1
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Ahmad A, Uversky VN, Khan RH. Aberrant liquid-liquid phase separation and amyloid aggregation of proteins related to neurodegenerative diseases. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 220:703-720. [PMID: 35998851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.08.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence has shown that the processes of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) or liquid-liquid phase transitions (LLPTs) are a crucial and prevalent phenomenon that underlies the biogenesis of numerous membrane-less organelles (MLOs) and biomolecular condensates within the cells. Findings show that processes associated with LLPS play an essential role in physiology and disease. In this review, we discuss the physical and biomolecular factors that contribute to the development of LLPS, the associated functions, as well as their consequences for cell physiology and neurological disorders. Additionally, the finding of mis-regulated proteins, which have long been linked to aggregates in neuropathology, are also known to induce LLPS/LLPTs, prompting a lot of interest in understanding the connection between aberrant phase separation and disorder conditions. Moreover, the methods used in recent and ongoing studies in this field are also explored, as is the possibility that these findings will encourage new lines of inquiry into the molecular causes of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azeem Ahmad
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P. 202002, India
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia.
| | - Rizwan Hasan Khan
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P. 202002, India.
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2
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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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3
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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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4
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Son SH, Do JM, Yoo JN, Lee HW, Kim NK, Yoo HS, Gee MS, Kim JH, Seong JH, Inn KS, Seo MD, Lee JK, Kim NJ. Identification of ortho catechol-containing isoflavone as a privileged scaffold that directly prevents the aggregation of both amyloid β plaques and tau-mediated neurofibrillary tangles and its in vivo evaluation. Bioorg Chem 2021; 113:105022. [PMID: 34098397 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In this study, polyhydroxyisoflavones that directly prevent the aggregation of both amyloid β (Aβ) and tau were expediently synthesized via divergent Pd(0)-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and then biologically evaluated. By preliminary structure-activity relationship studies using thioflavin T (ThT) assays, an ortho-catechol containing isoflavone scaffold was proven to be crucial for preventing both Aβ aggregation and tau-mediated neurofibrillary tangle formation. Additional TEM experiment confirmed that ortho-catechol containing isoflavone 4d significantly prevented the aggregation of both Aβ and tau. To investigate the mode of action (MOA) of 4d, which possesses an ortho-catechol moiety, 1H-15N HSQC NMR analysis was thoroughly performed and the result indicated that 4d could directly inhibit both the formation of Aβ42 fibrils and the formation of tau-derived neurofibrils, probably through the catechol-mediated nucleation of tau. Finally, 4d was demonstrated to alleviate cognitive impairment and pathologies related to Alzheimer's disease in a 5XFAD transgenic mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Hwan Son
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Min Do
- Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Na Yoo
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (RIPST), Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea; Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Woo Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam Kwon Kim
- Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Seok Yoo
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Sung Gee
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Ho Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hye Seong
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Soo Inn
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Duk Seo
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (RIPST), Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea; Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong Kil Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
| | - Nam-Jung Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Savastano A, Jaipuria G, Andreas L, Mandelkow E, Zweckstetter M. Solid-state NMR investigation of the involvement of the P2 region in tau amyloid fibrils. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21210. [PMID: 33273615 PMCID: PMC7712923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78161-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau into amyloid fibrils is closely linked to the progression of Alzheimer's disease. To gain insight into the link between amyloid structure and disease, the three-dimensional structure of tau fibrils has been studied using solid-state NMR (ssNMR) and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The proline-rich region of tau remains poorly defined in the context of tau amyloid structures, despite the clustering of several phosphorylation sites, which have been associated with Alzheimer's disease. In order to gain insight into the contribution of the proline-rich region P2 of tau to amyloid fibrils, we studied in vitro aggregated amyloid fibrils of tau constructs, which contain both the proline-rich region P2 and the pseudo-repeats. Using ssNMR we show that the sequence [Formula: see text], the most hydrophobic patch within the P2 region, loses its flexibility upon formation of amyloid fibrils. The data suggest a contribution of the P2 region to tau amyloid fibril formation, which might account for some of the unassigned electron density in cryo-EM studies of tau fibrils and could be modulated by tau phosphorylation at the disease-associated AT180 epitope T231/S235.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Savastano
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Garima Jaipuria
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Loren Andreas
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Faßberg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- CAESAR Research Center, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175, Bonn, Germany
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Faßberg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
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6
