complexes. HDX-MS became a valuable tool to follow protein folding, assembly and aggregation. The methodology has a wide range of applications in biotechnology ranging from quality control for over-expressed proteins and their complexes to screening of potential ligands and inhibitors. This review provides an introduction to protein folding and assembly followed by the principles of HDX and MS detection, and concludes with selected examples of applications that might be of interest to the biotechnology community.

Raman spectroscopy of protein pharmaceuticals

Recent advances in optical and spectroscopic technologies have enabled a plethora of Raman spectrometers that are suitable for studies of protein pharmaceuticals. Highly sensitive Raman spectrometers have overcome the handicap of the fundamentally weak Raman effect that hampered their applications to protein pharmaceuticals in the past. These Raman spectrometers can now routinely measure protein therapeutics at the low concentration of 1 mg/mL, which is on par with other spectroscopic methods such as CD, fluorescence and FTIR spectroscopies. In this article, various Raman techniques that can be used for protein pharmaceutical studies are reviewed. Novel Raman marker of proteins discovered from fundamental studies of protein complexes are examined along with established Raman spectra and structure correlations. Examples of Raman spectroscopic studies of protein pharmaceuticals are demonstrated. Future applications of Raman spectroscopy to protein pharmaceuticals are discussed.

Amide I two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy of beta-hairpin peptides

In this report, spectral simulations and isotope labeling are used to describe the two-dimensional IR spectroscopy of beta-hairpin peptides in the amide I spectral region. 2D IR spectra of Gramicidin S, PG12, Trpzip2 (TZ2), and TZ2-T3(*)T10(*), a dual (13)C(') isotope label, are qualitatively described by a model based on the widely used local mode amide I Hamiltonian. The authors' model includes methods for calculating site energies for individual amide oscillators on the basis of hydrogen bonding, nearest neighbor and long-range coupling between sites, and disorder in the site energy. The dependence of the spectral features on the peptide backbone structure is described using disorder-averaged eigenstates, which are visualized by mapping back onto the local amide I sites. beta-hairpin IR spectra are dominated by delocalized vibrations that vary by the phase of adjacent oscillators parallel and perpendicular to the strands. The dominant nu(perpendicular) band is sensitive to the length of the hairpin and the amount of twisting in the backbone structure, while the nu(parallel) band is composed of several low symmetry modes that delocalize along the strands. The spectra of TZ2-T3(*)T10(*) are used to compare coupling models, from which we conclude that transition charge coupling is superior to transition dipole coupling for amide groups directly hydrogen bound across the beta strands. The 2D IR spectra of TZ2-T3(*)T10(*) are used to resolve the redshifted amide I band and extract the site energy of the labeled groups. This allows the authors to compare several methods for calculating the site energies used in excitonic treatments of the amide I band. Gramicidin S is studied in dimethyl sulfoxide to test the role of solvent on the spectral simulations.

Cleavage of proBDNF by tPA/Plasmin Is Essential for Long-Term Hippocampal Plasticity

Long-term memory is thought to be mediated by protein synthesis-dependent, late-phase long-term potentiation (L-LTP). Two secretory proteins, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), have been implicated in this process, but their relationship is unclear. Here we report that tPA, by activating the extracellular protease plasmin, converts the precursor proBDNF to the mature BDNF (mBDNF), and that such conversion is critical for L-LTP expression in mouse hippocampus. Moreover, application of mBDNF is sufficient to rescue L-LTP when protein synthesis is inhibited, which suggests that mBDNF is a key protein synthesis product for L-LTP expression.