1
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Kalipillai P, Raghuram E, Mani E. Effect of substrate charge density on the adsorption of intrinsically disordered protein amyloid β40: a molecular dynamics study. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:1642-1652. [PMID: 36756755 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01581a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The inhibitory effect of negatively charged gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on amyloidogenic protein fibrillation has been established from experiments and computer simulations. Here, we investigate the effect of the charge density (σ) of gold (Au) surfaces on the adsorption of the intrinsically disordered amyloid β40 (Aβ40) monomer using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. On the basis of the binding free energy, some key residues (ARG5, LYS16, LYS28, LEU17-ALA21, ILE31-VAL38) were found to be responsible for preventing the β-sheet formation, which is known to be a precursor for fibrillation. Until a critical charge density (σc) of -0.167 e nm-2, the key residues remained adsorbed on the Au slab. A saturation in the number of condensed counterions (Na+) on Aβ40 was also observed at σc. Beyond σc, the condensation of Na+ occurs only on the Au slab, leading to competition between positively charged key residues and condensed ions. This competition was found to be responsible for the lack of adsorption of the key residues, leading to β-sheet formation for σ > -0.167 e nm-2. This study suggests that if the key residues are not adsorbed, then β-sheet formation is observed, which can then lead to the development of proto-fibrils and subsequently fibrillation. Therefore the surface should have an optimal charge density to be an effective inhibitor of fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pandurangan Kalipillai
- Polymer Engineering and Colloid Science Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India.
- School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, India
| | - E Raghuram
- Polymer Engineering and Colloid Science Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India.
| | - Ethayaraja Mani
- Polymer Engineering and Colloid Science Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600036, India.
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2
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Picone P, Sanfilippo T, Vasto S, Baldassano S, Guggino R, Nuzzo D, Bulone D, San Biagio PL, Muscolino E, Monastero R, Dispenza C, Giacomazza D. From Small Peptides to Large Proteins against Alzheimer’sDisease. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101344. [PMID: 36291553 PMCID: PMC9599460 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly. The two cardinal neuropathological hallmarks of AD are the senile plaques, which are extracellular deposits mainly constituted by beta-amyloids, and neurofibrillary tangles formed by abnormally phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) located in the cytoplasm of neurons. Although the research has made relevant progress in the management of the disease, the treatment is still lacking. Only symptomatic medications exist for the disease, and, in the meantime, laboratories worldwide are investigating disease-modifying treatments for AD. In the present review, results centered on the use of peptides of different sizes involved in AD are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Picone
- Istituto per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
- Dipartmento of Scienze Biologiche, Chimiche, Farmaceutiche e Tecnologiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Tiziana Sanfilippo
- Ambulatorio di Nutrizione Clinica ASP Palermo, Via G. Cusmano 24, 90141 Palermo, Italy
- Anestesia e Rianimazione, Presidio Ospedaliero “S. Cimino”, 90141 Termini Imerese, Italy
| | - Sonya Vasto
- Dipartmento of Scienze Biologiche, Chimiche, Farmaceutiche e Tecnologiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
- Istituti Euro-Mediterranei di Scienza e Tecnologia (IEMEST), Via M. Miraglia 20, 90139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Sara Baldassano
- Dipartmento of Scienze Biologiche, Chimiche, Farmaceutiche e Tecnologiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Rossella Guggino
- Ambulatorio di Nutrizione Clinica ASP Palermo, Via G. Cusmano 24, 90141 Palermo, Italy
- Anestesia e Rianimazione, Presidio Ospedaliero “S. Cimino”, 90141 Termini Imerese, Italy
| | - Domenico Nuzzo
- Istituto per la Ricerca e l’Innovazione Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
- Dipartmento of Scienze Biologiche, Chimiche, Farmaceutiche e Tecnologiche (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: (D.N.); (D.G.)
| | - Donatella Bulone
- Istituto di Biofisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Pier Luigi San Biagio
- Istituto di Biofisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Emanuela Muscolino
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberto Monastero
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Neuroscienze e Diagnostica Avanzata, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Clelia Dispenza
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Daniela Giacomazza
- Istituto di Biofisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: (D.N.); (D.G.)
