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Wang Y, Liu W, Sun Y, Dong X. Transthyretin-Penetratin: A Potent Fusion Protein Inhibitor against Alzheimer's Amyloid-β Fibrillogenesis with High Blood Brain Barrier Crossing Capability. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:419-431. [PMID: 38450606 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00073] [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: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The design of a potent amyloid-β protein (Aβ) inhibitor plays a pivotal role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite endogenous transthyretin (TTR) being recognized as an Aβ inhibitor, the weak inhibitory and blood brain barrier (BBB) crossing capabilities hinder it for Aβ aggregation inhibition and transport. Therefore, we have herein designed a recombinant TTR by conjugating a cationic cell penetrating peptide (penetratin, Pen), which not only enabled the fusion protein, TTR-Pen (TP), to present high BBB penetration but also greatly enhanced the potency of Aβ inhibition. Namely, the protein fusion made TP positively charged, leading to a potent suppression of Aβ40 fibrillization at a low concentration (1.5 μM), while a TTR concentration as high as 12.5 μM was required to gain a similar function. Moreover, TP could mitigate Aβ-induced neuronal death, increase cultured cell viability from 72% to 92% at 2.5 μM, and extend the lifespan of AD nematodes from 14 to 18 d. Thermodynamic studies revealed that TP, enriched in positive charges, presented extensive electrostatic interactions with Aβ40. Importantly, TP showed excellent BBB penetration performance, with a 10 times higher BBB permeability than TTR, which would allow TP to enter the brain of AD patients and participate in the transport of Aβ species out of the brain. Thus, it is expected that the fusion protein has great potential for drug development in AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiaoyan Dong
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering and Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
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2
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Agrawal N, Parisini E. Investigating the Effects of the POPC-POPG Lipid Bilayer Composition on PAP248-286 Binding Using CG Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9095-9101. [PMID: 37843472 PMCID: PMC10614185 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05385] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
PAP248-286 is a fusogenic peptide derived from prostatic acid phosphatase, commonly found in human semen, and is known to mediate HIV fusion with cell membranes. In this study, we performed 120 independent coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the spontaneous binding of PAP248-286 monomers, considering both charged and neutral histidine (His) residues, to membrane bilayers composed of different lipid compositions: 100% POPC, 70% POPC-30% POPG, and 50% POPC-50% POPG. Our simulations revealed that PAP248-286 displayed spontaneous binding to the membrane, with increased binding observed in the presence of anionic lipid POPG. Specifically, in systems containing 30% and 50% POPG lipids, monomer residues, particularly in the systems containing charged histidine (His) residues, exhibited prolonged binding with the membrane. Furthermore, our simulations indicated that PAP248-286 adopted a parallel orientation with the membrane, exposing its positively charged residues to the lipid bilayer. Interestingly, systems containing charged His residues showed a higher lipid occupancy around the peptide. These findings are consistent with previous experimental data, suggesting that PAP248-286 binding is enhanced in membranes with charged His residues, resembling the conditions found in the acidic vaginal pH environment. The results of our study provide further insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the membrane binding of PAP248-286, contributing to our understanding of its potential role in HIV fusion and infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Agrawal
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia
- College
of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag, X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Emilio Parisini
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia
- Department
of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, Bologna 40126, Italy
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3
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Epigallocatechin gallate-derived carbonized polymer dots: A multifunctional scavenger targeting Alzheimer's β-amyloid plaques. Acta Biomater 2023; 157:524-537. [PMID: 36503076 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.11.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The design of high-efficiency scavengers targeting β-amyloid protein (Aβ) plaques in the progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been recognized as an effective way to prevent and treat AD. Herein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-derived carbonized polymer dots (E-CPDs) were synthesized for the first time via a hydrothermal method using EGCG, an Aβ inhibitor, as one of the raw materials. The inhibitory efficiency and fluorescent property of E-CPDs were elegantly modulated by adjusting the molar ratio of EGCG to nitrogen-containing dopant, o-phenylenediamine (oPD), and 75E-CPDs fabricated with 75 mM EGCG and 50 mM oPD showed the highest inhibitory capability. The multifunctionality of 75E-CPDs on inhibition of Aβ fibrillization, Aβ fibrils disaggregation, amyloid fluorescent detection, and intracellular reactive oxygen species scavenging was demonstrated. 