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Mohammadi S, Seyedalipour B, Hashemi SZ, Hosseinkhani S, Mohseni M. Implications of ALS-Associated Mutations on Biochemical and Biophysical Features of hSOD1 and Aggregation Formation. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-023-10619-y. [PMID: 38196030 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10619-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
One of the recognized motor neuron degenerative disorders is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). By now, several mutations have been reported and linked to ALS patients, some of which are induced by mutations in the human superoxide dismutase (hSOD1) gene. The ALS-provoking mutations are located throughout the structure of hSOD1 and promote the propensity to aggregate. Despite numerous investigations, the underlying mechanism related to the toxicity of mutant hSOD1 through the gain of a toxic function is still vague. We surveyed two mutant forms of hSOD1 by removing and adding cysteine at positions 146 and 72, respectively, to investigate the biochemical characterization and amyloid formation. Our findings predicted the harmful and destabilizing impact of two SOD1 mutants using multiple programs. The specific activity of the wild-type form was about 1.42- and 1.92-fold higher than that of C146R and G72C mutants, respectively. Comparative structural studies using CD spectropolarimetry, and intrinsic and ANS fluorescence showed alterations in secondary structure content, exposure of hydrophobic patches, and structural compactness of WT-hSOD1 vs. mutants. We demonstrated that two mutants were able to promote amyloid-like aggregates under amyloid induction circumstances (50-mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 0.2-M KSCN, 50-mM DTT, 37 °C, 190 rpm). Monitoring aggregates were done using an enhancement in thioflavin T fluorescence and alterations in Congo red absorption. The mutants accelerated fibrillation with subsequently greater fluorescence amplitude and a shorter lag time compared to WT-SOD1. These findings support the aggregation of ALS-associated SOD1 mutants as an integral part of ALS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeede Mohammadi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Bagher Seyedalipour
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
| | - Seyedeh Zohreh Hashemi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Saman Hosseinkhani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Mohseni
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
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Noorbakhsh Varnosfaderani SM, Sadat Haeri M, Arian AS, Yousefi Rad A, Yazdanpour M, Mojahedian F, Yaghoubzad-Maleki M, Zalpoor H, Baziyar P, Nabi-Afjadi M. Fighting against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with flavonoids: a computational approach to inhibit superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutant aggregation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-18. [PMID: 37975411 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2281641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a biological process that occurs when proteins misfold. Misfolding and aggregation of human superoxide dismutase (hSOD1) cause a neurodegenerative disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Among the mutations occurring, targeting the E21K mutation could be a good choice to understand the pathological mechanism of SOD1 in ALS, whereof it significantly reduces life hopefulness in patients. Naturally occurring polyphenolic flavonoids have been suggested as a way to alleviate the amyloidogenic behavior of proteins. In this study, computational tools were used to identify promising flavonoid compounds that effectively inhibit the pathogenic behavior of the E21K mutant. Initial screening identified Pelargonidin, Curcumin, and Silybin as promising leads. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed that the binding of flavonoids to the mutated SOD1 caused changes in the protein stability, hydrophobicity, flexibility, and restoration of lost hydrogen bonds. Secondary structure analysis indicated that the protein destabilization and the increased propensity of β-sheet caused by the mutation were restored to the wild-type state upon binding of flavonoids. Free energy landscape (FEL) analysis was also used to differentiate aggregation, and results showed that Silybin followed by Pelargonidin had the most therapeutic efficacy against the E21K mutant SOD1. Therefore, these flavonoids hold great potential as highly effective inhibitors in mitigating ALS's fatal and insuperable effects.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melika Sadat Haeri
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Sam Arian
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Yousefi Rad
- Department of Biochemistry, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Yazdanpour
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mojahedian
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Yaghoubzad-Maleki
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Zalpoor
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Payam Baziyar
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran
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