1
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Calis S, Gevaert K. The role of Nα-terminal acetylation in protein conformation. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38923676 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17209] [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: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Especially in higher eukaryotes, the N termini of proteins are subject to enzymatic modifications, with the acetylation of the alpha-amino group of nascent polypeptides being a prominent one. In recent years, the specificities and substrates of the enzymes responsible for this modification, the Nα-terminal acetyltransferases, have been mapped in several proteomic studies. Aberrant expression of, and mutations in these enzymes were found to be associated with several human diseases, explaining the growing interest in protein Nα-terminal acetylation. With some enzymes, such as the Nα-terminal acetyltransferase A complex having thousands of possible substrates, researchers are now trying to decipher the functional outcome of Nα-terminal protein acetylation. In this review, we zoom in on one possible functional consequence of Nα-terminal protein acetylation; its effect on protein folding. Using selected examples of proteins associated with human diseases such as alpha-synuclein and huntingtin, here, we discuss the sometimes contradictory findings of the effects of Nα-terminal protein acetylation on protein (mis)folding and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Calis
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
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2
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Lázaro DF, Lee VMY. Navigating through the complexities of synucleinopathies: Insights into pathogenesis, heterogeneity, and future perspectives. Neuron 2024:S0896-6273(24)00364-7. [PMID: 38861985 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.05.017] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The aggregation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) represents a neuropathological hallmark observed in a group of neurodegenerative disorders collectively known as synucleinopathies. Despite their shared characteristics, these disorders manifest diverse clinical and pathological phenotypes. The mechanism underlying this heterogeneity is thought to be due to the diversity in the aSyn strains present across the diseases. In this perspective, we will explore recent findings on aSyn strains and discuss recent discoveries about Lewy bodies' composition. We further discuss the current hypothesis for aSyn spreading and emphasize the emerging biomarker field demonstrating promising results. A comprehension of these mechanisms holds substantial promise for future clinical applications. This understanding can pave the way for the development of personalized medicine strategies, specifically targeting the unique underlying causes of each synucleinopathy. Such advancements can revolutionize therapeutic approaches and significantly contribute to more effective interventions in the intricate landscape of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana F Lázaro
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, 3 Maloney Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce Street, 3 Maloney Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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3
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Bhatt MR, Ganguly HK, Zondlo NJ. Acyl Capping Group Identity Effects on α-Helicity: On the Importance of Amide·Water Hydrogen Bonds to α-Helix Stability. Biochemistry 2024; 63:1118-1130. [PMID: 38623827 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Acyl capping groups stabilize α-helices relative to free N-termini by providing one additional C═Oi···Hi+4-N hydrogen bond. The electronic properties of acyl capping groups might also directly modulate α-helix stability: electron-rich N-terminal acyl groups could stabilize the α-helix by strengthening both i/i + 4 hydrogen bonds and i/i + 1 n → π* interactions. This hypothesis was tested in peptides X-AKAAAAKAAAAKAAGY-NH2, where X = different acyl groups. Surprisingly, the most electron-rich acyl groups (pivaloyl and iso-butyryl) strongly destabilized the α-helix. Moreover, the formyl group induced nearly identical α-helicity to that of the acetyl group, despite being a weaker electron donor for hydrogen bonds and for n → π* interactions. Other acyl groups exhibited intermediate α-helicity. These results indicate that the electronic properties of the acyl carbonyl do not directly determine the α-helicity in peptides in water. In order to understand these effects, DFT calculations were conducted on α-helical peptides. Using implicit solvation, α-helix stability correlated with acyl group electronics, with the pivaloyl group exhibiting closer hydrogen bonds and n → π* interactions, in contrast to the experimental results. However, DFT and MD calculations with explicit water solvation revealed that hydrogen bonding to water was impacted by the sterics of the acyl capping group. Formyl capping groups exhibited the closest water-amide hydrogen bonds, while pivaloyl groups exhibited the longest. In α-helices in the PDB, the highest frequency of close amide-water hydrogen bonds is observed when the N-cap residue is Gly. The combination of experimental and computational results indicates that solvation (hydrogen bonding of water) to the N-terminal amide groups is a central determinant of α-helix stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megh R Bhatt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Himal K Ganguly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Neal J Zondlo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
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4
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Monteiro Neto JR, Lima VDA, Follmer C. Fibrillation of α-synuclein triggered by bacterial endotoxin and lipid vesicles is modulated by N-terminal acetylation and familial Parkinson's disease mutations. FEBS J 2024; 291:1151-1167. [PMID: 38069536 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17027] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
It has been hypothesized that --Parkinson's disease (PD) may be initiated in the gastrointestinal tract, before manifesting in the central nervous system. In this respect, it was demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin from gram-negative bacteria, accelerates the in vitro formation of α-synuclein (aSyn) fibrils, whose intracellular deposits is a histological hallmark of the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in PD. Herein, N-terminal acetylation and missense mutations of aSyn (A30P, A53T, E46K, H50Q and G51D) linked to rare, early-onset forms of familial PD were investigated regarding their effect on aSyn aggregation stimulated by either LPS or small unilamellar lipid vesicles (SUVs). Our findings indicated that LPS as well as SUVs induce the fibrillation of N-terminally acetylated wild-type aSyn (Ac-aSyn-WT) more remarkably than the non-acetylated protein, while the LPS-free protein alone did not undergo fibrillation under our assay conditions. In addition, with the exception of A30P, PD mutations increased the fibrillation of Ac-aSyn in the presence of LPS compared with Ac-aSyn-WT. The most pronounced effect of LPS was noticed for A53T, as observed when either Thioflavin-T or JC-1 were used as fluorescent probes for fibrils. Overall, our results suggest for the first time the existence of a synergy between LPS and PD mutations/N-terminal acetylation toward aSyn fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Raphael Monteiro Neto
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanderlei de Araújo Lima
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristian Follmer
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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5
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Ma J, Yan L, Yang J, He Y, Wu L. Effect of Modification Strategies on the Biological Activity of Peptides/Proteins. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300481. [PMID: 38009768 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300481] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Covalent attachment of biologically active peptides/proteins with functional moieties is an effective strategy to control their biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, enzymatic digestion, and toxicity. This review focuses on the characteristics of different modification strategies and their effects on the biological activity of peptides/proteins and illustrates their relevant applications and potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Ma
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liang Yan
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jingkui Yang
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yujian He
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Li Wu
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
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6
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Luo S, Wang D, Zhang Z. Post-translational modification and mitochondrial function in Parkinson's disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 16:1329554. [PMID: 38273938 PMCID: PMC10808367 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1329554] [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: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease with currently no cure. Most PD cases are sporadic, and about 5-10% of PD cases present a monogenic inheritance pattern. Mutations in more than 20 genes are associated with genetic forms of PD. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered a prominent player in PD pathogenesis. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) allow rapid switching of protein functions and therefore impact various cellular functions including those related to mitochondria. Among the PD-associated genes, Parkin, PINK1, and LRRK2 encode enzymes that directly involved in catalyzing PTM modifications of target proteins, while others like α-synuclein, FBXO7, HTRA2, VPS35, CHCHD2, and DJ-1, undergo substantial PTM modification, subsequently altering mitochondrial functions. Here, we summarize recent findings on major PTMs associated with PD-related proteins, as enzymes or substrates, that are shown to regulate important mitochondrial functions and discuss their involvement in PD pathogenesis. We will further highlight the significance of PTM-regulated mitochondrial functions in understanding PD etiology. Furthermore, we emphasize the potential for developing important biomarkers for PD through extensive research into PTMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shishi Luo
- Institute for Future Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Rare Pediatric Diseases, Ministry of Education, Hengyang, Hunan, China
- The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Danling Wang
- Institute for Future Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Rare Pediatric Diseases, Ministry of Education, Hengyang, Hunan, China
- The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhuohua Zhang
- Institute for Future Sciences, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Rare Pediatric Diseases, Ministry of Education, Hengyang, Hunan, China
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine of Hunan Province and Center for Medical Genetics, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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7
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Lantz C, Lopez J, Goring AK, Zenaidee MA, Biggs K, Whitelegge JP, Ogorzalek Loo RR, Klärner FG, Schrader T, Bitan G, Loo JA. Characterization of Molecular Tweezer Binding on α-Synuclein with Native Top-Down Mass Spectrometry and Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Reveals a Mechanism for Aggregation Inhibition. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2023; 34:2739-2747. [PMID: 37936057 PMCID: PMC10959575 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease that affects 15 million people worldwide, is characterized by deposition of α-synuclein into Lewy Bodies in brain neurons. Although this disease is prevalent worldwide, a therapy or cure has yet to be found. Several small compounds have been reported to disrupt fibril formation. Among these compounds is a molecular tweezer known as CLR01 that targets lysine and arginine residues. This study aims to characterize how CLR01 interacts with various proteoforms of α-synuclein and how the structure of α-synuclein is subsequently altered. Native mass spectrometry (nMS) measurements of α-synuclein/CLR01 complexes reveal that multiple CLR01 molecules can bind to α-synuclein proteoforms such as α-synuclein phosphorylated at Ser-129 and α-synuclein bound with copper and manganese ions. The binding of one CLR01 molecule shifts the ability for α-synuclein to bind other ligands. Electron capture dissociation (ECD) with Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) top-down (TD) mass spectrometry of α-synuclein/CLR01 complexes pinpoints the locations of the modifications on each proteoform and reveals that CLR01 binds to the N-terminal region of α-synuclein. CLR01 binding compacts the gas-phase structure of α-synuclein, as shown by ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS). These data suggest that when multiple CLR01 molecules bind, the N-terminus of α-synuclein shifts toward a more compact state. This compaction suggests a mechanism for CLR01 halting the formation of oligomers and fibrils involved in many neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carter Lantz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Jaybree Lopez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Andrew K. Goring
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Muhammad A. Zenaidee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
- Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
| | - Karl Biggs
- Department of Neurology and Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Julian P. Whitelegge
- The Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | - Rachel R. Ogorzalek Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
| | | | - Thomas Schrader
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Gal Bitan
- Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA
| | - Joseph A. Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
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8
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Brembati V, Faustini G, Longhena F, Outeiro TF, Bellucci A. Changes in α-Synuclein Posttranslational Modifications in an AAV-Based Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13435. [PMID: 37686236 PMCID: PMC10488235 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system and accumulation of Lewy bodies (LB) and Lewy neurites (LN), inclusions mainly composed of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) fibrils. Studies linking the occurrence of mutations and multiplications of the α-Syn gene (SNCA) to the onset of PD support that α-Syn deposition may play a causal role in the disease, in line with the hypothesis that disease progression may correlate with the spreading of LB pathology in the brain. Interestingly, LB accumulate posttranslationally modified forms of α-Syn, suggesting that α-Syn posttranslational modifications impinge on α-Syn aggregation and/or toxicity. Here, we aimed at investigating changes in α-Syn phosphorylation, nitration and acetylation in mice subjected to nigral stereotaxic injections of adeno-associated viral vectors inducing overexpression of human α-Syn (AAV-hα-Syn), that model genetic PD with SNCA multiplications. We detected a mild increase of serine (Ser) 129 phosphorylated α-Syn in the substantia nigra (SN) of AAV-hα-Syn-injected mice in spite of the previously described marked accumulation of this PTM in the striatum. Following AAV-hα-Syn injection, tyrosine (Tyr) 125/136 nitrated α-Syn accumulation in the absence of general 3-nitrotirosine (3NT) or nitrated-Tyr39 α-Syn changes and augmented protein acetylation abundantly overlapping with α-Syn immunopositivity were also detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Brembati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy (F.L.)