75E-CPDs inhibited the formation of β-sheet-rich Aβ aggregates, alleviated Aβ-induced cytotoxicity of cultured cells from 47% to 15%, and prolonged the lifespan of AD nematodes by scavenging in vivo amyloid plaques, demonstrating much higher performance than either EGCG or EGCG-free carbon dots. Notably, 75E-CPDs could rapidly disaggregate Aβ fibrils on "second" scale, faster than any other disaggregating agents. The aromatic structure as well as hydroxyl and carboxyl groups existing on 75E-CPDs surface, which would interact with Aβ species via hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions, played critical roles in their inhibition and disaggregation capabilities. This work reveals that potent CDs can be fabricated by using an Aβ inhibitor as the precursor, providing a new perspective for the design of multifunctional scavengers targeting amyloid plaques. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide and seriously threatens human health. Recently, carbon nanomaterials have attracted much attention because of their good biocompatibility and capability in modulating Aβ aggregation via multiple interactions. This work has for the first time fabricated epigallocatechin gallate-derived carbonized polymer dots (E-CPDs) and revealed the multifunctional potency of E-CPDs on alleviating the multifaced symptoms associated with β-amyloid protein (Aβ) fibrillization in the progression of AD. Notably, E-CPDs exhibited enhanced fluorescence emission upon binding to Aβ fibrils, possessing potential as Aβ fluorescent probes. It is believed that this work would open a new horizon in the design of multifunctional carbon nanomaterials as a potent amyloid scavenger for AD theranostics.
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Agrawal N, Skelton AA, Parisini E. A coarse-grained molecular dynamics investigation on spontaneous binding of Aβ 1-40 fibrils with cholesterol-mixed DPPC bilayers. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:2688-2695. [PMID: 37143763 PMCID: PMC10151222 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Its aetiology is characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides into β-sheet-rich Aβ oligomers/fibrils. Although multiple experimental studies have suggested that Aβ oligomers/fibrils interact with the cell membranes and perturb their structures and dynamics, the molecular mechanism of this interaction is still not fully understood. In the present work, we have performed a total of 120 μs-long simulations to investigate the interaction between trimeric or hexameric Aβ1-40 fibrils with either a 100% DPPC bilayer, a 70% DPPC-30% cholesterol bilayer or a 50% DPPC-50% cholesterol bilayer. Our simulation data capture the spontaneous binding of the aqueous Aβ1-40 fibrils with the membranes and show that the central hydrophobic amino acid cluster, the lysine residue adjacent to it and the C-terminal hydrophobic residues are all involved in the process. Moreover, our data show that while the Aβ1-40 fibril does not bind to the 100% DPPC bilayer, its binding affinity for the membrane increases with the amount of cholesterol. Overall, our data suggest that two clusters of hydrophobic residues and one lysine help Aβ1-40 fibrils establish stable interactions with a cholesterol-rich DPPC bilayer. These residues are likely to represent potential target regions for the design of inhibitors, thus opening new avenues in structure-based drug design against Aβ oligomer/fibril-membrane interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Agrawal
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia
- College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Corresponding authors at: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia.
| | - Adam A. Skelton
- College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Emilio Parisini
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Corresponding authors at: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia.
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5
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Agrawal N, Parisini E. Early Stages of Misfolding of PAP248-286 at two different pH values: An Insight from Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:4892-4901. [PMID: 36147683 PMCID: PMC9474323 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.08.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
PAP248-286 peptides, which are highly abundant in human semen, aggregate and form amyloid fibrils that enhance HIV infection. Previous experimental studies have shown that the infection-promoting activity of PAP248-286 begins to increase well before amyloid formation takes place and that pH plays a key role in the enhancement of PAP248-286-related infection. Hence, understanding the early stages of misfolding of the PAP2482-86 peptide is crucial. To this end, we have performed 60 independent MD simulations for a total of 24 µs at two different pH values (4.2 and 7.2). Our data shows that early stages of misfolding of the PAP248-286 peptide is a multistage process and that the first step of the process is a transition from an “I-shaped” structure to a “U-shaped” structure. We further observed that the structure of PAP248-286 at the two different pH values shows significantly different features. At pH 4.2, the peptide has less intra-molecular H-bonds and a reduced α-helical content than at pH 7.2. Moreover, differences in intra-peptide residues contacts are also observed at the two pH values. Finally, free energy landscape analysis shows that there are more local minima in the energy surface of the peptide at pH 7.2 than at pH 4.2. Overall, the present study elucidates the early stages of misfolding of the PAP248-286 peptide at the atomic level, thus possibly opening new avenues in structure-based drug discovery against HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Agrawal
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia
- College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Corresponding authors at: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia.
| | - Emilio Parisini
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Corresponding authors at: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, LV, Riga 1006, Latvia.
