1
|
Zhou XE, Schultz CR, Suino Powell K, Henrickson A, Lamp J, Brunzelle JS, Demeler B, Vega IE, Bachmann AS, Melcher K. Structure and Enzymatic Activity of an Intellectual Disability-Associated Ornithine Decarboxylase Variant, G84R. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:34665-34675. [PMID: 36188294 PMCID: PMC9520691 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of polyamines (PAs). PAs are required for proliferation, and increased ODC activity is associated with cancer and neural over-proliferation. ODC levels and activity are therefore tightly regulated, including through the ODC-specific inhibitor, antizyme AZ1. Recently, ODC G84R has been reported as a partial loss-of-function variant that is associated with intellectual disability and seizures. However, G84 is distant from both the catalytic center and the ODC homodimerization interface. To understand how G84R modulates ODC activity, we have determined the crystal structure of ODC G84R in both the presence and the absence of the cofactor pyridoxal 5-phosphate. The structures show that the replacement of G84 by arginine leads to hydrogen bond formation of R84 with F420, the last residue of the ODC C-terminal helix, a structural element that is involved in the AZ1-mediated proteasomal degradation of ODC. In contrast, the catalytic center is essentially indistinguishable from that of wildtype ODC. We therefore reanalyzed the catalytic activity of ODC G84R and found that it is rescued when the protein is purified in the presence of a reducing agent to mimic the reducing environment of the cytoplasm. This suggests that R84 may exert its neurological effects not through reducing ODC catalytic activity but through misregulation of its AZ1-mediated proteasomal degradation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- X. Edward Zhou
- Department
of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Chad R. Schultz
- Department
of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, United States
| | - Kelly Suino Powell
- Department
of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Amy Henrickson
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University
of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
| | - Jared Lamp
- Department
of Translational Neuroscience, Integrated Mass Spectrometry Unit,
College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand
Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Joseph S. Brunzelle
- Northwestern
University Synchrotron Research Center, Life Sciences Collaborative
Access Team, Northwestern University, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Borries Demeler
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University
of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K3M4, Canada
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University
of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United
States
| | - Irving E. Vega
- Department
of Translational Neuroscience, Integrated Mass Spectrometry Unit,
College of Human Medicine, Michigan State
University, Grand
Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - André S. Bachmann
- Department
of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546, United States
| | - Karsten Melcher
- Department
of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Predicting protein shelf lives from mean first passage times. Chem Phys Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2022.139426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
3
|
Sundaria N, Upadhyay A, Prasad A, Prajapati VK, Poluri KM, Mishra A. Neurodegeneration & imperfect ageing: Technological limitations and challenges? Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 200:111574. [PMID: 34562507 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cellular homeostasis is regulated by the protein quality control (PQC) machinery, comprising multiple chaperones and enzymes. Studies suggest that the loss of the PQC mechanisms in neurons may lead to the formation of abnormal inclusions that may lead to neurological disorders and defective aging. The questions could be raised how protein aggregate formation precisely engenders multifactorial molecular pathomechanism in neuronal cells and affects different brain regions? Such questions await thorough investigation that may help us understand how aberrant proteinaceous bodies lead to neurodegeneration and imperfect aging. However, these studies face multiple technological challenges in utilizing available tools for detailed characterizations of the protein aggregates or amyloids and developing new techniques to understand the biology and pathology of proteopathies. The lack of detection and analysis methods has decelerated the pace of the research in amyloid biology. Here, we address the significance of aggregation and inclusion formation, followed by exploring the evolutionary contribution of these structures. We also provide a detailed overview of current state-of-the-art techniques and advances in studying amyloids in the diseased brain. A comprehensive understanding of the structural, pathological, and clinical characteristics of different types of aggregates (inclusions, fibrils, plaques, etc.) will aid in developing future therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Sundaria
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342037, India
| | - Arun Upadhyay
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342037, India
| | - Amit Prasad
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Mandi, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, NH‑8 Bandarsindri, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 305817, India
| | - Krishna Mohan Poluri
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Amit Mishra
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342037, India.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ghorbani-Choghamarani A, Taherinia Z, Heidarnezhad Z, Moradi Z. Application of Nanofibers Based on Natural Materials as Catalyst in Organic Reactions. J IND ENG CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2020.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
|
5
|