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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: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [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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7
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Silva MC, Haggarty SJ. Tauopathies: Deciphering Disease Mechanisms to Develop Effective Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21238948. [PMID: 33255694 PMCID: PMC7728099 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological accumulation of microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) in the form of neurofibrillary tangles and paired helical filaments in neurons and glia, leading to brain cell death. These diseases include frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and can be sporadic or inherited when caused by mutations in the MAPT gene. Despite an incredibly high socio-economic burden worldwide, there are still no effective disease-modifying therapies, and few tau-focused experimental drugs have reached clinical trials. One major hindrance for therapeutic development is the knowledge gap in molecular mechanisms of tau-mediated neuronal toxicity and death. For the promise of precision medicine for brain disorders to be fulfilled, it is necessary to integrate known genetic causes of disease, i.e., MAPT mutations, with an understanding of the dysregulated molecular pathways that constitute potential therapeutic targets. Here, the growing understanding of known and proposed mechanisms of disease etiology will be reviewed, together with promising experimental tau-directed therapeutics, such as recently developed tau degraders. Current challenges faced by the fields of tau research and drug discovery will also be addressed.
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8
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Fichou Y, Vigers M, Goring AK, Eschmann NA, Han S. Heparin-induced tau filaments are structurally heterogeneous and differ from Alzheimer's disease filaments. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:4573-4576. [PMID: 29664486 DOI: 10.1039/c8cc01355a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of tau filaments in the brain whose structure was recently solved. The formation of AD filaments is routinely modeled in vitro by mixing tau with heparin. This study shows that heparin-induced tau filaments are markedly different from the AD filaments and are highly heterogeneous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Fichou
- Department of chemistry, University of California Santa Babara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA.
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9
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Wegmann S, Eftekharzadeh B, Tepper K, Zoltowska KM, Bennett RE, Dujardin S, Laskowski PR, MacKenzie D, Kamath T, Commins C, Vanderburg C, Roe AD, Fan Z, Molliex AM, Hernandez-Vega A, Muller D, Hyman AA, Mandelkow E, Taylor JP, Hyman BT. Tau protein liquid-liquid phase separation can initiate tau aggregation. EMBO J 2018; 37:e98049. [PMID: 29472250 PMCID: PMC5881631 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201798049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 631] [Impact Index Per Article: 105.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The transition between soluble intrinsically disordered tau protein and aggregated tau in neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease is unknown. Here, we propose that soluble tau species can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) under cellular conditions and that phase-separated tau droplets can serve as an intermediate toward tau aggregate formation. We demonstrate that phosphorylated or mutant aggregation prone recombinant tau undergoes LLPS, as does high molecular weight soluble phospho-tau isolated from human Alzheimer brain. Droplet-like tau can also be observed in neurons and other cells. We found that tau droplets become gel-like in minutes, and over days start to spontaneously form thioflavin-S-positive tau aggregates that are competent of seeding cellular tau aggregation. Since analogous LLPS observations have been made for FUS, hnRNPA1, and TDP43, which aggregate in the context of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we suggest that LLPS represents a biophysical process with a role in multiple different neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Wegmann
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Bahareh Eftekharzadeh
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Katharina Tepper
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Katarzyna M Zoltowska
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Rachel E Bennett
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Simon Dujardin
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Pawel R Laskowski
- Department for Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Danny MacKenzie
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Tarun Kamath
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Caitlin Commins
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Charles Vanderburg
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Allyson D Roe
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Zhanyun Fan
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Amandine M Molliex
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Daniel Muller
- Department for Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anthony A Hyman
- Department for Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Max-Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Hamburg Outstation c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany
- CAESAR Research Center, Bonn, Germany
| | - J Paul Taylor
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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10
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Identification of the Tau phosphorylation pattern that drives its aggregation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:9080-9085. [PMID: 28784767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1708448114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the functional relationship between Tau phosphorylation and aggregation has proven a challenge owing to the multiple potential phosphorylation sites and their clustering in the Tau sequence. We use here in vitro kinase assays combined with NMR spectroscopy as an analytical tool to generate well-characterized phosphorylated Tau samples and show that the combined phosphorylation at the Ser202/Thr205/Ser208 sites, together with absence of phosphorylation at the Ser262 site, yields a Tau sample that readily forms fibers, as observed by thioflavin T fluorescence and electron microscopy. On the basis of conformational analysis of synthetic phosphorylated peptides, we show that aggregation of the samples correlates with destabilization of the turn-like structure defined by phosphorylation of Ser202/Thr205.