| | - Gaia Faustini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy (F.L.)
| | - Francesca Longhena
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy (F.L.)
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, 37073 Goettingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Arianna Bellucci
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy (F.L.)
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9
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Murvai N, Gellen G, Micsonai A, Schlosser G, Kardos J. Cross-Linked α-Synuclein as Inhibitor of Amyloid Formation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13403. [PMID: 37686208 PMCID: PMC10487470 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713403] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation and amyloid formation of α-synuclein is associated with Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. In its native, monomeric form α-synuclein is an intrinsically disordered protein represented by highly dynamic conformational ensembles. Inhibition of α-synuclein aggregation using small molecules, peptides, or proteins has been at the center of interest in recent years. Our aim was to explore the effects of cross-linking on the structure and aggregation/amyloid formation properties of α-synuclein. Comparative analysis of available high-resolution amyloid structures and representative structural models and MD trajectory of monomeric α-synuclein revealed that potential cross-links in the monomeric protein are mostly incompatible with the amyloid forms and thus might inhibit fibrillation. Monomeric α-synuclein has been intramolecularly chemically cross-linked under various conditions using different cross-linkers. We determined the location of cross-links and their frequency using mass spectrometry and found that most of them cannot be realized in the amyloid structures. The inhibitory potential of cross-linked proteins has been experimentally investigated using various methods, including thioflavin-T fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. We found that conformational constraints applied by cross-linking fully blocked α-synuclein amyloid formation. Moreover, DTSSP-cross-linked molecules exhibited an inhibitory effect on the aggregation of unmodified α-synuclein as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Murvai
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE—Functional Nucleic Acid Motifs Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Gellen
- MTA-ELTE Lendület Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Research Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Molecular Cell and Immune Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - András Micsonai
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE—Functional Nucleic Acid Motifs Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE NAP Neuroimmunology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gitta Schlosser
- MTA-ELTE Lendület Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Research Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - József Kardos
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE NAP Neuroimmunology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
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Battis K, Xiang W, Winkler J. The Bidirectional Interplay of α-Synuclein with Lipids in the Central Nervous System and Its Implications for the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13270. [PMID: 37686080 PMCID: PMC10487772 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713270] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The alteration and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) play a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases collectively termed as synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The bidirectional interaction of α-syn with lipids and biomembranes impacts not only α-syn aggregation but also lipid homeostasis. Indeed, lipid composition and metabolism are severely perturbed in PD. One explanation for lipid-associated alterations may involve structural changes in α-syn, caused, for example, by missense mutations in the lipid-binding region of α-syn as well as post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, acetylation, nitration, ubiquitination, truncation, glycosylation, and glycation. Notably, different strategies targeting the α-syn-lipid interaction have been identified and are able to reduce α-syn pathology. These approaches include the modulation of post-translational modifications aiming to reduce the aggregation of α-syn and modify its binding properties to lipid membranes. Furthermore, targeting enzymes involved in various steps of lipid metabolism and exploring the neuroprotective potential of lipids themselves have emerged as novel therapeutic approaches. Taken together, this review focuses on the bidirectional crosstalk of α-syn and lipids and how alterations of this interaction affect PD and thereby open a window for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jürgen Winkler
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (K.B.); (W.X.)
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11
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Abstract
Most proteins receive an acetyl group at the N terminus while in their nascency as the result of modification by co-translationally acting N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs). The N-terminal acetyl group can influence several aspects of protein functionality. From studies of NAT-lacking cells, it is evident that several cellular processes are affected by this modification. More recently, an increasing number of genetic cases have demonstrated that N-terminal acetylation has crucial roles in human physiology and pathology. In this Cell Science at a Glance and the accompanying poster, we provide an overview of the human NAT enzymes and their properties, substrate coverage, cellular roles and connections to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henriette Aksnes
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Nina McTiernan
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
| | - Thomas Arnesen
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, 5009 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, 5009 Bergen, Norway
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12
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Brembati V, Faustini G, Longhena F, Bellucci A. Alpha synuclein post translational modifications: potential targets for Parkinson's disease therapy? Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1197853. [PMID: 37305556 PMCID: PMC10248004 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1197853] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder with motor symptoms. The neuropathological alterations characterizing the brain of patients with PD include the loss of dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system and the presence of Lewy bodies (LB), intraneuronal inclusions that are mainly composed of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) fibrils. The accumulation of α-Syn in insoluble aggregates is a main neuropathological feature in PD and in other neurodegenerative diseases, including LB dementia (LBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), which are therefore defined as synucleinopathies. Compelling evidence supports that α-Syn post translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation, nitration, acetylation, O-GlcNAcylation, glycation, SUMOylation, ubiquitination and C-terminal cleavage, play important roles in the modulation α-Syn aggregation, solubility, turnover and membrane binding. In particular, PTMs can impact on α-Syn conformational state, thus supporting that their modulation can in turn affect α-Syn aggregation and its ability to seed further soluble α-Syn fibrillation. This review focuses on the importance of α-Syn PTMs in PD pathophysiology but also aims at highlighting their general relevance as possible biomarkers and, more importantly, as innovative therapeutic targets for synucleinopathies. In addition, we call attention to the multiple challenges that we still need to face to enable the development of novel therapeutic approaches modulating α-Syn PTMs.
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13
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Zamel J, Chen J, Zaer S, Harris PD, Drori P, Lebendiker M, Kalisman N, Dokholyan NV, Lerner E. Structural and dynamic insights into α-synuclein dimer conformations. Structure 2023; 31:411-423.e6. [PMID: 36809765 PMCID: PMC10081966 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.01.011] [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: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson disease is associated with the aggregation of the protein α-synuclein. While α-synuclein can exist in multiple oligomeric states, the dimer has been a subject of extensive debates. Here, using an array of biophysical approaches, we demonstrate that α-synuclein in vitro exhibits primarily a monomer-dimer equilibrium in nanomolar concentrations and up to a few micromolars. We then use spatial information from hetero-isotopic cross-linking mass spectrometry experiments as restrains in discrete molecular dynamics simulations to obtain the ensemble structure of dimeric species. Out of eight structural sub-populations of dimers, we identify one that is compact, stable, abundant, and exhibits partially exposed β-sheet structures. This compact dimer is the only one where the hydroxyls of tyrosine 39 are in proximity that may promote dityrosine covalent linkage upon hydroxyl radicalization, which is implicated in α-synuclein amyloid fibrils. We propose that this α-synuclein dimer features etiological relevance to Parkinson disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Zamel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Jiaxing Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Sofia Zaer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Paul David Harris
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Paz Drori
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Mario Lebendiker
- Wolfson Centre for Applied Structural Biology, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Nir Kalisman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Eitan Lerner
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel.
