Backbone-modified amylin derivatives: implications for amyloid inhibitor design and as template for self-assembling bionanomaterials

Inhibitory effects of magnolol and honokiol on human calcitonin aggregation

Amyloid formation is associated with multiple amyloidosis diseases. Human calcitonin (hCT) is a typical amyloidogenic peptide, its aggregation is associated with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MTC), and also limits its clinical application. Magnolia officinalis is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine; its two major polyphenol components, magnolol (Mag) and honokiol (Hon), have displayed multiple functions. Polyphenols like flavonoids and their derivatives have been extensively studied as amyloid inhibitors. However, the anti-amyloidogenic property of a biphenyl backbone containing polyphenols such as Mag and Hon has not been reported. In this study, these two compounds were tested for their effects on hCT aggregation. We found that Mag and Hon both inhibited the amyloid formation of hCT, whereas Mag showed a stronger inhibitory effect; moreover, they both dose-dependently disassembled preformed hCT aggregates. Further immuno-dot blot and dynamic light scattering studies suggested Mag and Hon suppressed the aggregation of hCT both at the oligomerization and the fibrillation stages, while MTT-based and dye-leakage assays demonstrated that Mag and Hon effectively reduced cytotoxicity caused by hCT aggregates. Furthermore, isothermal titration calorimetry indicated Mag and Hon both interact with hCT. Together, our study suggested a potential anti-amyloidogenic property of these two compounds and their structure related derivatives.

Controllably degradable β-sheet nanofibers and gels from self-assembling depsipeptides

Self-assembled peptide materials have received considerable interest for a range of applications, including 3D cell culture, tissue engineering, and the delivery of cells and drugs. One challenge in applying such materials within these areas has been the extreme stability of β-sheet fibrillized peptides, which are resistant to proteolysis, degradation, and turnover in biological environments. In this study, we designed self-assembling depsipeptides containing ester bonds within the peptide backbone. Beta-sheet fibrillized nanofibers were formed in physiologic conditions, and two of these nanofiber-forming depsipeptides produced hydrogels that degraded controllably over the course of days-to-weeks via ester hydrolysis. With HPLC, TEM, and oscillating rheometry, we show that the rate of hydrolysis can be controlled in a straightforward manner by specifying the amino acid residues surrounding the ester bond. In 3D cell cultures, depsipeptide gels softened over the course of several days and permitted considerably more proliferation and spreading of C3H10T1/2 pluripotent stem cells than non-degradable analogs. This approach now provides a reliable and reproducible means to soften or clear β-sheet fibrillized peptide materials from biological environments.

Inhibition of IAPP and IAPP(20-29) fibrillation by polymeric nanoparticles

The fibrillation process of the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and its fragment (IAPP(20-29)) was studied by means of Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy in the absence and presence of N-isopropylacrylamide:N-tert-butylacrylamide (NiPAM:BAM) copolymeric nanoparticles. The process was found to be strongly affected by the presence of the nanoparticles, which retard protein fibrillation as a function of the chemical surface properties of the nanoparticles. The NiPAM:BAM ratio was varied from 50:50 to 100:0. The nanoparticles with higher fraction of NiPAM imposed the strongest retardation of IAPP and IAPP(20-29) fibrillation. These particles have the strongest hydrogen bonding capacity due to the less bulky N-isopropyl group and thus less steric hindrance of the hydrogen-bonding groups of the nanoparticle polymer backbone. Kinetic fibrillation data, as monitored by ThT fluorescence and supported by surface plasmon resonance experiments, suggest that the peptide is strongly absorbed onto the surface of the nanoparticles. This interaction reduces the concentration of peptide free in solution available to proceed to fibrillation which results in an increased lag time of fibrillation, observed as a delayed onset of ThT fluorescence increase, plus a reduction of the amount of fibrils formed as indicated by the equilibrium values at the end of the fibrillation reaction. For the fragment (IAPP(20-29)), the presence of nanoparticles changes the mechanism of association from monomers to fibrils, by interfering with early oligomeric species along the fibrillation pathway.