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11
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Sengupta I, Bhate SH, Das R, Udgaonkar JB. Salt-Mediated Oligomerization of the Mouse Prion Protein Monitored by Real-Time NMR. J Mol Biol 2017; 429:1852-1872. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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12
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Wegmann S, Nicholls S, Takeda S, Fan Z, Hyman BT. Formation, release, and internalization of stable tau oligomers in cells. J Neurochem 2016; 139:1163-1174. [PMID: 27731899 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a neuronal microtubule-binding protein that, in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, can form oligomeric and large fibrillar aggregates, which deposit in neurofibrillary tangles. Tau's physiological state of multimerization appears to vary across conditions, and a stable dimeric form of soluble tau has been suggested from experiments using recombinant tau in vitro. We tested if tau dimerization or oligomerization, also occurs in cells, and if soluble tau oligomers are relevant for the release and internalization of tau. We developed a sensitive tau split-luciferase assay to show the rapid intracellular formation of stable tau dimers that are released and taken up by cells. Our data further suggest that tau dimerization can be accelerated slightly by aggregation catalysts. We conclude that tau oligomers are a stable physiological form of tau, and that tau oligomerization does not necessarily lead to tau aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Wegmann
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samantha Nicholls
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shuko Takeda
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhanyun Fan
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND), Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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NMR Meets Tau: Insights into Its Function and Pathology. Biomolecules 2016; 6:biom6020028. [PMID: 27338491 PMCID: PMC4919923 DOI: 10.3390/biom6020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we focus on what we have learned from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies on the neuronal microtubule-associated protein Tau. We consider both the mechanistic details of Tau: the tubulin relationship and its aggregation process. Phosphorylation of Tau is intimately linked to both aspects. NMR spectroscopy has depicted accurate phosphorylation patterns by different kinases, and its non-destructive character has allowed functional assays with the same samples. Finally, we will discuss other post-translational modifications of Tau and its interaction with other cellular factors in relationship to its (dys)function.
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14
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Baldwin AJ, Egan DL, Warren F, Barker PD, Dobson CM, Butterworth PJ, Ellis PR. Investigating the mechanisms of amylolysis of starch granules by solution-state NMR. Biomacromolecules 2015; 16:1614-21. [PMID: 25815624 PMCID: PMC4429494 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5b00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Starch is a prominent component of the human diet and is hydrolyzed by α-amylase post-ingestion. Probing the mechanism of this process has proven challenging, due to the intrinsic heterogeneity of individual starch granules. By means of solution-state NMR, we demonstrate that flexible polysaccharide chains protruding from the solvent-exposed surfaces of waxy rice starch granules are highly mobile and that during hydrothermal treatment, when the granules swell, the number of flexible residues on the exposed surfaces increases by a factor of 15. Moreover, we show that these flexible chains are the primary substrates for α-amylase, being cleaved in the initial stages of hydrolysis. These findings allow us to conclude that the quantity of flexible α-glucan chains protruding from the granule surface will greatly influence the rate of energy acquisition from digestion of starch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Baldwin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United
Kingdom
| | - Danielle L. Egan
- Biopolymers
Group, Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United
Kingdom
| | - Fredrick
J. Warren
- Biopolymers
Group, Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United
Kingdom
| | - Paul D. Barker
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United
Kingdom
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, United
Kingdom
| | - Peter J. Butterworth
- Biopolymers
Group, Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United
Kingdom
| | - Peter R. Ellis
- Biopolymers
Group, Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United
Kingdom
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15