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14
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Lundekvam M, Arnesen T, McTiernan N. Using cell lysates to assess N-terminal acetyltransferase activity and impairment. Methods Enzymol 2023; 686:29-43. [PMID: 37532404 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2023.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The vast majority of eukaryotic proteins are subjected to N-terminal (Nt) acetylation. This reaction is catalyzed by a group of N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs), which co- or post-translationally transfer an acetyl group from Acetyl coenzyme A to the protein N-terminus. Nt-acetylation plays an important role in many cellular processes, but the functional consequences of this widespread protein modification are still undefined for most proteins. Several in vitro acetylation assays have been developed to study the catalytic activity and substrate specificity of NATs or other acetyltransferases. These assays are valuable tools that can be used to define substrate specificities of yet uncharacterized NAT candidates, assess catalytic impairment of pathogenic NAT variants, and determine the potency of chemical inhibitors. The enzyme input in acetylation assays is typically acetyltransferases that have been recombinantly expressed and purified or immunoprecipitated proteins. In this chapter, we highlight how cell lysates can also be used to assess NAT catalytic activity and impairment when used as input in a previously described isotope-based in vitro Nt-acetylation assay. This is a fast and highly sensitive method that utilizes isotope labeled 14C-Ac-CoA and scintillation to detect the formation of Nt-acetylated peptide products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Lundekvam
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Thomas Arnesen
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Nina McTiernan
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
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15
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Bell R, Vendruscolo M, Kumita JR. Probing the effects of N-terminal acetylation on α-synuclein structure, aggregation and cytotoxicity. Methods Enzymol 2023; 686:45-65. [PMID: 37532408 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.09.003] [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] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is associated with the aberrant aggregation of α-synuclein within brain cells. Although the causes of this process are still unclear, post-translational modifications of α-synuclein are likely to play a modulatory role. Since α-synuclein is constitutively N-terminally acetylated, we previously investigated how this protein modification affects the aggregation behavior of the protein using a variety of methods in vitro and in cell systems. This chapter describes the production of N-terminally acetylated (NTA) α-synuclein, the preparation of different seeds of NTA α-synuclein for aggregation assays and the experimental methods for the kinetic analysis of the aggregation process of NTA α-synuclein. We also detail our protocol to evaluate the effects of preformed protofibrils of NTA α-synuclein in cell-based assays. These methods can be applied to study other post-translational modifications of α-synuclein, or adapted for the study of N-acetylation of other aggregation-prone proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie Bell
- Yusef Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Yusef Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Janet R Kumita
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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16
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Van Damme P, Osberg C, Jonckheere V, Glomnes N, Gevaert K, Arnesen T, Aksnes H. Expanded in vivo substrate profile of the yeast N-terminal acetyltransferase NatC. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102824. [PMID: 36567016 PMCID: PMC9867985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
N-terminal acetylation is a conserved protein modification among eukaryotes. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a valuable model system for studying this modification. The bulk of protein N-terminal acetylation in S. cerevisiae is catalyzed by the N-terminal acetyltransferases NatA, NatB, and NatC. Thus far, proteome-wide identification of the in vivo protein substrates of yeast NatA and NatB has been performed by N-terminomics. Here, we used S. cerevisiae deleted for the NatC catalytic subunit Naa30 and identified 57 yeast NatC substrates by N-terminal combined fractional diagonal chromatography analysis. Interestingly, in addition to the canonical N-termini starting with ML, MI, MF, and MW, yeast NatC substrates also included MY, MK, MM, MA, MV, and MS. However, for some of these substrate types, such as MY, MK, MV, and MS, we also uncovered (residual) non-NatC NAT activity, most likely due to the previously established redundancy between yeast NatC and NatE/Naa50. Thus, we have revealed a complex interplay between different NATs in targeting methionine-starting N-termini in yeast. Furthermore, our results showed that ectopic expression of human NAA30 rescued known NatC phenotypes in naa30Δ yeast, as well as partially restored the yeast NatC Nt-acetylome. Thus, we demonstrate an evolutionary conservation of NatC from yeast to human thereby underpinning future disease models to study pathogenic NAA30 variants. Overall, this work offers increased biochemical and functional insights into NatC-mediated N-terminal acetylation and provides a basis for future work to pinpoint the specific molecular mechanisms that link the lack of NatC-mediated N-terminal acetylation to phenotypes of NatC deletion yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Van Damme
- iRIP Unit, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Camilla Osberg
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Veronique Jonckheere
- iRIP Unit, Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nina Glomnes
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Arnesen
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Henriette Aksnes
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
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17
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Pancoe SX, Wang YJ, Shimogawa M, Perez RM, Giannakoulias S, Petersson EJ. Effects of Mutations and Post-Translational Modifications on α-Synuclein In Vitro Aggregation. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167859. [PMID: 36270580 PMCID: PMC9922159 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Fibrillar aggregates of the α-synuclein (αS) protein are the hallmark of Parkinson's Disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. Characterization of the effects of mutations and post-translational modifications (PTMs) on the αS aggregation rate can provide insight into the mechanism of fibril formation, which remains elusive in spite of intense study. A comprehensive collection (375 examples) of mutant and PTM aggregation rate data measured using the fluorescent probe thioflavin T is presented, as well as a summary of the effects of fluorescent labeling on αS aggregation (20 examples). A curated set of 131 single mutant de novo aggregation experiments are normalized to wild type controls and analyzed in terms of structural data for the monomer and fibrillar forms of αS. These tabulated data serve as a resource to the community to help in interpretation of aggregation experiments and to potentially be used as inputs for computational models of aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha X Pancoe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yanxin J Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marie Shimogawa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ryann M Perez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sam Giannakoulias
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - E James Petersson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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18
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The Role of Membrane Affinity and Binding Modes in Alpha-Synuclein Regulation of Vesicle Release and Trafficking. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121816. [PMID: 36551244 PMCID: PMC9775087 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121816] [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: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein is a presynaptic protein linked to Parkinson's disease with a poorly characterized physiological role in regulating the synaptic vesicle cycle. Using RBL-2H3 cells as a model system, we earlier reported that wild-type alpha-synuclein can act as both an inhibitor and a potentiator of stimulated exocytosis in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory function is constitutive and depends on membrane binding by the helix-2 region of the lipid-binding domain, while potentiation becomes apparent only at high concentrations. Using structural and functional characterization of conformationally selective mutants via a combination of spectroscopic and cellular assays, we show here that binding affinity for isolated vesicles similar in size to synaptic vesicles is a primary determinant of alpha-synuclein-mediated potentiation of vesicle release. Inhibition of release is sensitive to changes in the region linking the helix-1 and helix-2 regions of the N-terminal lipid-binding domain and may require some degree of coupling between these regions. Potentiation of release likely occurs as a result of alpha-synuclein interactions with undocked vesicles isolated away from the active zone in internal pools. Consistent with this, we observe that alpha-synuclein can disperse vesicles from in vitro clusters organized by condensates of the presynaptic protein synapsin-1.
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19
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Iyer A, Sidhu A, Subramaniam V. How important is the N-terminal acetylation of alpha-synuclein for its function and aggregation into amyloids? Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1003997. [PMID: 36466161 PMCID: PMC9709446 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1003997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
N-α-acetylation is a frequently occurring post-translational modification in eukaryotic proteins. It has manifold physiological consequences on the regulation and function of several proteins, with emerging studies suggesting that it is a global regulator of stress responses. For decades, in vitro biochemical investigations into the precise role of the intrinsically disordered protein alpha-synuclein (αS) in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) were performed using non-acetylated αS. The N-terminus of α-synuclein is now unequivocally known to be acetylated in vivo, however, there are many aspects of this post-translational modifications that are not understood well. Is N-α-acetylation of αS a constitutive modification akin to most cellular proteins, or is it spatio-temporally regulated? Is N-α-acetylation of αS relevant to the as yet elusive function of αS? How does the N-α-acetylation of αS influence the aggregation of αS into amyloids? Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge and discuss prevailing hypotheses on the impact of N-α-acetylation of αS on its conformational, oligomeric, and fibrillar states. The extent to which N-α-acetylation of αS is vital for its function, membrane binding, and aggregation into amyloids is also explored here. We further discuss the overall significance of N-α-acetylation of αS for its functional and pathogenic implications in Lewy body formation and synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Iyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Arshdeep Sidhu
- Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research, Nitte University (DU), Mangalore, India
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20
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Bell R, Thrush RJ, Castellana-Cruz M, Oeller M, Staats R, Nene A, Flagmeier P, Xu CK, Satapathy S, Galvagnion C, Wilson MR, Dobson CM, Kumita JR, Vendruscolo M. N-Terminal Acetylation of α-Synuclein Slows down Its Aggregation Process and Alters the Morphology of the Resulting Aggregates. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1743-1756. [PMID: 35944093 PMCID: PMC9454101 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Parkinson’s disease is associated with the aberrant
aggregation
of α-synuclein. Although the causes of this process are still
unclear, post-translational modifications of α-synuclein are
likely to play a modulatory role. Since α-synuclein is constitutively
N-terminally acetylated, we investigated how this post-translational
modification alters the aggregation behavior of this protein. By applying
a three-pronged aggregation kinetics approach, we observed that N-terminal
acetylation results in a reduced rate of lipid-induced aggregation
and slows down both elongation and fibril-catalyzed aggregate proliferation.
