1
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Cao X, Fang L, Jiang Y, Zeng T, Bai S, Li S, Liu Y, Zhong W, Lu C, Yang H. Nanoscale octopus guiding telomere entanglement: An innovative strategy for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. Biomaterials 2025; 313:122777. [PMID: 39222545 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122777] [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: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Telomere length plays a crucial role in cellular aging and the risk of diseases. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can extend their own survival by maintaining telomere stability through telomere maintenance mechanism. Therefore, regulating the lengths of telomeres have emerged as a promising approach for anti-cancer treatment. In this study, we introduce a nanoscale octopus-like structure designed to induce physical entangling of telomere, thereby efficiently triggering telomere dysfunction. The nanoscale octopus, composed of eight-armed PEG (8-arm-PEG), are functionalized with cell penetrating peptide (TAT) to facilitate nuclear entry and are covalently bound to N-Methyl Mesoporphyrin IX (NMM) to target G-quadruplexes (G4s) present in telomeres. The multi-armed configuration of the nanoscale octopus enables targeted binding to multiple G4s, physically disrupting and entangling numerous telomeres, thereby triggering telomere dysfunction. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that the nanoscale octopus significantly inhibits cancer cell proliferation, induces apoptosis through telomere entanglement, and ultimately suppresses tumor growth. This research offers a novel perspective for the development of innovative anti-cancer interventions and provides potential therapeutic options for targeting telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuping Cao
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyang Fang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifan Jiang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Zeng
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiyan Bai
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiqing Li
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Yana Liu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Wukun Zhong
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunhua Lu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China.
| | - Huanghao Yang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, MOE Key Laboratory for Analytical Science of Food Safety and Biology, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Patel SP, Nikam T, Sreepathi B, Karankar VS, Jaiswal A, Vardhan SV, Rana A, Toga V, Srivastava N, Saraf SA, Awasthi S. Unraveling the Molecular Jam: How Crowding Shapes Protein Aggregation in Neurodegenerative Disorders. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:2118-2130. [PMID: 39373539 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00365] [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: 10/08/2024]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation are the hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and prion diseases. A crowded cellular environment plays a crucial role in modulating protein aggregation processes in vivo and the pathological aggregation of proteins linked to different neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we review recent studies examining the effects of various crowding agents, such as polysaccharides, polyethylene glycol, and proteins like BSA and lysozyme on the behaviors of aggregation of several amyloidogenic peptides and proteins, including amylin, huntingtin, tau, α-synuclein, prion, and amyloid-β. We also summarize how the aggregation kinetics, thermodynamic stability, and morphology of amyloid fibrils are altered significantly in the presence of crowding agents. In addition, we also discuss the molecular basis underlying the modulation of amyloidogenic aggregation, focusing on changes in the protein conformation, and the nucleation mechanism. The molecular understanding of the effects of macromolecular crowding on amyloid aggregation is essential for revealing disease pathologies and identifying possible therapeutic targets. Thus, this review offers a perspective on the complex interplay between protein aggregation and the crowded cellular environment in vivo and explains the relevance of crowding in the context of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Prakash Patel
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tejas Nikam
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Bhargavi Sreepathi
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vijayshree S Karankar
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ankita Jaiswal
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Salumuri Vamsi Vardhan
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anika Rana
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vanshu Toga
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nidhi Srivastava
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shubhini A Saraf
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Saurabh Awasthi
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli (NIPER-R), Lucknow-226002, Uttar Pradesh, India
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3
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Shabnam, Bhat R. Flavones Suppress Aggregation and Amyloid Fibril Formation of Human Lysozyme under Macromolecular Crowding Conditions. Biochemistry 2024. [PMID: 39385522 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