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Fréville A, Tellier G, Vandomme A, Pierrot C, Vicogne J, Cantrelle FX, Martoriati A, Cailliau-Maggio K, Khalife J, Landrieu I. Identification of a Plasmodium falciparum inhibitor-2 motif involved in the binding and regulation activity of protein phosphatase type 1. FEBS J 2014; 281:4519-34. [PMID: 25132288 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The regulation of Plasmodium falciparum protein phosphatase type 1 (PfPP1) activity remains to be deciphered. Data from homologous eukaryotic type 1 protein phosphatases (PP1) suggest that several protein regulators should be involved in this essential process. One such regulator, named PfI2 based on its primary sequence homology with eukaryotic inhibitor 2 (I2), was recently shown to be able to interact with PfPP1 and to inhibit its phosphatase activity, mainly through the canonical 'RVxF' binding motif. The details of the structural and functional characteristics of this interaction are investigated here. Using NMR spectroscopy, a second site of interaction is suggested to reside between residues D94 and T117 and contains the 'FxxR/KxR/K' binding motif present in other I2 proteins. This site seems to play in concert/synergy with the 'RVxF' motif to bind PP1, because only mutations in both motifs were able to abolish this interaction completely. However, regarding the structure/function relationship, mutation of either the 'RVxF' or 'FxxR/KxR/K' motif is more drastic, because each mutation prevents the capacity of PfI2 to trigger germinal vesicle breakdown in microinjected Xenopus oocytes. This indicates that the tight association of the PfI2 regulator to PP1, mediated by a two-site interaction, is necessary to exert its function. Based on these results, the use of a peptide derived from the 'FxxR/KxR/K' PfI2 motif was investigated for its potential effect on Plasmodium growth. This peptide, fused at its N-terminus to a penetrating sequence, was shown to accumulate specifically in infected erythrocytes and to have an antiplasmodial effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Fréville
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019-CNRS UMR 8204, Université Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, France
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16
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Huvent I, Kamah A, Cantrelle FX, Barois N, Slomianny C, Smet-Nocca C, Landrieu I, Lippens G. A functional fragment of Tau forms fibers without the need for an intermolecular cysteine bridge. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 445:299-303. [PMID: 24502945 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.01.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We study the aggregation of a fragment of the neuronal protein Tau that contains part of the proline rich domain and of the microtubule binding repeats. When incubated at 37 °C with heparin, the fragment readily forms fibers as witnessed by Thioflavin T fluorescence. Electron microscopy and NMR spectroscopy show bundled ribbon like structures with most residues rigidly incorporated in the fibril. Without its cysteines, this fragment still forms fibers of a similar morphology, but with lesser Thioflavin T binding sites and more mobility for the C-terminal residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Huvent
- CNRS UMR 8576, University of Lille1, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Amina Kamah
- CNRS UMR 8576, University of Lille1, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | | | - Nicolas Barois
- Plate-forme BICeL-IFR142, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Christian Slomianny
- Inserm U1003, Laboratoire de physiologie cellulaire, Université Lille 1, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | | | - Isabelle Landrieu
- CNRS UMR 8576, University of Lille1, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Guy Lippens
- CNRS UMR 8576, University of Lille1, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
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17
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Mandelkow EM, Mandelkow E. Biochemistry and cell biology of tau protein in neurofibrillary degeneration. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2013; 2:a006247. [PMID: 22762014 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a006247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 526] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Tau represents the subunit protein of one of the major hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD), the neurofibrillary tangles, and is therefore of major interest as an indicator of disease mechanisms. Many of the unusual properties of Tau can be explained by its nature as a natively unfolded protein. Examples are the large number of structural conformations and biochemical modifications (phosphorylation, proteolysis, glycosylation, and others), the multitude of interaction partners (mainly microtubules, but also other cytoskeletal proteins, kinases, and phosphatases, motor proteins, chaperones, and membrane proteins). The pathological aggregation of Tau is counterintuitive, given its high solubility, but can be rationalized by short hydrophobic motifs forming β structures. The aggregation of Tau is toxic in cell and animal models, but can be reversed by suppressing expression or by aggregation inhibitors. This review summarizes some of the structural, biochemical, and cell biological properties of Tau and Tau fibers. Further aspects of Tau as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target, its involvement in other Tau-based diseases, and its histopathology are covered by other chapters in this volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Mandelkow
- Max-Planck Unit for Structural Molecular Biology, c/o DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany; DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, and CAESAR Research Center, 53175 Bonn, Germany.