An analysis of the amyloid fibrils produced by the aggregation process
revealed different morphologies for the acetylated and non-acetylated
forms in both lipid-induced aggregation and seed-induced aggregation
assays. In addition, we found that fibrils formed by acetylated α-synuclein
exhibit a lower β-sheet content. These findings indicate that
N-terminal acetylation of α-synuclein alters its lipid-dependent
aggregation behavior, reduces its rate of in vitro aggregation, and
affects the structural properties of its fibrillar aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie Bell
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Rebecca J Thrush
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Marta Castellana-Cruz
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Marc Oeller
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Roxine Staats
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Aishwarya Nene
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Patrick Flagmeier
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Catherine K Xu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Sandeep Satapathy
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavantik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Celine Galvagnion
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Mark R Wilson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Janet R Kumita
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, U.K
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
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21
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Yang CI, Zhu Z, Jones JJ, Lomenick B, Chou TF, Shan SO. System-wide analyses reveal essential roles of N-terminal protein modification in bacterial membrane integrity. iScience 2022; 25:104756. [PMID: 35942092 PMCID: PMC9356101 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The removal of the N-terminal formyl group on nascent proteins by peptide deformylase (PDF) is the most prevalent protein modification in bacteria. PDF is a critical target of antibiotic development; however, its role in bacterial physiology remains a long-standing question. This work used the time-resolved analyses of the Escherichia coli translatome and proteome to investigate the consequences of PDF inhibition. Loss of PDF activity rapidly induces cellular stress responses, especially those associated with protein misfolding and membrane defects, followed by a global down-regulation of metabolic pathways. Rapid membrane hyperpolarization and impaired membrane integrity were observed shortly after PDF inhibition, suggesting that the plasma membrane disruption is the most immediate and primary consequence of formyl group retention on nascent proteins. This work resolves the physiological function of a ubiquitous protein modification and uncovers its crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of the bacterial membrane. PDF inhibition induces membrane defects and metabolic imbalance Deformylation is involved in nascent protein folding Membrane is the earliest and primary target of N-formylation on nascent proteins PDF activity is essential for redox homeostasis in bacteria
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-I Yang
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Zikun Zhu
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey J. Jones
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Brett Lomenick
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Tsui-Fen Chou
- Proteome Exploration Laboratory, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Shu-ou Shan
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Corresponding author
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22
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Yoo H, Lee J, Kim B, Moon H, Jeong H, Lee K, Song WJ, Hur JK, Oh Y. Role of post-translational modifications on the alpha-synuclein aggregation-related pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. BMB Rep 2022. [PMID: 35733294 PMCID: PMC9340086 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2022.55.7.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Together with neuronal loss, the existence of insoluble inclusions of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) in the brain is widely accepted as a hallmark of synucleinopathies including Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple system atrophy, and dementia with Lewy body. Because the α-syn aggregates are deeply involved in the pathogenesis, there have been many attempts to demonstrate the mechanism of the aggregation and its potential causative factors including post-translational modifications (PTMs). Although no concrete conclusions have been made based on the previous study results, growing evidence suggests that modifications such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination can alter α-syn characteristics to have certain effects on the aggregation process in PD; either facilitating or inhibiting fibrillization. In the present work, we reviewed studies showing the significant impacts of PTMs on α-syn aggregation. Furthermore, the PTMs modulating α-syn aggregation-induced cell death have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajung Yoo
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Jeongmin Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Bokwang Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Heechang Moon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Huisu Jeong
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Kyungmi Lee
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Woo Jeung Song
- Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Junho K. Hur
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Yohan Oh
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
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23
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Kurzawa-Akanbi M, Tammireddy S, Fabrik I, Gliaudelytė L, Doherty MK, Heap R, Matečko-Burmann I, Burmann BM, Trost M, Lucocq JM, Gherman AV, Fairfoul G, Singh P, Burté F, Green A, McKeith IG, Härtlova A, Whitfield PD, Morris CM. Altered ceramide metabolism is a feature in the extracellular vesicle-mediated spread of alpha-synuclein in Lewy body disorders. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:961-984. [PMID: 34514546 PMCID: PMC8568874 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02367-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in glucocerebrosidase (GBA) are the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Lewy body disorders (LBD)-collectively Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Despite this genetic association, it remains unclear how GBA mutations increase susceptibility to develop LBD. We investigated relationships between LBD-specific glucocerebrosidase deficits, GBA-related pathways, and α-synuclein levels in brain tissue from LBD and controls, with and without GBA mutations. We show that LBD is characterised by altered sphingolipid metabolism with prominent elevation of ceramide species, regardless of GBA mutations. Since extracellular vesicles (EV) could be involved in LBD pathogenesis by spreading disease-linked lipids and proteins, we investigated EV derived from post-mortem cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissue from GBA mutation carriers and non-carriers. EV purified from LBD CSF and frontal cortex were heavily loaded with ceramides and neurodegeneration-linked proteins including alpha-synuclein and tau. Our in vitro studies demonstrate that LBD EV constitute a "pathological package" capable of inducing aggregation of wild-type alpha-synuclein, mediated through a combination of alpha-synuclein-ceramide interaction and the presence of pathological forms of alpha-synuclein. Together, our findings indicate that abnormalities in ceramide metabolism are a feature of LBD, constituting a promising source of biomarkers, and that GBA mutations likely accelerate the pathological process occurring in sporadic LBD through endolysosomal deficiency.
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24
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Glycoconjugate journal special issue on: the glycobiology of Parkinson's disease. Glycoconj J 2021; 39:55-74. [PMID: 34757539 DOI: 10.1007/s10719-021-10024-w] [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: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects over 10 million aging people worldwide. This condition is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta region of the substantia nigra (SNpc) and by aggregation of proteins, commonly α-synuclein (SNCA). The formation of Lewy bodies that encapsulate aggregated proteins in lipid vesicles is a hallmark of PD. Glycosylation of proteins and neuroinflammation are involved in the pathogenesis. SNCA has many posttranslational modifications and interacts with components of membranes that affect aggregation. The large membrane lipid dolichol accumulates in the brain upon age and has a significant effect on membrane structure. The replacement of dopamine and dopaminergic neurons are at the forefront of therapeutic development. This review examines the role of membrane lipids, glycolipids, glycoproteins and dopamine in the aggregation of SNCA and development of PD. We discuss the SNCA-dopamine-neuromelanin-dolichol axis and the role of membranes in neuronal stem cells that could be a regenerative therapy for PD patients.
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25
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Serratos IN, Hernández-Pérez E, Campos C, Aschner M, Santamaría A. An Update on the Critical Role of α-Synuclein in Parkinson's Disease and Other Synucleinopathies: from Tissue to Cellular and Molecular Levels. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 59:620-642. [PMID: 34750787 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02596-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) plays a critical role in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. α-Syn, which is encoded by the SNCA gene, is a lysine-rich soluble amphipathic protein normally expressed in neurons. Located in the cytosolic domain, this protein has the ability to remodel itself in plasma membranes, where it assumes an alpha-helix conformation. However, the protein can also adopt another conformation rich in cross-beta sheets, undergoing mutations and post-translational modifications, then leading the protein to an unusual aggregation in the form of Lewy bodies (LB), which are cytoplasmic inclusions constituted predominantly by α-Syn. Pathogenic mechanisms affecting the structural and functional stability of α-Syn - such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, Golgi complex fragmentation, disfunctional protein degradation systems, aberrant interactions with mitochondrial membranes and nuclear DNA, altered cytoskeleton dynamics, disrupted neuronal plasmatic membrane, dysfunctional vesicular transport, and formation of extracellular toxic aggregates - contribute all to the pathogenic progression of PD and synucleinopathies. In this review, we describe the collective knowledge on this topic and provide an update on the critical role of α-Syn aggregates, both at the cellular and molecular levels, in the deregulation of organelles affecting the cellular homeostasis and leading to neuronal cell death in PD and other synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris N Serratos
- Departamento de Química, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, 09340, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Hernández-Pérez
- Departamento de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, 09340, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carolina Campos
- Departamento de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, 09340, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Abel Santamaría
- Laboratorio de Aminoácidos Excitadores/Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Molecular y Nanotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, SSA, 14269, Mexico City, Mexico.