The crowded milieu of a biological cell significantly impacts protein aggregation and interactions. Understanding the effects of macromolecular crowding on the aggregation and fibrillation of amyloidogenic proteins is crucial for the treatment of many amyloid-related disorders. Most in vitro studies of protein amyloid formation and its inhibition by small molecules are conducted in dilute buffers, which do not mimic the complexity of the cellular environment. In this study, we used PEGs to simulate macromolecular crowding and examined the inhibitory effects of flavones DHF, baicalein, and luteolin on human lysozyme (HuL) aggregation at pH 2. Naturally occurring flavones have been effective inhibitors of amyloid formation in some proteins. Our findings indicate that while flavones inhibit HuL aggregation and fibrillation in dilute buffer solutions, complete inhibition is observed with a combination of flavones and PEGs, as shown by ThT fluorescence, light scattering, TEM, and AFM studies. The species formed in the presence of PEG 8000 and flavones were less hydrophobic, less toxic, and α-helix-rich compared to control samples, which were hydrophobic and β-sheet-rich, as demonstrated by ANS hydrophobicity, MTT assay, and CD spectroscopy. Fluorescence titration studies of flavones with HuL showed a significant increase in binding constant values under crowding conditions. These findings highlight the importance of macromolecular crowding in modulating protein aggregation and amyloid inhibition. Further studies using disease-causing mutants of HuL and other amyloidogenic proteins are needed to explore the role of macromolecular crowding in small-molecule-mediated modulation and inhibition of protein aggregation and amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 100067, India
| | - Rajiv Bhat
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 100067, India
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4
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Sternke‐Hoffmann R, Sun X, Menzel A, Pinto MDS, Venclovaite U, Wördehoff M, Hoyer W, Zheng W, Luo J. Phase Separation and Aggregation of α-Synuclein Diverge at Different Salt Conditions. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308279. [PMID: 38973194 PMCID: PMC11425899 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308279] [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] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The coacervation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) into cytotoxic oligomers and amyloid fibrils are considered pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. While aggregation is central to amyloid diseases, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and its interplay with aggregation have gained increasing interest. Previous work shows that factors promoting or inhibiting aggregation have similar effects on LLPS. This study provides a detailed scanning of a wide range of parameters, including protein, salt and crowding concentrations at multiple pH values, revealing different salt dependencies of aggregation and LLPS. The influence of salt on aggregation under crowding conditions follows a non-monotonic pattern, showing increased effects at medium salt concentrations. This behavior can be elucidated through a combination of electrostatic screening and salting-out effects on the intramolecular interactions between the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of αSyn. By contrast, this study finds a monotonic salt dependence of LLPS due to intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, it observes time evolution of the two distinct assembly states, with macroscopic fibrillar-like bundles initially forming at medium salt concentration but subsequently converting into droplets after prolonged incubation. The droplet state is therefore capable of inhibiting aggregation or even dissolving aggregates through heterotypic interactions, thus preventing αSyn from its dynamically arrested state.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xun Sun
- Center for Life SciencesPaul Scherrer InstituteForschungsstrasse 111Villigen5232Switzerland
| | - Andreas Menzel
- Center for Photon SciencePaul Scherrer InstituteForschungsstrasse 111Villigen5232Switzerland
| | | | - Urte Venclovaite
- Center for Life SciencesPaul Scherrer InstituteForschungsstrasse 111Villigen5232Switzerland
| | - Michael Wördehoff
- Institut für Physikalische BiologieHeinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf40225DüsseldorfGermany
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische BiologieHeinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf40225DüsseldorfGermany
| | - Wenwei Zheng
- College of Integrative Sciences and ArtsArizona State UniversityMesaAZ85212USA
| | - Jinghui Luo
- Center for Life SciencesPaul Scherrer InstituteForschungsstrasse 111Villigen5232Switzerland
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5
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Ghosh S, Prabhu NP. Heterogeneous Macromolecular crowding effect on nucleation-independent fibril formation of Lysozyme: Spectroscopic analysis of Structure, Stability, and fibrillation rate. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 315:124276. [PMID: 38626673 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2024.124276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Subhasree Ghosh
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - N Prakash Prabhu
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
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6
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Liebau J, Laatsch BF, Rusnak J, Gunderson K, Finke B, Bargender K, Narkiewicz-Jodko A, Weeks K, Williams MT, Shulgina I, Musier-Forsyth K, Bhattacharyya S, Hati S. Polyethylene Glycol Impacts Conformation and Dynamics of Escherichia coli Prolyl-tRNA Synthetase Via Crowding and Confinement Effects. Biochemistry 2024; 63:1621-1635. [PMID: 38607680 PMCID: PMC11223479 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a flexible, nontoxic polymer commonly used in biological and medical research, and it is generally regarded as biologically inert. PEG molecules of variable sizes are also used as crowding agents to mimic intracellular environments. A recent study with PEG crowders revealed decreased catalytic activity of Escherichia coli prolyl-tRNA synthetase (Ec ProRS), where the smaller molecular weight PEGs had the maximum impact. The molecular mechanism of the crowding effects of PEGs is not clearly