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18
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The fuzzy coat of pathological human Tau fibrils is a two-layered polyelectrolyte brush. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 110:E313-21. [PMID: 23269837 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1212100110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The structure and properties of amyloid-like Tau fibrils accumulating in neurodegenerative diseases have been debated for decades. Although the core of Tau fibrils assembles from short β-strands, the properties of the much longer unstructured Tau domains protruding from the fibril core remain largely obscure. Applying immunogold transmission EM, and force-volume atomic force microscopy (AFM), we imaged human Tau fibrils at high resolution and simultaneously mapped their mechanical and adhesive properties. Tau fibrils showed a ≈ 16-nm-thick fuzzy coat that resembles a two-layered polyelectrolyte brush, which is formed by the unstructured short C-terminal and long N-terminal Tau domains. The mechanical and adhesive properties of the fuzzy coat are modulated by electrolytes and pH, and thus by the cellular environment. These unique properties of the fuzzy coat help in understanding how Tau fibrils disturb cellular interactions and accumulate in neurofibrillary tangles.
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19
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Lee YH, Goto Y. Kinetic intermediates of amyloid fibrillation studied by hydrogen exchange methods with nuclear magnetic resonance. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2012; 1824:1307-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2012.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2012] [Revised: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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20
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Abstract
We describe our efforts to combine in vitro enzymatic reactions with recombinant kinases to phosphorylate the neuronal tau protein, and NMR spectroscopy to unravel the resulting phosphorylation pattern in both qualitative and quantitative manners. This approach, followed by functional assays with the same samples, gives access to the complex phosphorylation code of tau. As a result, we propose a novel hypothesis for the link between tau (hyper)phosphorylation and aggregation.
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21
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Moore CL, Huang MH, Robbennolt SA, Voss KR, Combs B, Gamblin TC, Goux WJ. Secondary nucleating sequences affect kinetics and thermodynamics of tau aggregation. Biochemistry 2011; 50:10876-86. [PMID: 22085312 DOI: 10.1021/bi2014745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Tau protein was scanned for highly amyloidogenic sequences in amphiphilic motifs (X)(n)Z, Z(X)(n)Z (n ≥ 2), or (XZ)(n) (n ≥ 2), where X is a hydrophobic residue and Z is a charged or polar residue. N-Acetyl peptides homologous to these sequences were used to study aggregation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed seven peptides, in addition to well-known primary nucleating sequences Ac(275)VQIINK (AcPHF6*) and Ac(306)VQIVYK (AcPHF6), formed fibers, tubes, ribbons, or rolled sheets. Of the peptides shown by TEM to form amyloid, Ac(10)VME, AcPHF6*, Ac(375)KLTFR, and Ac(393)VYK were found to enhance the fraction of β-structure of AcPHF6 formed at equilibrium, and Ac(375)KLTFR was found to inhibit AcPHF6 and AcPHF6* aggregation kinetics in a dose-dependent manner, consistent with its participation in a hybrid steric zipper model. Single site mutants were generated which transformed predicted amyloidogenic sequences in tau into non-amyloidogenic ones. A M11K mutant had fewer filaments and showed a decrease in aggregation kinetics and an increased lag time compared to wild-type tau, while a F378K mutant showed significantly more filaments. Our results infer that sequences throughout tau, in addition to PHF6 and PHF6*, can seed amyloid formation or affect aggregation kinetics or thermodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Moore
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
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22