Yarawsky AE, Johns SL, Schuck P, Herr AB. The biofilm adhesion protein Aap from Staphylococcus epidermidis forms zinc-dependent amyloid fibers. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:4411-4427. [PMID: 32102851 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The skin-colonizing commensal bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis is a leading cause of hospital-acquired and device-related infections. Its pathogenicity in humans is largely due to its propensity to form biofilms, surface-adherent bacterial accumulations that are remarkably resistant to chemical and physical stresses. Accumulation-associated protein (Aap) from S. epidermidis has been shown to be necessary and sufficient for mature biofilm formation and catheter infection. Aap contains up to 17 tandem B-repeat domains, capable of zinc-dependent assembly into twisted, rope-like intercellular filaments in the biofilm. Using microscopic and biophysical techniques, we show here that Aap B-repeat constructs assemble further into zinc-dependent functional amyloid fibers. We observed such amyloid fibers by confocal microscopy during both early and late stages of S. epidermidis biofilm formation, and we confirmed that extracellular fibrils from these biofilms contain Aap. Unlike what has been observed for amyloidogenic biofilm proteins from other bacteria, which typically use chaperones or initiator proteins to initiate amyloid assembly, our findings indicate that Aap from S. epidermidis requires Zn2+ as a catalyst that drives amyloid fiber formation, similar to many mammalian amyloid-forming proteins that require metals for assembly. This work provides detailed insights into S. epidermidis biofilm formation and architecture that improve our understanding of persistent staphylococcal infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander E Yarawsky
- Graduate Program in Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267.,Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
| | - Stefanie L Johns
- Graduate Program in Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267
| | - Peter Schuck
- Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly Section, Laboratory of Cellular Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
| | - Andrew B Herr
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hernández JM, Buisson A, Wang I, Vial JC. Improved optical slicing by stimulated emission depletion light sheet microscopy. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:660-671. [PMID: 32206391 PMCID: PMC7041452 DOI: 10.1364/boe.379646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional microscopy is mandatory for biological investigation. We describe a stimulated emission depletion selective plane illumination microscope (STED-SPIM) that provides both ease of implementation and an efficient optical slicing. This self-aligned system is based on a single diode-pumped solid-state laser and phase masks made of simple cover glass. A three-fold reduction of the light sheet thickness is achieved together with an enhancement of the sheet uniformity. This method is validated by using fluorescent microspheres and thick slices of fixed and clarified mouse brain to provide an enhanced imaging of Alzheimer's disease models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Martínez Hernández
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Alain Buisson
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Irène Wang
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Jean-Claude Vial
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, 38000 Grenoble, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wolff M, Zhang-Haagen B, Decker C, Barz B, Schneider M, Biehl R, Radulescu A, Strodel B, Willbold D, Nagel-Steger L. Aβ42 pentamers/hexamers are the smallest detectable oligomers in solution. Sci Rep 2017; 7:2493. [PMID: 28559586 PMCID: PMC5449387 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02370-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers may play a decisive role in Alzheimer's disease related neurodegeneration, but their structural properties are poorly understood. In this report, sedimentation velocity centrifugation, small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and molecular modelling were used to identify the small oligomeric species formed by the 42 amino acid residue long isoform of Aβ (Aβ42) in solution, characterized by a sedimentation coefficient of 2.56 S, and a radius of gyration between 2 and 4 nm. The measured sedimentation coefficient is in close agreement with the sedimentation coefficient calculated for Aβ42 hexamers using MD simulations at µM concentration. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report detailing the Aβ42 oligomeric species by SANS measurements. Our results demonstrate that the smallest detectable species in solution are penta- to hexamers. No evidences for the presence of dimers, trimers or tetramers were found, although the existence of those Aβ42 oligomers at measurable quantities had been reported frequently.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Wolff
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Physikalische Biochemie, University Potsdam, 14476, Golm, Germany
| | - Bo Zhang-Haagen
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science & Institute of Complex Systems, Neutron Scattering (JCNS-1&ICS-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Christina Decker
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Bogdan Barz
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Mario Schneider
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ralf Biehl
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science & Institute of Complex Systems, Neutron Scattering (JCNS-1&ICS-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science, Outstation at MLZ (JCNS-MLZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Aurel Radulescu
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science, Outstation at MLZ (JCNS-MLZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Luitgard Nagel-Steger