understood. PEG may impact protein conformation and dynamics, thus its function. In the present study, the effects of PEG molecules of various molecular weights and concentrations on the conformation and dynamics of Ec ProRS were investigated using a combined experimental and computational approach including intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and atomistic molecular dynamic simulations. Results of the present study suggest that lower molecular weight PEGs in the dilute regime have modest effects on the conformational dynamics of Ec ProRS but impact the catalytic function primarily via the excluded volume effect; they form large clusters blocking the active site pocket. In contrast, the larger molecular weight PEGs in dilute to semidilute regimes have a significant impact on the protein's conformational dynamics; they wrap on the protein surface through noncovalent interactions. Thus, lower-molecular-weight PEG molecules impact protein dynamics and function via crowding effects, whereas larger PEGs induce confinement effects. These results have implications for the development of inhibitors for protein targets in a crowded cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Liebau
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Bethany F. Laatsch
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Joshua Rusnak
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Keegan Gunderson
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Brianna Finke
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Kassandra Bargender
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Alex Narkiewicz-Jodko
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Katelyn Weeks
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Murphi T. Williams
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Irina Shulgina
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Karin Musier-Forsyth
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Sudeep Bhattacharyya
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
| | - Sanchita Hati
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702, United States
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7
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Alfano C, Fichou Y, Huber K, Weiss M, Spruijt E, Ebbinghaus S, De Luca G, Morando MA, Vetri V, Temussi PA, Pastore A. Molecular Crowding: The History and Development of a Scientific Paradigm. Chem Rev 2024; 124:3186-3219. [PMID: 38466779 PMCID: PMC10979406 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
It is now generally accepted that macromolecules do not act in isolation but "live" in a crowded environment, that is, an environment populated by numerous different molecules. The field of molecular crowding has its origins in the far 80s but became accepted only by the end of the 90s. In the present issue, we discuss various aspects that are influenced by crowding and need to consider its effects. This Review is meant as an introduction to the theme and an analysis of the evolution of the crowding concept through time from colloidal and polymer physics to a more biological perspective. We introduce themes that will be more thoroughly treated in other Reviews of the present issue. In our intentions, each Review may stand by itself, but the complete collection has the aspiration to provide different but complementary perspectives to propose a more holistic view of molecular crowding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Alfano
- Structural
Biology and Biophysics Unit, Fondazione
Ri.MED, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Yann Fichou
- CNRS,
Bordeaux INP, CBMN UMR 5248, IECB, University
of Bordeaux, F-33600 Pessac, France
| | - Klaus Huber
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Paderborn, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Matthias Weiss
- Experimental
Physics I, Physics of Living Matter, University
of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Evan Spruijt
- Institute
for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon Ebbinghaus
- Lehrstuhl
für Biophysikalische Chemie and Research Center Chemical Sciences
and Sustainability, Research Alliance Ruhr, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Giuseppe De Luca
- Dipartimento
di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Vetri
- Dipartimento
di Fisica e Chimica − Emilio Segrè, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Annalisa Pastore
- King’s
College London, Denmark
Hill Campus, SE5 9RT London, United Kingdom
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8
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Sternke-Hoffmann R, Sun X, Menzel A, Pinto MDS, Venclovaitė U, Wördehoff M, Hoyer W, Zheng W, Luo J. Phase Separation and Aggregation of α-Synuclein Diverge at Different Salt Conditions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.01.582895. [PMID: 38464093 PMCID: PMC10925286 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.01.582895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The coacervation and structural rearrangement of the protein alpha-synuclein (αSyn) into cytotoxic oligomers and amyloid fibrils are considered pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. While aggregation is recognized as the key element of amyloid diseases, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and its interplay with aggregation have gained increasing interest. Previous work showed that factors promoting or inhibiting amyloid formation have similar effects on phase separation. Here, we provide a detailed scanning of a wide range of parameters including protein, salt and crowding concentrations at multiple pH values, revealing different salt dependencies of aggregation and phase separation. The influence of salt on aggregation under crowded conditions follows a non-monotonic pattern, showing increased effects at medium salt concentrations. This behavior can be elucidated through a combination of electrostatic screening and salting-out effects on the intramolecular interactions between the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of αSyn. By contrast, we find a monotonic salt dependence of phase separation due to the intermolecular interaction. Furthermore, we observe the time evolution of the two distinct assembly states, with macroscopic fibrillar-like bundles initially forming at medium salt concentration but subsequently converting into droplets after prolonged incubation. The droplet state is therefore capable of inhibiting aggregation or even dissolving the aggregates through a variety of heterotypic interactions, thus preventing αSyn from its dynamically arrested state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Sternke-Hoffmann