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6
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Waeytens J, Turbant F, Arluison V, Raussens V, Wien F. Analysis of Bacterial Amyloid Interaction with Lipidic Membrane by Orientated Circular Dichroism and Infrared Spectroscopies. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2538:217-234. [PMID: 35951303 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2529-3_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), circular dichroism (CD), and orientated circular dichroism (OCD) are complementary spectroscopies widely used for the analysis of protein samples such as the amyloids commonly renowned as neurodegenerative agents. Determining the secondary structure content of proteins, such as aggregated β-sheets inside the amyloids and in various environments, including membranes and lipids, has made these techniques very valuable and complemental to high-resolution techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray crystallography, and cryo-electron microscopy. FTIR and CD are extremely sensitive to structural changes of proteins due to environmental changes. Furthermore, FTIR provides information on lipid modifications upon protein binding, whereas synchrotron radiation CD (SRCD) and OCD are sensitive to the subtle structural changes occurring in β-sheet-rich proteins and their orientation or alignment with lipid bilayers. FTIR and CD techniques allow the identification of parallel and antiparallel β-sheet content and are therefore complementary. In this chapter, we present FTIR and CD/OCD applications to study the interactions of bacterial amyloids with membranes and lipids. Moreover, we show how to decipher the spectroscopic signals to obtain information on the molecular structure of amyloids and their interaction with lipids, addressing potential amyloid insertion into membranes and the lipid bilayer adjustments observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jehan Waeytens
- Centre de Biologie structurale et de Bioinformatique, Structure et Fonction des Membranes Biologiques, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
- Institut de Chimie Physique, CNRS UMR8000, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Florian Turbant
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin LLB, CEA, CNRS UMR12, Université Paris Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Véronique Arluison
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin LLB, CEA, CNRS UMR12, Université Paris Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Université de Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Raussens
- Centre de Biologie structurale et de Bioinformatique, Structure et Fonction des Membranes Biologiques, Université libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium.
| | - Frank Wien
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
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7
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Peptide-Based Vaccines for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Recent Endeavors and Future Perspectives. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9111278. [PMID: 34835209 PMCID: PMC8622585 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of peptide-based vaccines for treating human neurodegenerative diseases has been the eventual aim of many research endeavors, although no active immunotherapies have been approved for clinical use till now. A typical example of such endeavors is the effort to develop vaccines for Alzheimer’s disease based on the beta-amyloid peptide, which continues to be intensively investigated despite previous setbacks. In this paper, recent developments in peptide-based vaccines which target beta-amyloid as well as tau protein and α-synuclein are presented. Particular focus has been directed toward peptide epitopes and formulation systems selected/developed and employed to enhance vaccine efficacy and safety. Results from both, human clinical trials and animal preclinical studies conducted mainly in transgenic mice have been included. Future perspectives on the topic are also briefly discussed.
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8
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Hampel H, Hardy J, Blennow K, Chen C, Perry G, Kim SH, Villemagne VL, Aisen P, Vendruscolo M, Iwatsubo T, Masters CL, Cho M, Lannfelt L, Cummings JL, Vergallo A. The Amyloid-β Pathway in Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:5481-5503. [PMID: 34456336 PMCID: PMC8758495 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01249-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 515] [Impact Index Per Article: 171.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Breakthroughs in molecular medicine have positioned the amyloid-β (Aβ) pathway at the center of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. While the detailed molecular mechanisms of the pathway and the spatial-temporal dynamics leading to synaptic failure, neurodegeneration, and clinical onset are still under intense investigation, the established biochemical alterations of the Aβ cycle remain the core biological hallmark of AD and are promising targets for the development of disease-modifying therapies. Here, we systematically review and update the vast state-of-the-art literature of Aβ science with evidence from basic research studies to human genetic and multi-modal biomarker investigations, which supports a crucial role of Aβ pathway dyshomeostasis in AD pathophysiological dynamics. We discuss the evidence highlighting a differentiated interaction of distinct Aβ species with other AD-related biological mechanisms, such as tau-mediated, neuroimmune and inflammatory changes, as well as a neurochemical imbalance. Through the lens of the latest development of multimodal in vivo biomarkers of AD, this cross-disciplinary review examines the compelling hypothesis- and data-driven rationale for Aβ-targeting therapeutic strategies in development for the early treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Hampel
- Eisai Inc., Neurology Business Group, Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA.