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N-alpha-acetylation of Huntingtin protein increases its propensity to aggregate. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101363. [PMID: 34732320 PMCID: PMC8640455 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a poly-CAG expansion in the first exon of the HTT gene, resulting in an extended poly-glutamine tract in the N-terminal domain of the Huntingtin (Htt) protein product. Proteolytic fragments of the poly-glutamine–containing N-terminal domain form intranuclear aggregates that are correlated with HD. Post-translational modification of Htt has been shown to alter its function and aggregation properties. However, the effect of N-terminal Htt acetylation has not yet been considered. Here, we developed a bacterial system to produce unmodified or N-terminally acetylated and aggregation-inducible Htt protein. We used this system together with biochemical, biophysical, and imaging studies to confirm that the Htt N-terminus is an in vitro substrate for the NatA N-terminal acetyltransferase and show that N-terminal acetylation promotes aggregation. These studies represent the first link between N-terminal acetylation and the promotion of a neurodegenerative disease and implicates NatA-mediated Htt acetylation as a new potential therapeutic target in HD.
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Hydroxylation of the Acetyltransferase NAA10 Trp38 Is Not an Enzyme-Switch in Human Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111805. [PMID: 34769235 PMCID: PMC8583962 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
NAA10 is a major N-terminal acetyltransferase (NAT) that catalyzes the cotranslational N-terminal (Nt-) acetylation of 40% of the human proteome. Several reports of lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) activity by NAA10 exist, but others have not been able to find any NAA10-derived KAT activity, the latter of which is supported by structural studies. The KAT activity of NAA10 towards hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) was recently found to depend on the hydroxylation at Trp38 of NAA10 by factor inhibiting HIF-1α (FIH). In contrast, we could not detect hydroxylation of Trp38 of NAA10 in several human cell lines and found no evidence that NAA10 interacts with or is regulated by FIH. Our data suggest that NAA10 Trp38 hydroxylation is not a switch in human cells and that it alters its catalytic activity from a NAT to a KAT.
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28
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Atieh TB, Roth J, Yang X, Hoop CL, Baum J. DJ-1 Acts as a Scavenger of α-Synuclein Oligomers and Restores Monomeric Glycated α-Synuclein. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101466. [PMID: 34680099 PMCID: PMC8533443 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycation of α-synuclein (αSyn), as occurs with aging, has been linked to the progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD) through the promotion of advanced glycation end-products and the formation of toxic oligomers that cannot be properly cleared from neurons. DJ-1, an antioxidative protein that plays a critical role in PD pathology, has been proposed to repair glycation in proteins, yet a mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we integrate solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and liquid atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques to characterize glycated N-terminally acetylated-αSyn (glyc-ac-αSyn) and its interaction with DJ-1. Glycation of ac-αSyn by methylglyoxal increases oligomer formation, as visualized by AFM in solution, resulting in decreased dynamics of the monomer amide backbone around the Lys residues, as measured using NMR. Upon addition of DJ-1, this NMR signature of glyc-ac-αSyn monomers reverts to a native ac-αSyn-like character. This phenomenon is reversible upon removal of DJ-1 from the solution. Using relaxation-based NMR, we have identified the binding site on DJ-1 for glycated and native ac-αSyn as the catalytic pocket and established that the oxidation state of the catalytic cysteine is imperative for binding. Based on our results, we propose a novel mechanism by which DJ-1 scavenges glyc-ac-αSyn oligomers without chemical deglycation, suppresses glyc-ac-αSyn monomer–oligomer interactions, and releases free glyc-ac-αSyn monomers in solution. The interference of DJ-1 with ac-αSyn oligomers may promote free ac-αSyn monomer in solution and suppress the propagation of toxic oligomer and fibril species. These results expand the understanding of the role of DJ-1 in PD pathology by acting as a scavenger for aggregated αSyn.
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29
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Quint WH, Matečko-Burmann I, Schilcher I, Löffler T, Schöll M, Burmann BM, Vogels T. Bispecific Tau Antibodies with Additional Binding to C1q or Alpha-Synuclein. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 80:813-829. [PMID: 33579845 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by cellular accumulation of aggregated tau protein. Tau pathology within these disorders is accompanied by chronic neuroinflammation, such as activation of the classical complement pathway by complement initiation factor C1q. Additionally, about half of the AD cases present with inclusions composed of aggregated alpha-synuclein called Lewy bodies. Lewy bodies in disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia also frequently occur together with tau pathology. OBJECTIVE Immunotherapy is currently the most promising treatment strategy for tauopathies. However, the presence of multiple pathological processes within tauopathies makes it desirable to simultaneously target more than one disease pathway. METHODS Herein, we have developed three bispecific antibodies based on published antibody binding region sequences. One bispecific antibody binds to tau plus alpha-synuclein and two bispecific antibodies bind to tau plus C1q. RESULTS Affinity of the bispecific antibodies to their targets compared to their monospecific counterparts ranged from nearly identical to one order of magnitude lower. All bispecific antibodies retained binding to aggregated protein in patient-derived brain sections. The bispecific antibodies also retained their ability to inhibit aggregation of recombinant tau, regardless of whether the tau binding sites were in IgG or scFv format. Mono- and bispecific antibodies inhibited cellular seeding induced by AD-derived pathological tau with similar efficacy. Finally, both Tau-C1q bispecific antibodies completely inhibited the classical complement pathway. CONCLUSION Bispecific antibodies that bind to multiple pathological targets may therefore present a promising approach to treat tauopathies and other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irena Matečko-Burmann
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Tina Löffler
- QPS Austria GmbH, Neuropharmacology, Grambach, Austria
| | - Michael Schöll
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Björn Marcus Burmann
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas Vogels
- Maptimmune BV, The Hague, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
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30
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Bell R, Vendruscolo M. Modulation of the Interactions Between α-Synuclein and Lipid Membranes by Post-translational Modifications. Front Neurol 2021; 12:661117. [PMID: 34335440 PMCID: PMC8319954 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.661117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is characterised by the presence in brain tissue of aberrant inclusions known as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, which are deposits composed by α-synuclein and a variety of other cellular components, including in particular lipid membranes. The dysregulation of the balance between lipid homeostasis and α-synuclein homeostasis is therefore likely to be closely involved in the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies. As our understanding of this balance is increasing, we describe recent advances in the characterisation of the role of post-translational modifications in modulating the interactions of α-synuclein with lipid membranes. We then discuss the impact of these advances on the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools for synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Disease, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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31
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Moon SP, Balana AT, Pratt MR. Consequences of post-translational modifications on amyloid proteins as revealed by protein semisynthesis. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 64:76-89. [PMID: 34175787 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Alterations to the global levels of certain types of post-translational modifications (PTMs) are commonly observed in neurodegenerative diseases. The net influence of these PTM changes to the progression of these diseases can be deduced from cellular and animal studies. However, at the molecular level, how one PTM influences a given protein is not uniform and cannot be easily generalized from systemic observations, thus requiring protein-specific interrogations. Given that protein aggregation is a shared pathological hallmark in neurodegeneration, it is important to understand how these PTMs affect the behavior of amyloid-forming proteins. For this purpose, protein semisynthesis techniques, largely via native chemical and expressed protein ligation, have been widely used. These approaches have thus far led to our increased understanding of the site-specific consequences of certain PTMs to amyloidogenic proteins' endogenous function, their propensity for aggregation, and the structural variations these PTMs induce toward the aggregates formed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart P Moon
- Departments of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Aaron T Balana
- Departments of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Matthew R Pratt
- Departments of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA; Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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32
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Neurons and Glia Interplay in α-Synucleinopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094994. [PMID: 34066733 PMCID: PMC8125822 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of the neuronal presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein within proteinaceous inclusions represents the key histophathological hallmark of a spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders, referred to by the umbrella term a-synucleinopathies. Even though alpha-synuclein is expressed predominantly in neurons, pathological aggregates of the protein are also found in the glial cells of the brain. In Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, alpha-synuclein accumulates mainly in neurons forming the Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, whereas in multiple system atrophy, the protein aggregates mostly in the glial cytoplasmic inclusions within oligodendrocytes. In addition, astrogliosis and microgliosis are found in the synucleinopathy brains, whereas both astrocytes and microglia internalize alpha-synuclein and contribute to the spread of pathology. The mechanisms underlying the pathological accumulation of alpha-synuclein in glial cells that under physiological conditions express low to non-detectable levels of the protein are an area of intense research. Undoubtedly, the presence of aggregated alpha-synuclein can disrupt glial function in general and can contribute to neurodegeneration through numerous pathways. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of alpha-synuclein in both neurons and glia, highlighting the contribution of the neuron-glia connectome in the disease initiation and progression, which may represent potential therapeutic target for a-synucleinopathies.