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Institute of Complex Systems, Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mok YF, Howlett GJ, Griffin MDW. Sedimentation Velocity Analysis of the Size Distribution of Amyloid Oligomers and Fibrils. Methods Enzymol 2015; 562:241-56. [PMID: 26412655 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2015.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils result from the self-assembly of proteins into large aggregates with fibrillar morphology and common structural features. These fibrils form the major component of amyloid plaques that are associated with a number of common and debilitating diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. While a range of unrelated proteins and peptides are known to form amyloid fibrils, a common feature is the formation of aggregates of various sizes, including mature fibrils of differing length and/or structural morphology, small oligomeric precursors, and other less well-understood forms such as amorphous aggregates. These various species can possess distinct biochemical, biophysical, and pathological properties. Sedimentation velocity analysis can characterize amyloid fibril formation in exceptional detail, providing a particularly useful method for resolving the complex heterogeneity present in amyloid systems. In this chapter, we describe analytical methods for accurate quantification of both total amyloid fibril formation and the formation of distinct amyloid structures based on differential sedimentation properties. We also detail modern analytical ultracentrifugation methods to determine the size distribution of amyloid aggregates. We illustrate examples of the use of these techniques to provide biophysical and structural information on amyloid systems that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yee-Foong Mok
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Geoffrey J Howlett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Michael D W Griffin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Amyloid β Oligomeric Species Present in the Lag Phase of Amyloid Formation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127865. [PMID: 26024352 PMCID: PMC4449029 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is one of the main actors in AD pathogenesis. Aβ is characterized by its high tendency to self-associate, leading to the generation of oligomers and amyloid fibrils. The elucidation of pathways and intermediates is crucial for the understanding of protein assembly mechanisms in general and in conjunction with neurodegenerative diseases, e.g., for the identification of new therapeutic targets. Our study focused on Aβ42 and its oligomeric assemblies in the lag phase of amyloid formation, as studied by sedimentation velocity (SV) centrifugation. The assembly state of Aβ during the lag phase, the time required by an Aβ solution to reach the exponential growth phase of aggregation, was characterized by a dominant monomer fraction below 1 S and a population of oligomeric species between 4 and 16 S. From the oligomer population, two major species close to a 12-mer and an 18-mer with a globular shape were identified. The recurrence of these two species at different initial concentrations and experimental conditions as the smallest assemblies present in solution supports the existence of distinct, energetically favored assemblies in solution. The sizes of the two species suggest an Aβ42 aggregation pathway that is based on a basic hexameric building block. The study demonstrates the potential of SV analysis for the evaluation of protein aggregation pathways.
Collapse
|
10
|
Immobilization of homogeneous monomeric, oligomeric and fibrillar Aβ species for reliable SPR measurements. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89490. [PMID: 24594736 PMCID: PMC3940443 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
There is strong evidence that the amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this context, a detailed quantitative description of the interactions with different Aβ species is essential for characterization of physiological and artificial ligands. However, the high aggregation propensity of Aβ in concert with its susceptibility to structural changes due to even slight changes in solution conditions has impeded surface plasmon resonance (SPR) studies with homogeneous Aβ conformer species. Here, we have adapted the experimental procedures to state-of-the-art techniques and established novel approaches to reliably overcome the aforementioned challenges. We show that the application of density gradient centrifugation (DGC) for sample purification and the use of a single chain variable fragment (scFv) of a monoclonal antibody directed against the amino-terminus of Aβ allows reliable SPR measurements and quality control of the immobilized Aβ aggregate species at any step throughout the experiment.
Collapse
|
11
|
Pryor NE, Moss MA, Hestekin CN. Unraveling the early events of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) aggregation: techniques for the determination of Aβ aggregate size. Int J Mol Sci 2012; 13:3038-3072. [PMID: 22489141 PMCID: PMC3317702 DOI: 10.3390/ijms13033038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Revised: 02/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of proteins into insoluble amyloid fibrils coincides with the onset of numerous diseases. An array of techniques is available to study the different stages of the amyloid aggregation process. Recently, emphasis has been placed upon the analysis of oligomeric amyloid species, which have been hypothesized to play a key role in disease progression. This paper reviews techniques utilized to study aggregation of the amyloid-β protein (Aβ) associated with Alzheimer's disease. In particular, the review focuses on techniques that provide information about the size or quantity of oligomeric Aβ species formed during the early stages of aggregation, including native-PAGE, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, light scattering, size exclusion chromatography, centrifugation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and dot blotting.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Alzheimer Disease/etiology
- Alzheimer Disease/metabolism
- Amyloid beta-Peptides/chemistry
- Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism
- Blotting, Western
- Chromatography, Gel
- Disease Progression
- Electrophoresis, Capillary
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Humans
- Particle Size
- Protein Aggregates
- Protein Aggregation, Pathological
- Protein Multimerization
- Protein Structure, Quaternary
- Scattering, Radiation
- Spectrometry, Fluorescence
- Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
- Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N. Elizabeth Pryor
- Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering, 3202 Bell Engineering Center, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Melissa A. Moss
- Department of Chemical Engineering, 2C02 Swearingen Engineering Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Christa N. Hestekin
- Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering, 3202 Bell Engineering Center, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; E-Mail:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Funke SA, Willbold D. Peptides for therapy and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Curr Pharm Des 2012; 18:755-67. [PMID: 22236121 PMCID: PMC3426787 DOI: 10.2174/138161212799277752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with devastating effects. The greatest risk factor to develop AD is age. Today, only symptomatic therapies are available. Additionally, AD can be diagnosed with certainty only post mortem, whereas the diagnosis "probable AD" can be established earliest when severe clinical symptoms appear. Specific neuropathological changes like neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques define AD. Amyloid plaques are mainly composed of the amyloid-βpeptide (Aβ). Several lines of evidence suggest that the progressive concentration and subsequent aggregation and accumulation of Aβ play a fundamental role in the disease progress. Therefore, substances which bind to Aβ and influence aggregation thereof are of great interest. An enormous number of organic substances for therapeutic purposes are described. This review focuses on peptides developed for diagnosis and therapy of AD and discusses the pre- and disadvantages of peptide drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, ICS-6, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Funke SA, van Groen T, Kadish I, Bartnik D, Nagel-Steger L, Brener O, Sehl T, Batra-Safferling R, Moriscot C, Schoehn G, Horn AHC, Müller-Schiffmann A, Korth C, Sticht H, Willbold D. Oral treatment with the d-enantiomeric peptide D3 improves the pathology and behavior of Alzheimer's Disease transgenic mice. ACS Chem Neurosci 2010; 1:639-48. [PMID: 22778851 DOI: 10.1021/cn100057j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2010] [Accepted: 07/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Several lines of evidence suggest that the amyloid-β-peptide (Aβ) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Not only Aβ fibrils but also small soluble Aβ oligomers in particular are suspected to be the major toxic species responsible for disease development and progression. The present study reports on in vitro and in vivo properties of the Aβ targeting d-enantiomeric amino acid peptide D3. We show that next to plaque load and inflammation reduction, oral application of the peptide improved the cognitive performance of AD transgenic mice. In addition, we provide in vitro data elucidating the potential mechanism underlying the observed in vivo activity of D3. These data suggest that D3 precipitates toxic Aβ species and converts them into nonamyloidogenic, nonfibrillar, and nontoxic aggregates without increasing the concentration of monomeric Aβ. Thus, D3 exerts an interesting and novel mechanism of action that abolishes toxic Aβ oligomers and thereby supports their decisive role in AD development and progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas van Groen
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Inga Kadish
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Dirk Bartnik
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Physikalische Biologie and BMFZ, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Luitgard Nagel-Steger
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Physikalische Biologie and BMFZ, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Oleksandr Brener
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Physikalische Biologie and BMFZ, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Torsten Sehl
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Physikalische Biologie and BMFZ, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Christine Moriscot
- CEA
- CNRS
- Université Joseph Fourier
- Unit for Virus Host Cell Interactions, 6, rue Jules Horowitz BP 181, F38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Guy Schoehn
- CEA
- CNRS
- Université Joseph Fourier
- Unit for Virus Host Cell Interactions, 6, rue Jules Horowitz BP 181, F38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Anselm H. C. Horn
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut für Biochemie, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Carsten Korth
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Neuropathologie, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institut für Biochemie, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, ISB-3, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Institut für Physikalische Biologie and BMFZ, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- CEA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Broersen K, Rousseau F, Schymkowitz J. The culprit behind amyloid beta peptide related neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease: oligomer size or conformation? ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2010; 2:12. [PMID: 20642866 PMCID: PMC2949586 DOI: 10.1186/alzrt36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Since the reformulation of the amyloid cascade hypothesis to focus on oligomeric aggregates of amyloid beta as the prime toxic species causing Alzheimer's disease, many researchers refocused on detecting a specific molecular assembly of defined size thatis the main trigger of Alzheimer's disease. The result has been the identification of a host of molecular assemblies containing from two up to a hundred molecules of the amyloid beta peptide, which were all found to impair memory formation in mice. This clearly demonstrates that size is insufficient to define toxicity and peptide conformation has to be taken into account. In this review we discuss the interplay between oligomer size and peptide conformation as the key determinants of the neurotoxicity of the amyloid beta peptide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerensa Broersen
- Switch Laboratory, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|