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Xun Sun
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Menzel
- Photon Science Division, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Dos Santos Pinto
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Urtė Venclovaitė
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Michael Wördehoff
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wenwei Zheng
- College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, 85212, United States
| | - Jinghui Luo
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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9
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Lomeli-Lepe AK, Castañeda-Cabral JL, López-Pérez SJ. Synucleinopathies: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors. Cell Biochem Biophys 2023; 81:427-442. [PMID: 37526884 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-023-01154-z] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
α-Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by alterations in α-synuclein (α-syn), a protein associated with membrane phospholipids, whose precise function in normal cells is still unknown. These kinds of diseases are caused by multiple factors, but the regulation of the α-syn gene is believed to play a central role in the pathology of these disorders; therefore, the α-syn gene is one of the most studied genes. α-Synucleinopathies are complex disorders that derive from the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Here, we offer an update on the landscape of the epigenetic regulation of α-syn gene expression that has been linked with α-synucleinopathies. We also delve into the reciprocal influence between epigenetic modifications and other factors related to these disorders, such as posttranslational modifications, microbiota participation, interactions with lipids, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, to promote α-syn aggregation by acting on the transcription and/or translation of the α-syn gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alma Karen Lomeli-Lepe
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, JAL, México
| | - Jose Luis Castañeda-Cabral
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, JAL, México
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10
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Campolo N, Mastrogiovanni M, Mariotti M, Issoglio FM, Estrin D, Hägglund P, Grune T, Davies MJ, Bartesaghi S, Radi R. Multiple oxidative post-translational modifications of human glutamine synthetase mediate peroxynitrite-dependent enzyme inactivation and aggregation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102941. [PMID: 36702251 PMCID: PMC10011836 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS), which catalyzes the ATP-dependent synthesis of L-glutamine from L-glutamate and ammonia, is a ubiquitous and conserved enzyme that plays a pivotal role in nitrogen metabolism across all life domains. In vertebrates, GS is highly expressed in astrocytes, where its activity sustains the glutamate-glutamine cycle at glutamatergic synapses and is thus essential for maintaining brain homeostasis. In fact, decreased GS levels or activity have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases, with these alterations attributed to oxidative post-translational modifications of the protein, in particular tyrosine nitration. In this study, we expressed and purified human GS (HsGS) and performed an in-depth analysis of its oxidative inactivation by peroxynitrite (ONOO-) in vitro. We found that ONOO- exposure led to a dose-dependent loss of HsGS activity, the oxidation of cysteine, methionine, and tyrosine residues and also the nitration of tryptophan and tyrosine residues. Peptide mapping by LC-MS/MS through combined H216O/H218O trypsin digestion identified up to 10 tyrosine nitration sites and five types of dityrosine cross-links; these modifications were further scrutinized by structural analysis. Tyrosine residues 171, 185, 269, 283, and 336 were the main nitration targets; however, tyrosine-to-phenylalanine HsGS mutants revealed that their sole nitration was not responsible for enzyme inactivation. In addition, we observed that ONOO- induced HsGS aggregation and activity loss. Thiol oxidation was a key modification to elicit aggregation, as it was also induced by hydrogen peroxide treatment. Taken together, our results indicate that multiple oxidative events at various sites are responsible for the inactivation and aggregation of human GS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Campolo
- Departamento de Bioquímica and Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mauricio Mastrogiovanni
- Departamento de Bioquímica and Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Michele Mariotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Federico M Issoglio
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB NOVA), Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Darío Estrin
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Física de los Materiales, Medio Ambiente y Energía (INQUIMAE), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Analítica y Química Física, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Per Hägglund
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tilman Grune
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; Department of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael J Davies