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33
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Oganesyan I, Lento C, Tandon A, Wilson DJ. Conformational Dynamics of α-Synuclein during the Interaction with Phospholipid Nanodiscs by Millisecond Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2021; 32:1169-1179. [PMID: 33784451 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.0c00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Both normal and pathological functions of α-synuclein (αSN), an abundant protein in the central and peripheral nervous system, have been linked to its interaction with membrane lipid bilayers. The ability to characterize structural transitions of αSN upon membrane complexation will clarify molecular mechanisms associated with αSN-linked pathologies, including Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple systems atrophy, and other synucleinopathies. In this work, time-resolved electrospray ionization hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (TRESI-HDX-MS) was employed to acquire a detailed picture of αSN's conformational transitions as it undergoes complexation with nanodisc membrane mimics with different headgroup charges (zwitterionic DMPC and negative POPG). Using this approach, αSN interactions with DMPC nanodiscs were shown to be rapid exchanging and to have little impact on the αSN conformational ensemble. Interactions with nanodiscs containing lipids known to promote amyloidogenesis (e.g., POPG), on the other hand, were observed to induce substantial and specific changes in the αSN conformational ensemble. Ultimately, we identify a region corresponding residues 19-28 and 45-57 of the αSN sequence that is uniquely impacted by interactions with "amyloidogenic" lipid membranes, supporting the existing "broken-helix" model for α-synuclein/membrane interactions, but do not detect a "helical extension" that is also thought to play a role in αSN aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Oganesyan
- Department of Chemistry, York University, Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Cristina Lento
- Department of Chemistry, York University, Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Anurag Tandon
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Derek J Wilson
- Department of Chemistry, York University, Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada
- Centre for Research in Mass Spectrometry, York University, Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada
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NMR unveils an N-terminal interaction interface on acetylated-α-synuclein monomers for recruitment to fibrils. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2017452118. [PMID: 33903234 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2017452118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid fibril formation of α-synuclein (αS) is associated with multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Growing evidence suggests that progression of PD is linked to cell-to-cell propagation of αS fibrils, which leads to seeding of endogenous intrinsically disordered monomer via templated elongation and secondary nucleation. A molecular understanding of the seeding mechanism and driving interactions is crucial to inhibit progression of amyloid formation. Here, using relaxation-based solution NMR experiments designed to probe large complexes, we probe weak interactions of intrinsically disordered acetylated-αS (Ac-αS) monomers with seeding-competent Ac-αS fibrils and seeding-incompetent off-pathway oligomers to identify Ac-αS monomer residues at the binding interface. Under conditions that favor fibril elongation, we determine that the first 11 N-terminal residues on the monomer form a common binding site for both fibrils and off-pathway oligomers. Additionally, the presence of off-pathway oligomers within a fibril seeding environment suppresses seeded amyloid formation, as observed through thioflavin-T fluorescence experiments. This highlights that off-pathway αS oligomers can act as an auto-inhibitor against αS fibril elongation. Based on these data taken together with previous results, we propose a model in which Ac-αS monomer recruitment to the fibril is driven by interactions between the intrinsically disordered monomer N terminus and the intrinsically disordered flanking regions (IDR) on the fibril surface. We suggest that this monomer recruitment may play a role in the elongation of amyloid fibrils and highlight the potential of the IDRs of the fibril as important therapeutic targets against seeded amyloid formation.
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35
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Jin Y, Vadukul DM, Gialama D, Ge Y, Thrush R, White JT, Aprile FA. The Diagnostic Potential of Amyloidogenic Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4128. [PMID: 33923609 PMCID: PMC8074075 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are a highly prevalent class of diseases, whose pathological mechanisms start before the appearance of any clear symptoms. This fact has prompted scientists to search for biomarkers that could aid early treatment. These currently incurable pathologies share the presence of aberrant aggregates called amyloids in the nervous system, which are composed of specific proteins. In this review, we discuss how these proteins, their conformations and modifications could be exploited as biomarkers for diagnostic purposes. We focus on proteins that are associated with the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia. We also describe current challenges in detection, the most recent techniques with diagnostic potentials and possible future developments in diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Francesco Antonio Aprile
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK; (Y.J.); (D.M.V.); (D.G.); (Y.G.); (R.T.); (J.T.W.)
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36
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Nahass GR, Sun Y, Xu Y, Batchelor M, Reilly M, Benilova I, Kedia N, Spehar K, Sobott F, Sessions RB, Caughey B, Radford SE, Jat PS, Collinge J, Bieschke J. Brazilin Removes Toxic Alpha-Synuclein and Seeding Competent Assemblies from Parkinson Brain by Altering Conformational Equilibrium. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166878. [PMID: 33610557 PMCID: PMC7610480 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) fibrils, a major constituent of the neurotoxic Lewy Bodies in Parkinson's disease, form via nucleation dependent polymerization and can replicate by a seeding mechanism. Brazilin, a small molecule derived from red cedarwood trees in Brazil, has been shown to inhibit the fibrillogenesis of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and α-syn as well as remodel mature fibrils and reduce cytotoxicity. Here we test the effects of Brazilin on both seeded and unseeded α-syn fibril formation and show that the natural polyphenol inhibits fibrillogenesis of α-syn by a unique mechanism that alters conformational equilibria in two separate points of the assembly mechanism: Brazilin preserves the natively unfolded state of α-syn by specifically binding to the compact conformation of the α-syn monomer. Brazilin also eliminates seeding competence of α-syn assemblies from Parkinson's disease patient brain tissue, and reduces toxicity of pre-formed assemblies in primary neurons by inducing the formation of large fibril clusters. Molecular docking of Brazilin shows the molecule to interact both with unfolded α-syn monomers and with the cross-β sheet structure of α-syn fibrils. Our findings suggest that Brazilin has substantial potential as a neuroprotective and therapeutic agent for Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- George R Nahass
- Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO, USA; Medical Research Council Prion Unit / UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, UK; Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA; Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Yuanzi Sun
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit / UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, UK
| | - Yong Xu
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Mark Batchelor
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit / UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, UK
| | - Madeleine Reilly
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit / UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, UK
| | - Iryna Benilova
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit / UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, UK
| | - Niraja Kedia
- Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kevin Spehar
- Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Frank Sobott
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | | | - Byron Caughey
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Sheena E Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Parmjit S Jat
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit / UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, UK
| | - John Collinge
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit / UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jan Bieschke
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit / UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, UK; Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
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37
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Human NAA30 can rescue yeast mak3∆ mutant growth phenotypes. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:227865. [PMID: 33600573 PMCID: PMC7938456 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20202828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
N-terminal acetylation is an irreversible protein modification that primarily occurs co-translationally, and is catalyzed by a highly conserved family of N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs). The NatC complex (NAA30–NAA35–NAA38) is a major NAT enzyme, which was first described in yeast and estimated to N-terminally acetylate ∼20% of the proteome. The activity of NatC is crucial for the correct functioning of its substrates, which include translocation to the Golgi apparatus, the inner nuclear membrane as well as proper mitochondrial function. We show in comparative viability and growth assays that yeast cells lacking MAK3/NAA30 grow poorly in non-fermentable carbon sources and other stress conditions. By using two different experimental approaches and two yeast strains, we show that liquid growth assays are the method of choice when analyzing subtle growth defects, keeping loss of information to a minimum. We further demonstrate that human NAA30 can functionally replace yeast MAK3/NAA30. However, this depends on the genetic background of the yeast strain. These findings indicate that the function of MAK3/NAA30 is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to human. Our yeast system provides a powerful approach to study potential human NAA30 variants using a high-throughput liquid growth assay with various stress conditions.
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38
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Milardi D, Gazit E, Radford SE, Xu Y, Gallardo RU, Caflisch A, Westermark GT, Westermark P, Rosa CL, Ramamoorthy A. Proteostasis of Islet Amyloid Polypeptide: A Molecular Perspective of Risk Factors and Protective Strategies for Type II Diabetes. Chem Rev 2021; 121:1845-1893. [PMID: 33427465 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The possible link between hIAPP accumulation and β-cell death in diabetic patients has inspired numerous studies focusing on amyloid structures and aggregation pathways of this hormone. Recent studies have reported on the importance of early oligomeric intermediates, the many roles of their interactions with lipid membrane, pH, insulin, and zinc on the mechanism of aggregation of hIAPP. The challenges posed by the transient nature of amyloid oligomers, their structural heterogeneity, and the complex nature of their interaction with lipid membranes have resulted in the development of a wide range of biophysical and chemical approaches to characterize the aggregation process. While the cellular processes and factors activating hIAPP-mediated cytotoxicity are still not clear, it has recently been suggested that its impaired turnover and cellular processing by proteasome and autophagy may contribute significantly toward toxic hIAPP accumulation and, eventually, β-cell death. Therefore, studies focusing on the restoration of hIAPP proteostasis may represent a promising arena for the design of effective therapies. In this review we discuss the current knowledge of the structures and pathology associated with hIAPP self-assembly and point out the opportunities for therapy that a detailed biochemical, biophysical, and cellular understanding of its aggregation may unveil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Milardi
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via P. Gaifami 18, 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Ehud Gazit
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Sheena E Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Yong Xu
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Rodrigo U Gallardo
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Amedeo Caflisch
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Zürich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Gunilla T Westermark
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, SE-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Westermark
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carmelo La Rosa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy
- Biophysics, Department of Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 41809-1055, United States
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39
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Bozelli JC, Kamski-Hennekam E, Melacini G, Epand RM. α-Synuclein and neuronal membranes: Conformational flexibilities in health and disease. Chem Phys Lipids 2021; 235:105034. [PMID: 33434528 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2020.105034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Currently, PD has no treatment. The neuronal protein α-synuclein (αS) plays an important role in PD. However, the molecular mechanisms governing its physiological and pathological roles are not fully understood. It is becoming widely acknowledged that the biological roles of αS involve interactions with biological membranes. In these biological processes there is a fine-tuned interplay between lipids affecting the properties of αS and αS affecting lipid metabolism, αS binding to membranes, and membrane damage. In this review, the intricate interactions between αS and membranes will be reviewed and a discussion of the relationship between αS and neuronal membrane structural plasticity in health and disease will be made. It is proposed that in healthy neurons the conformational flexibilities of αS and the neuronal membranes are coupled to assist the physiological roles of αS. However, in circumstances where their conformational flexibilities are decreased or uncoupled, there is a shift toward cell toxicity. Strategies to modulate toxic αS-membrane interactions are potential approaches for the development of new therapies for PD. Future work using specific αS molecular species as well as membranes with specific physicochemical properties should widen our understanding of the intricate biological roles of αS which, in turn, would propel the development of new strategies for the treatment of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Carlos Bozelli
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Evelyn Kamski-Hennekam
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Giuseppe Melacini
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4M1, Canada.