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Yoshimura Y, Sakurai K, Lee YH, Ikegami T, Chatani E, Naiki H, Goto Y. Direct observation of minimum-sized amyloid fibrils using solution NMR spectroscopy. Protein Sci 2010; 19:2347-55. [PMID: 20936689 DOI: 10.1002/pro.515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2010] [Revised: 09/17/2010] [Accepted: 09/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
It is challenging to investigate the structure and dynamics of amyloid fibrils at the residue and atomic resolution because of their high molecular weight and heterogeneous properties. Here, we used solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to characterize the conformation and flexibility of amyloid fibrils of β2-microglobulin (β2m), for which direct observation of solution NMR could not be made. Ultrasonication led to fragmentation producing a solution of minimum-sized fibrils with a molecular weight of around 6 MDa. In 1H-15N heteronuclear single-quantum correlation measurements, five signals, derived from N-terminal residues (i.e., Ile1, Gln2, Arg3, Thr4, and Lys6), were newly detected. Signal strength decreased with the distance from the N-terminal end. Capping experiments with the unlabeled β2m monomer indicated that the signals originated from molecules located inside the fibrils. Ultrasonication makes the residues with moderate flexibility observable by reducing size of the fibrils. Thus, solution NMR measurements of ultrasonicated fibrils will be promising for studying the structure and dynamics of fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Yoshimura
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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23
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NMR spectroscopy of the neuronal tau protein: normal function and implication in Alzheimer's disease. Biochem Soc Trans 2010; 38:1006-11. [DOI: 10.1042/bst0381006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
NMR spectroscopy was used to explore the different aspects of the normal and pathological functions of tau, but proved challenging because the protein contains 441 amino acids and has poor signal dispersion. We have set out to dissect the phosphorylation patterns of tau in order to understand better its role in the aggregation process and microtubule-binding regulation. Our current knowledge on the functional consequences of specific phosphorylations is still limited, mainly because producing and assessing quantitatively phosphorylated tau samples is far from straightforward, even in vitro. We use NMR spectroscopy as a proteomics tool to characterize the phosphorylation patterns of tau, after in vitro phosphorylation by recombinant kinases. The phosphorylated tau can next be use for functional assays or interaction assays with phospho-dependent protein partners, such as the prolyl cis–trans isomerase Pin1.
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24
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Structural polymorphism of 441-residue tau at single residue resolution. PLoS Biol 2009; 7:e34. [PMID: 19226187 PMCID: PMC2642882 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 462] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2008] [Accepted: 01/07/2009] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease is characterized by abnormal protein deposits in the brain, such as extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. The tangles are made of a protein called tau comprising 441 residues in its longest isoform. Tau belongs to the class of natively unfolded proteins, binds to and stabilizes microtubules, and partially folds into an ordered beta-structure during aggregation to Alzheimer paired helical filaments (PHFs). Here we show that it is possible to overcome the size limitations that have traditionally hampered detailed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy studies of such large nonglobular proteins. This is achieved using optimal NMR pulse sequences and matching of chemical shifts from smaller segments in a divide and conquer strategy. The methodology reveals that 441-residue tau is highly dynamic in solution with a distinct domain character and an intricate network of transient long-range contacts important for pathogenic aggregation. Moreover, the single-residue view provided by the NMR analysis reveals unique insights into the interaction of tau with microtubules. Our results establish that NMR spectroscopy can provide detailed insight into the structural polymorphism of very large nonglobular proteins.