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Silvina Bartesaghi
- Departamento de Bioquímica and Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rafael Radi
- Departamento de Bioquímica and Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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11
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Liu Y, Wei G, Ding F, Sun Y. Molecular Insights into the Misfolding and Dimerization Dynamics of the Full-Length α-Synuclein from Atomistic Discrete Molecular Dynamics Simulations. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3126-3137. [PMID: 36278939 PMCID: PMC9797213 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The misfolding and pathological aggregation of α-synuclein forming insoluble amyloid deposits is associated with Parkinson's disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world population. Characterizing the self-assembly mechanism of α-synuclein is critical for discovering treatments against synucleinopathies. The intrinsically disordered property, high degrees of freedom, and macroscopic timescales of conformational conversion make its characterization extremely challenging in vitro and in silico. Here, we systematically investigated the dynamics of monomer misfolding and dimerization of the full-length α-synuclein using atomistic discrete molecular dynamics simulations. Our results suggested that both α-synuclein monomers and dimers mainly adopted unstructured formations with partial helices around the N-terminus (residues 8-32) and various β-sheets spanning the residues 35-56 (N-terminal tail) and residues 61-95 (NAC region). The C-terminus mostly assumed an unstructured formation wrapping around the lateral surface and the elongation edge of the β-sheet core formed by an N-terminal tail and NAC regions. Dimerization enhanced the β-sheet formation along with a decrease in the unstructured content. The inter-peptide β-sheets were mainly formed by the N-terminal tail and NACore (residues 68-78) regions, suggesting that these two regions played critical roles in the amyloid aggregation of α-synuclein. Interactions of the C-terminus with the N-terminal tail and the NAC region were significantly suppressed in the α-synuclein dimer, indicating that the interaction of the C-terminus with the N-terminal tail and NAC regions could prevent α-synuclein aggregation. These results on the structural ensembles and early aggregation dynamics of α-synuclein will help understand the nucleation and fibrillization of α-synuclein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yuying Liu
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Guanghong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
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Gorensek-Benitez AH, Kirk B, Myers JK. Protein Fibrillation under Crowded Conditions. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12070950. [PMID: 35883507 PMCID: PMC9312947 DOI: 10.3390/biom12070950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein amyloid fibrils have widespread implications for human health. Over the last twenty years, fibrillation has been studied using a variety of crowding agents to mimic the packed interior of cells or to probe the mechanisms and pathways of the process. We tabulate and review these results by considering three classes of crowding agent: synthetic polymers, osmolytes and other small molecules, and globular proteins. While some patterns are observable for certain crowding agents, the results are highly variable and often depend on the specific pairing of crowder and fibrillating protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise H. Gorensek-Benitez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, USA
- Correspondence: (A.H.G.-B.); (J.K.M.)
| | - Bryan Kirk
- Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035, USA;
| | - Jeffrey K. Myers
- Department of Chemistry, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035, USA
- Correspondence: (A.H.G.-B.); (J.K.M.)
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Horvath I, Kumar R, Wittung-Stafshede P. Macromolecular crowding modulates α-synuclein amyloid fiber growth. Biophys J 2021; 120:3374-3381. [PMID: 34242594 PMCID: PMC8391083 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The crowdedness of living cells, hundreds of milligrams per milliliter of macromolecules, may affect protein folding, function, and misfolding. Still, such processes are most often studied in dilute solutions in vitro. To assess consequences of the in vivo milieu, we here investigated the effects of macromolecular crowding on the amyloid fiber formation reaction of α-synuclein, the amyloidogenic protein in Parkinson's disease. For this, we performed spectroscopic experiments probing individual steps of the reaction as a function of the macromolecular crowding agent Ficoll70, which is an inert sucrose-based polymer that provides excluded-volume effects. The experiments were performed at neutral pH at quiescent conditions to avoid artifacts due to shaking and glass beads (typical conditions for α-synuclein), using amyloid fiber seeds to initiate reactions. We find that both primary nucleation and fiber elongation steps during α-synuclein amyloid formation are accelerated by the presence of 140 and 280 mg/mL Ficoll70. Moreover, in the presence of Ficoll70 at neutral pH, secondary nucleation appears favored, resulting in faster overall α-synuclein amyloid formation. In contrast, sucrose, a small-molecule osmolyte and building block of Ficoll70, slowed down α-synuclein amyloid formation. The ability of cell environments to modulate reaction kinetics to a large extent, such as severalfold faster individual steps in α-synuclein amyloid formation, is an important consideration for biochemical reactions in living systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Istvan Horvath
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ranjeet Kumar
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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