| | - Richard M Epand
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
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Krtenic B, Drazic A, Arnesen T, Reuter N. Classification and phylogeny for the annotation of novel eukaryotic GNAT acetyltransferases. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007988. [PMID: 33362253 PMCID: PMC7790372 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The enzymes of the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) superfamily count more than 870 000 members through all kingdoms of life and share the same structural fold. GNAT enzymes transfer an acyl moiety from acyl coenzyme A to a wide range of substrates including aminoglycosides, serotonin, glucosamine-6-phosphate, protein N-termini and lysine residues of histones and other proteins. The GNAT subtype of protein N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs) alone targets a majority of all eukaryotic proteins stressing the omnipresence of the GNAT enzymes. Despite the highly conserved GNAT fold, sequence similarity is quite low between members of this superfamily even when substrates are similar. Furthermore, this superfamily is phylogenetically not well characterized. Thus functional annotation based on sequence similarity is unreliable and strongly hampered for thousands of GNAT members that remain biochemically uncharacterized. Here we used sequence similarity networks to map the sequence space and propose a new classification for eukaryotic GNAT acetyltransferases. Using the new classification, we built a phylogenetic tree, representing the entire GNAT acetyltransferase superfamily. Our results show that protein NATs have evolved more than once on the GNAT acetylation scaffold. We use our classification to predict the function of uncharacterized sequences and verify by in vitro protein assays that two fungal genes encode NAT enzymes targeting specific protein N-terminal sequences, showing that even slight changes on the GNAT fold can lead to change in substrate specificity. In addition to providing a new map of the relationship between eukaryotic acetyltransferases the classification proposed constitutes a tool to improve functional annotation of GNAT acetyltransferases. Enzymes of the GCN5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) superfamily transfer an acetyl group from one molecule to another. This reaction is called acetylation and is one of the most common reactions inside the cell. The GNAT superfamily counts more than 870 000 members through all kingdoms of life. Despite sharing the same fold the GNAT superfamily is very diverse in terms of amino acid sequence and substrates. The eight N-terminal acetyltransferases (NatA, NatB, etc.. to NatH) are a GNAT subtype which acetylates the free amine group of polypeptide chains. This modification is called N-terminal acetylation and is one of the most abundant protein modifications in eukaryotic cells. This subtype is also characterized by a high sequence diversity even though they share the same substrate. In addition, the phylogeny of the superfamily is not characterized. This hampers functional annotation based on sequence similarity, and discovery of novel NATs. In this work we set out to solve the problem of the classification of eukaryotic GCN5-related acetyltransferases and report the first classification framework of the superfamily. This framework can be used as a tool for annotation of all GCN5-related acetyltransferases. As an example of what can be achieved we report in this paper the computational prediction and in vitro verification of the function of two previously uncharacterized N-terminal acetyltransferases. We also report the first acetyltransferase phylogenetic tree of the GCN5 superfamily. It indicates that N-terminal acetyltransferases do not constitute one homogeneous protein family, but that the ability to bind and acetylate protein N-termini had evolved more than once on the same acetylation scaffold. We also show that even small changes in key positions can lead to altered enzyme specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojan Krtenic
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Norway
- * E-mail: (BK); (NR)
| | - Adrian Drazic
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Thomas Arnesen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway
| | - Nathalie Reuter
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Norway
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Norway
- * E-mail: (BK); (NR)
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Wu K, Li D, Xiu P, Ji B, Diao J. O-GlcNAcylation inhibits the oligomerization of alpha-synuclein by declining intermolecular hydrogen bonds through a steric effect. Phys Biol 2020; 18:016002. [DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/abb6dc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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42
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Lermyte F. Roles, Characteristics, and Analysis of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins: A Minireview. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E320. [PMID: 33266184 PMCID: PMC7761095 DOI: 10.3390/life10120320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing understanding that a significant fraction of the eukaryotic proteome is intrinsically disordered, and that these conformationally dynamic proteins play a myriad of vital biological roles in both normal and pathological states. In this review, selected examples of intrinsically disordered proteins are highlighted, with particular attention for a few which are relevant in neurological disorders and in viral infection. Next, the underlying causes for the intrinsic disorder are discussed, along with computational methods used to predict whether a given amino acid sequence is likely to adopt a folded or unfolded state in the solution. Finally, biophysical methods for the analysis of intrinsically disordered proteins will be discussed, as well as the unique challenges they pose in this context due to their highly dynamic nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Lermyte
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Straße 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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43
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Aspholm EE, Matečko-Burmann I, Burmann BM. Keeping α-Synuclein at Bay: A More Active Role of Molecular Chaperones in Preventing Mitochondrial Interactions and Transition to Pathological States? Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E289. [PMID: 33227899 PMCID: PMC7699229 DOI: 10.3390/life10110289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The property of molecular chaperones to dissolve protein aggregates of Parkinson-related α-synuclein has been known for some time. Recent findings point to an even more active role of molecular chaperones preventing the transformation of α-synuclein into pathological states subsequently leading to the formation of Lewy bodies, intracellular inclusions containing protein aggregates as well as broken organelles found in the brains of Parkinson's patients. In parallel, a short motif around Tyr39 was identified as being crucial for the aggregation of α-synuclein. Interestingly, this region is also one of the main segments in contact with a diverse pool of molecular chaperones. Further, it could be shown that the inhibition of the chaperone:α-synuclein interaction leads to a binding of α-synuclein to mitochondria, which could also be shown to lead to mitochondrial membrane disruption as well as the possible proteolytic processing of α-synuclein by mitochondrial proteases. Here, we will review the current knowledge on the role of molecular chaperones in the regulation of physiological functions as well as the direct consequences of impairing these interactions-i.e., leading to enhanced mitochondrial interaction and consequential mitochondrial breakage, which might mark the initial stages of the structural transition of α-synuclein towards its pathological states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emelie E. Aspholm
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Göteborg, Sweden;
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Göteborg, Sweden;
| | - Irena Matečko-Burmann
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Göteborg, Sweden;
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Björn M. Burmann
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Göteborg, Sweden;
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Göteborg, Sweden;
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Imbalance of Lysine Acetylation Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197182. [PMID: 33003340 PMCID: PMC7582258 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. The neuropathological features of PD are selective and progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, deficiencies in striatal dopamine levels, and the presence of intracellular Lewy bodies. Interactions among aging and genetic and environmental factors are considered to underlie the common etiology of PD, which involves multiple changes in cellular processes. Recent studies suggest that changes in lysine acetylation and deacetylation of many proteins, including histones and nonhistone proteins, might be tightly associated with PD pathogenesis. Here, we summarize the changes in lysine acetylation of both histones and nonhistone proteins, as well as the related lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) and lysine deacetylases (KDACs), in PD patients and various PD models. We discuss the potential roles and underlying mechanisms of these changes in PD and highlight that restoring the balance of lysine acetylation/deacetylation of histones and nonhistone proteins is critical for PD treatment. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different KAT/KDAC inhibitors or activators in the treatment of PD models and emphasize that SIRT1 and SIRT3 activators and SIRT2 inhibitors are the most promising effective therapeutics for PD.