| | - John Hardy
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Christopher Chen
- Memory Aging and Cognition Centre, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - George Perry
- Department of Biology and Neurosciences Institute, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Seung Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cell Therapy Center, Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Victor L Villemagne
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul Aisen
- USC Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Takeshi Iwatsubo
- Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Colin L Masters
- Laureate Professor of Dementia Research, Florey Institute and The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Min Cho
- Eisai Inc., Neurology Business Group, Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA
| | - Lars Lannfelt
- Uppsala University, Department of of Public Health/Geriatrics, Uppsala, Sweden
- BioArctic AB, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey L Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Andrea Vergallo
- Eisai Inc., Neurology Business Group, Woodcliff Lake, NJ, USA.
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Gowda V, Biler M, Filippov A, Mantonico MV, Ornithopoulou E, Linares M, Antzutkin ON, Lendel C. Structural characterisation of amyloid-like fibrils formed by an amyloidogenic peptide segment of β-lactoglobulin. RSC Adv 2021; 11:27868-27879. [PMID: 35480736 PMCID: PMC9037834 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra03575d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein nanofibrils (PNFs) represent a promising class of biobased nanomaterials for biomedical and materials science applications. In the design of such materials, a fundamental understanding of the structure–function relationship at both molecular and nanoscale levels is essential. Here we report investigations of the nanoscale morphology and molecular arrangement of amyloid-like PNFs of a synthetic peptide fragment consisting of residues 11–20 of the protein β-lactoglobulin (β-LG11–20), an important model system for PNF materials. Nanoscale fibril morphology was analysed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) that indicates the presence of polymorphic self-assembly of protofilaments. However, observation of a single set of 13C and 15N resonances in the solid-state NMR spectra for the β-LG11–20 fibrils suggests that the observed polymorphism originates from the assembly of protofilaments at the nanoscale but not from the molecular structure. The secondary structure and inter-residue proximities in the β-LG11–20 fibrils were probed using NMR experiments of the peptide with 13C- and 15N-labelled amino acid residues at selected positions. We can conclude that the peptides form parallel β-sheets, but the NMR data was inconclusive regarding inter-sheet packing. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm the stability of parallel β-sheets and suggest two preferred modes of packing. Comparison of molecular dynamics models with NMR data and calculated chemical shifts indicates that both packing models are possible. A 10-residue peptide segment of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG11–20) forms amyloid-like fibrils as revealed by AFM, NMR, and MD simulations.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasantha Gowda
- Dept. of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm Sweden
| | - Michal Biler
- Dept. of Theoretical Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm Sweden
| | - Andrei Filippov
- Chemistry of Interfaces, Luleå University of Technology Sweden.,Dept. Medical and Biological Physics, Kazan State Medical University 420012 Kazan Russia
| | | | | | - Mathieu Linares
- Dept. of Theoretical Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm Sweden.,Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Group of Scientific Visualization, ITN, Linköping University 60174 Norrköping Sweden.,Swedish e-Science Research Centre (SeRC), Linköping University 60174 Norrköping Sweden
| | - Oleg N Antzutkin
- Chemistry of Interfaces, Luleå University of Technology Sweden.,Dept. of Physics, University of Warwick Coventry UK
| | - Christofer Lendel
- Dept. of Chemistry, KTH Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm Sweden
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Campora M, Francesconi V, Schenone S, Tasso B, Tonelli M. Journey on Naphthoquinone and Anthraquinone Derivatives: New Insights in Alzheimer's Disease. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:33. [PMID: 33466332 PMCID: PMC7824805 DOI: 10.3390/ph14010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by memory loss, cognitive impairment, and functional decline leading to dementia and death. AD imposes neuronal death by the intricate interplay of different neurochemical factors, which continue to inspire the medicinal chemist as molecular targets for the development of new agents for the treatment of AD with diverse mechanisms of action, but also depict a more complex AD scenario. Within the wide variety of reported molecules, this review summarizes and offers a global overview of recent advancements on naphthoquinone (NQ) and anthraquinone (AQ) derivatives whose more relevant chemical features and structure-activity relationship studies will be discussed with a view to providing the perspective for the design of viable drugs for the treatment of AD. In particular, cholinesterases (ChEs), β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau proteins have been identified as key targets of these classes of compounds, where the NQ or AQ scaffold may contribute to the biological effect against AD as main unit or significant substructure. The multitarget directed ligand (MTDL) strategy will be described, as a chance for these molecules to exhibit significant potential on the road to therapeutics for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Michele Tonelli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy; (M.C.); (V.F.); (S.S.); (B.T.)