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25
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Baldwin AJ, Anthony-Cahill SJ, Knowles TPJ, Lippens G, Christodoulou J, Barker PD, Dobson CM. Measurement of amyloid fibril length distributions by inclusion of rotational motion in solution NMR diffusion measurements. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2008; 47:3385-7. [PMID: 18350531 DOI: 10.1002/anie.200703915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Baldwin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
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26
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Baldwin A, Anthony-Cahill S, Knowles T, Lippens G, Christodoulou J, Barker P, Dobson C. Measurement of Amyloid Fibril Length Distributions by Inclusion of Rotational Motion in Solution NMR Diffusion Measurements. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2008. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.200703915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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27
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Baldwin AJ, Christodoulou J, Barker PD, Dobson CM, Lippens G. Contribution of rotational diffusion to pulsed field gradient diffusion measurements. J Chem Phys 2007; 127:114505. [PMID: 17887855 DOI: 10.1063/1.2759211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
NMR diffusion experiments employing pulsed field gradients are well established as sensitive probes of the displacement of individual nuclear spins in a sample. Conventionally such measurements are used as a measure of translational diffusion, but here we demonstrate that under certain conditions rotational motion will contribute very significantly to the experimental data. This situation occurs when at least one spatial dimension of the species under study exceeds the root mean square displacement associated with translational diffusion, and leads to anomalously large apparent diffusion coefficients when conventional analytical procedures are employed. We show that in such a situation the effective diffusion coefficient is a function of the duration of the diffusion delay used, and that this dependence provides a means of characterizing the dimensions of the species under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Baldwin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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28
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Mandelkow E, von Bergen M, Biernat J, Mandelkow EM. Structural principles of tau and the paired helical filaments of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Pathol 2007; 17:83-90. [PMID: 17493042 PMCID: PMC8095506 DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2007.00053.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau, a major microtubule-associated protein in brain, forms abnormal fibers in Alzheimer's disease and several other neurodegenerative diseases. Tau is highly soluble and adopts a natively unfolded structure in solution. In the paired helical filaments of Alzheimer's disease, small segments of tau adopt a beta-conformation and interact with other tau molecules. In the filament core, the microtubule-binding repeat region of tau has a cross-beta structure, while the rest of the protein retains its largely unfolded structure and gives rise to the fuzzy coat of the filaments.
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29
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Lippens G, Sillen A, Landrieu I, Amniai L, Sibille N, Barbier P, Leroy A, Hanoulle X, Wieruszeski JM. Tau aggregation in Alzheimer's disease: what role for phosphorylation? Prion 2007; 1:21-5. [PMID: 19164903 DOI: 10.4161/pri.1.1.4055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The crucial role of the neuronal Tau protein in microtubule stabilization and axonal transport suggests that too little or too much Tau might lead to neuronal dysfunction. The presence of a hyper phosphorylated but non aggregated molecule as a toxic species that might sequester normal Tau is discussed. We present recent in vitro results that might allow us to dissect the role of individual phosphorylation sites on its structure and function. We also discuss in this review the role of phosphorylation for the aggregation of the neuronal Tau protein, and compare it to the aggregation induced by external poly anions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Lippens
- CNRS UMR 8576, Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille 1, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
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30
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Skrabana R, Sevcik J, Novak M. Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in the Neurodegenerative Processes: Formation of Tau Protein Paired Helical Filaments and Their Analysis. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2006; 26:1085-97. [PMID: 16779670 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-006-9083-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2005] [Accepted: 05/01/2006] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
1. Several intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play principal role in the neurodegenerative processes of various types. Among them, alpha-synuclein is involved in Parkinson's disease, prion protein in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, and tau protein in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Neuronal damage in AD is accompanied by the presence of tau protein fibrils composed of paired helical filaments (PHF). 2. Tau protein represents a typical IDP. IDPs do not exhibit any stable secondary structure in the free form, but they are able to fold after binding to targets and contain regions with large propensity to adopt a defined type of secondary structure. Binding-folding event at tau protein leading to PHF generation is believed to happen in the course of tauopathies. 3. Detailed molecular topology of PHF formation is unknown. There are evidences about the cross-beta structure in PHF core; however the precise arrangement of the tau polypeptide chain is unclear. In this review we summarize current attempts at in vitro PHF reconstruction and the development of methods for PHF structure determination. The emphasis is put on the monoclonal antibodies used as structural molecular probes for research on the role of IDPs in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rostislav Skrabana
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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