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Deng S, Pan B, Gottlieb L, Petersson EJ, Marmorstein R. Molecular basis for N-terminal alpha-synuclein acetylation by human NatB. eLife 2020; 9:57491. [PMID: 32885784 PMCID: PMC7494357 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
NatB is one of three major N-terminal acetyltransferase (NAT) complexes (NatA-NatC), which co-translationally acetylate the N-termini of eukaryotic proteins. Its substrates account for about 21% of the human proteome, including well known proteins such as actin, tropomyosin, CDK2, and α-synuclein (αSyn). Human NatB (hNatB) mediated N-terminal acetylation of αSyn has been demonstrated to play key roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and as a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. Here we report the cryo-EM structure of hNatB bound to a CoA-αSyn conjugate, together with structure-guided analysis of mutational effects on catalysis. This analysis reveals functionally important differences with human NatA and Candida albicans NatB, resolves key hNatB protein determinants for αSyn N-terminal acetylation, and identifies important residues for substrate-specific recognition and acetylation by NatB enzymes. These studies have implications for developing small molecule NatB probes and for understanding the mode of substrate selection by NAT enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunbin Deng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Buyan Pan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Leah Gottlieb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - E James Petersson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Ronen Marmorstein
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
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46
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Curry AM, Fernàndez RD, Pagani TD, Abeyawardhane DL, Trahan ML, Lucas HR. Mapping of Photochemically-Derived Dityrosine across Fe-Bound N-Acetylated α-Synuclein. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:life10080124. [PMID: 32726960 PMCID: PMC7459884 DOI: 10.3390/life10080124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurological disease and belongs to a group of neurodegenerative disorders called synucleinopathies in which pathological aggregates of N-terminally acetylated α-synuclein (NAcα-Syn) accumulate in various regions of the brain. In PD, these NAcα-Syn aggregates have been found to contain covalent dityrosine crosslinks, which can occur either intermolecularly or intramolecularly. Cerebral metal imbalance is also a hallmark of PD, warranting investigations into the effects of brain biometals on NAcα-Syn. NAcα-Syn is an intrinsically disordered protein, and metal-mediated conformational modifications of this structurally dynamic protein have been demonstrated to influence its propensity for dityrosine formation. In this study, a library of tyrosine-to-phenylalanine (Y-to-F) NAcα-Syn constructs were designed in order to elucidate the nature and the precise residues involved in dityrosine crosslinking of Fe-bound NAcα-Syn. The structural capacity of each mutant to form dityrosine crosslinks was assessed using Photo-Induced Cross-Linking of Unmodified Proteins (PICUP), demonstrating that coordination of either FeIII or FeII to NAcα-Syn inhibits dityrosine crosslinking among the C-terminal residues. We further demonstrate that Y39 is the main contributor to dityrosine formation of Fe-bound NAcα-Syn, while Y125 is the main residue involved in dityrosine crosslinks in unmetalated NAcα-Syn. Our results confirm that iron coordination has a global effect on NAcα-Syn structure and reactivity.
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47
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Shin JY, Lee PH. Mesenchymal stem cells modulate misfolded α-synuclein in parkinsonian disorders: A multitarget disease-modifying strategy. Stem Cell Res 2020; 47:101908. [PMID: 32683319 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.101908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates, the major toxic component of Lewy bodies, are proteinaceous fibrillar cytoplasmic inclusions observed in α-synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy, and dementia with Lewy bodies. Overexpression of α-syn induce neuronal loss and α-syn aggregation in PD animals. Recent studies show that α-syn is released by exocytosis and can be transmitted between brain areas through cell-to-cell propagation. Moreover, aggregates of extracellular α-syn can induce neuroinflammation-mediated neurotoxic signaling through microglial activation and release of pro-inflammatory factors. Thus, modulation of α-syn might be a potential therapeutic strategy for modifying disease progression of α-synucleinopathies. Our previous studies have revealed that MSCs have potent neuroprotective effects in PD animal through modulation of neuroinflammation, inhibition of cell death, and promotion of neurogenesis. Here, we provide further evidence that MSCs have the potential to modulate α-syn-related microenvironments via enhancement of autophagy, proteolysis of α-syn aggregates, inhibition of cell-to-cell transmission of α-syn, stabilization of axonal transport, and phagocytic clearance of α-syn by microglial M2 polarization. With advantages in clinical applications, these data suggests that the use of MSCs as pharmacological modulators of α-syn propagation would be an effective therapeutic approach in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Young Shin
- Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Phil Hyu Lee
- Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
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Okuwaki R, Shinmura I, Morita S, Matsugami A, Hayashi F, Goto Y, Nishimura C. Distinct residual and disordered structures of alpha-synuclein analyzed by amide-proton exchange and NMR signal intensity. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2020; 1868:140464. [PMID: 32497661 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2020.140464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The residual solution structures of two alpha-synuclein mutants, A30P and A53T, observed in family members of patients with Parkinson's disease were compared with that of wild-type by NMR. The A53T substitution had been shown to accelerate fibril formation of alpha-synuclein, whereas the A30P mutation has the negative and positive effects on the formation of the fibril and spherical oligomer, respectively. The remaining structure was analyzed via amide-proton exchange and signal intensity measurements using NMR. Amide-proton exchange was used for both the calculation of kex values and ratio of kex at different temperatures. Effects of the A30P (N-terminal region) mutation were observed at the C-terminal region as a more flexible structure, suggesting that long-range interactions exist between the N- and C-terminal regions in alpha-synuclein. In addition, the N-terminal region adopted a more rigid structure in the A53T and A30P mutants than in the wild-type. It was concluded that the structural change caused by the mutations is related to the formation of a beta-hairpin at the initiation site of the N-terminal core structure. Furthermore, the signal intensity was used to estimate the rigidity of the structure. Higher signal intensities were observed for A30P at the 112, 113, and 116 C-terminal residues, suggesting that this region adopts more flexible structure. The ratio of the intensities at different temperatures indicated more flexible or rigid structures in the N-terminal region of A30P than in that of wild-type. Thus, using different approaches and temperatures is a good method to analyze residual structure in intrinsically disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina Okuwaki
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo Heisei University, Nakano, Tokyo 164-8530, Japan
| | - Iori Shinmura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo Heisei University, Nakano, Tokyo 164-8530, Japan
| | - Shiki Morita
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo Heisei University, Nakano, Tokyo 164-8530, Japan
| | - Akimasa Matsugami
- Advanced NMR Application and Platform Team, NMR Research and Collaboration Group, NMR Science and Development Division, RIKEN SPring-8 Center (RSC) Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Hayashi
- Advanced NMR Application and Platform Team, NMR Research and Collaboration Group, NMR Science and Development Division, RIKEN SPring-8 Center (RSC) Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Yuji Goto
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Chiaki Nishimura
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo Heisei University, Nakano, Tokyo 164-8530, Japan; Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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Shankar V, Rauscher R, Reuther J, Gharib WH, Koch M, Polacek N. rRNA expansion segment 27Lb modulates the factor recruitment capacity of the yeast ribosome and shapes the proteome. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:3244-3256. [PMID: 31960048 PMCID: PMC7102955 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fine-tuned regulation of protein biosynthesis is crucial for cellular fitness and became even more vital when cellular and organismal complexity increased during the course of evolution. In order to cope with this augmented demand for translation control, eukaryal ribosomes have gained extensions both at the ribosomal protein and rRNA levels. Here we analyze the functional role of ES27L, an rRNA expansion segment in the large ribosomal subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Deletion of the b-arm of this expansion segment, called ES27Lb, did not hamper growth during optimal conditions, thus demonstrating that this 25S rRNA segment is not inherently crucial for ribosome functioning. However, reductive stress results in retarded growth and rendered unique protein sets prone to aggregation. Lack of ES27Lb negatively affects ribosome-association of known co-translational N-terminal processing enzymes which in turn contributes to the observed protein aggregation. Likely as a compensatory response to these challenges, the truncated ribosomes showed re-adjusted translation of specific sets of mRNAs and thus fine-tune the translatome in order to re-establish proteostasis. Our study gives comprehensive insight into how a highly conserved eukaryal rRNA expansion segment defines ribosomal integrity, co-translational protein maturation events and consequently cellular fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishnavi Shankar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Robert Rauscher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julia Reuther
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Walid H Gharib
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Koch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Polacek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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50
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Do Post-Translational Modifications Influence Protein Aggregation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10040232. [PMID: 32290481 PMCID: PMC7226274 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10040232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates represents a universal hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate protein structure and function. Dysregulated PTMs may influence the propensity for protein aggregation in NDD-proteinopathies. To investigate this, we systematically reviewed the literature to evaluate effects of PTMs on aggregation propensity for major proteins linked to the pathogenesis and/or progression of NDDs. A search of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science Core Collection was conducted to retrieve studies that investigated an association between PTMs and protein aggregation in seven NDDs: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinocerebellar ataxias, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, and multiple sclerosis. Together, 1222 studies were identified, of which 69 met eligibility criteria. We identified that the following PTMs, in isolation or combination, potentially act as modulators of proteinopathy in NDDs: isoaspartate formation in Aβ, phosphorylation of Aβ or tau in AD; acetylation, 4-hydroxy-2-neonal modification, O-GlcNAcylation or phosphorylation of α-synuclein in PD; acetylation or phosphorylation of TAR DNA-binding protein-43 in ALS, and SUMOylation of superoxide dismutase-1 in ALS; and phosphorylation of huntingtin in HD. The potential pharmacological manipulation of these aggregation-modulating PTMs represents an as-yet untapped source of therapy to treat NDDs.
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