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11
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Bigi A, Loffredo G, Cascella R, Cecchi C. Targeting Pathological Amyloid Aggregates with Conformation-Sensitive Antibodies. Curr Alzheimer Res 2020; 17:722-734. [PMID: 33167834 DOI: 10.2174/1567205017666201109093848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not directly caused by the presence of senile plaques but rather by the detrimental effects exerted on neuronal cells by toxic soluble oligomers. Such species are formed early during the aggregation process of the Aβ1-42 peptide or can be released from mature fibrils. Nowadays, efficient tools for an early diagnosis, as well as pharmaceutical treatments targeting the harmful agents in samples of AD patients, are still missing. OBJECTIVE By integrating in vitro immunochemical assay with in vivo neuronal models of toxicity, we aim to understand and target the principles that drive toxicity in AD. METHODS We evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of A11 and OC conformational antibodies to target a range of pathologically relevant amyloid conformers and rescue their cytotoxic effects in neuronal culture models using a number of cellular readouts. RESULTS We demonstrated the peculiar ability of conformational antibodies to label pathologically relevant Aβ1-42 oligomers and fibrils and to prevent their detrimental effects on neuronal cells. CONCLUSION Our results substantially improve our knowledge on the role of toxic assemblies in neurodegenerative diseases, thus suggesting new and more effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Bigi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Gilda Loffredo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
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12
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Tian M, Li B, Shen L. Hierarchical Self-Assembly Mechanism of Ladder-Like Orientated Aβ40 Single-Stranded Protofibrils into Multistranded Mature Fibrils. ACS Macro Lett 2020; 9:1759-1765. [PMID: 35653679 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The complex self-assembly processes in three dimensions of Alzheimer's β-peptide (Aβ) amyloid protofibrils into polymorphic mature fibrils, particularly the relative protofibril orientation and packing mechanism, are poorly understood. We report here the identification and quantification of the hierarchical self-assembly details among distinct Aβ40 fibrils, particularly the winding pictures of two, three, and four individual single-stranded protofibrils into two-, three-, and four-stranded mature fibrils, respectively, via cross-sectional analysis of atomic force microscopy (AFM) images. The statistical polymer physics analysis of fibril flexibilities from AFM characterizations as well as molecular dynamics (MD) simulations reveal a ladder-like packing mechanism rather than a closed-packing manner for the interprotofibril association into Aβ40 mature fibrils. Moreover, our MD results show atomic packing polymorphism at the well-packing interfaces even within the same multistranded fibril. This work provides mechanistic insights into the polymorphic transition of single-stranded Aβ40 protofibrils into multistranded mature fibrils at the mesoscopic level, which is useful for a more comprehensive understanding of Alzheimer's β-peptide amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Tian
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Bei Li
- Research Center for Materials Genome Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lei Shen
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
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Kaur A, New EJ, Sunde M. Strategies for the Molecular Imaging of Amyloid and the Value of a Multimodal Approach. ACS Sens 2020; 5:2268-2282. [PMID: 32627533 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c01101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein aggregation has been widely implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington disease, as well as in systemic amyloidoses and conditions associated with localized amyloid deposits, such as type-II diabetes. The pressing need for a better understanding of the factors governing protein assembly has driven research for the development of molecular sensors for amyloidogenic proteins. To date, a number of sensors have been developed that report on the presence of protein aggregates utilizing various modalities, and their utility demonstrated for imaging protein aggregation in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of these sensors highlights the various advantages and disadvantages of the different imaging modalities and makes clear that multimodal sensors with properties amenable to more than one imaging technique need to be developed. This critical review highlights the key molecular scaffolds reported for molecular imaging modalities such as fluorescence, positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging and includes discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each modality, and future directions for the design of amyloid sensors. We also discuss the recent efforts focused on the design and development of multimodal sensors and the value of cross-validation across multiple modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandeep Kaur
- The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- The University of Sydney, Nano Institute (Sydney Nano), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Elizabeth J. New
- The University of Sydney, Nano Institute (Sydney Nano), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- The University of Sydney, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Margaret Sunde
- The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- The University of Sydney, Nano Institute (Sydney Nano), The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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