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3
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Nucara A, Ripanti F, Sennato S, Nisini G, De Santis E, Sefat M, Carbonaro M, Mango D, Minicozzi V, Carbone M. Influence of Cortisol on the Fibril Formation Kinetics of Aβ42 Peptide: A Multi-Technical Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116007. [PMID: 35682687 PMCID: PMC9180743 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116007] [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: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) aggregates are known to be correlated with pathological neurodegenerative diseases. The fibril formation process of such peptides in solution is influenced by several factors, such as the ionic strength of the buffer, concentration, pH, and presence of other molecules, just to mention a few. In this paper, we report a detailed analysis of in vitro Aβ42 fibril formation in the presence of cortisol at different relative concentrations. The thioflavin T fluorescence assay allowed us to monitor the fibril formation kinetics, while a morphological characterization of the aggregates was obtained by atomic force microscopy. Moreover, infrared absorption spectroscopy was exploited to investigate the secondary structure changes along the fibril formation path. Molecular dynamics calculations allowed us to understand the intermolecular interactions with cortisol. The combined results demonstrated the influence of cortisol on the fibril formation process: indeed, at cortisol-Aβ42 concentration ratio (ρ) close to 0.1 a faster organization of Aβ42 fragments into fibrils is promoted, while for ρ = 1 the formation of fibrils is completely inhibited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Nucara
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence: (A.N.); (F.R.)
| | - Francesca Ripanti
- Department of Physics and Geology, University of Perugia, Via Alessandro Pascoli, 06123 Perugia, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.N.); (F.R.)
| | - Simona Sennato
- CNR-ISC Sede Sapienza, Department of Physics, Sapienza University, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giacomo Nisini
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Emiliano De Santis
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Chemistry-BMC, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Mahta Sefat
- School of Pharmacy, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.S.); (D.M.)
| | - Marina Carbonaro
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy;
| | - Dalila Mango
- School of Pharmacy, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.S.); (D.M.)
- Laboratory Pharmacology of Synaptic Plasticity, European Brain Research Institute, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Velia Minicozzi
- Department of Physics and INFN, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Marilena Carbone
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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Sciacca MF, Naletova I, Giuffrida ML, Attanasio F. Semax, a Synthetic Regulatory Peptide, Affects Copper-Induced Abeta Aggregation and Amyloid Formation in Artificial Membrane Models. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:486-496. [PMID: 35080861 PMCID: PMC8855339 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
![]()
Alzheimer’s
disease, the most common form of dementia, is
characterized by the aggregation of amyloid beta protein (Aβ).
The aggregation and toxicity of Aβ are strongly modulated by
metal ions and phospholipidic membranes. In particular, Cu2+ ions play a pivotal role in modulating Aβ aggregation. Although
in the last decades several natural or synthetic compounds were evaluated
as candidate drugs, to date, no treatments are available for the pathology.
Multifunctional compounds able to both inhibit fibrillogenesis, and
in particular the formation of oligomeric species, and prevent the
formation of the Aβ:Cu2+ complex are of particular
interest. Here we tested the anti-aggregating properties of a heptapeptide,
Semax, an ACTH-like peptide, which is known to form a stable complex
with Cu2+ ions and has been proven to have neuroprotective
and nootropic effects. We demonstrated through a combination of spectrofluorometric,
calorimetric, and MTT assays that Semax not only is able to prevent
the formation of Aβ:Cu2+ complexes but also has anti-aggregating
and protective properties especially in the presence of Cu2+. The results suggest that Semax inhibits fiber formation by interfering
with the fibrillogenesis of Aβ:Cu2+ complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele F.M. Sciacca
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Cristallografia, Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, Catania 95126, Italy
| | - Irina Naletova
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Cristallografia, Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, Catania 95126, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Giuffrida
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Cristallografia, Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, Catania 95126, Italy
| | - Francesco Attanasio
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Cristallografia, Via Paolo Gaifami, 18, Catania 95126, Italy
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5
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Nedaei H, Rezaei-Ghaleh N, Giller K, Becker S, Karami L, Moosavi-Movahedi AA, Griesinger C, Saboury AA. The Calcium-free form of Atorvastatin inhibits amyloid-β(1-42) aggregation in vitro. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101662. [PMID: 35104501 PMCID: PMC8898965 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the presence of extraneuronal amyloid plaques composed of amyloid-beta (Aβ) fibrillar aggregates in the brains of patients. In mouse models, it has previously been shown that atorvastatin (Ator), a cholesterol-lowering drug, has some reducing effect on the production of cerebral Aβ. A meta-analysis on humans showed moderate effects in the short term but no improvement in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale—Cognitive Subscale behavioral test. Here, we explore a potential direct effect of Ator on Aβ42 aggregation. Using NMR-based monomer consumption assays and CD spectroscopy, we observed a promoting effect of Ator in its original form (Ator-calcium) on Aβ42 aggregation, as expected because of the presence of calcium ions. The effect was reversed when applying a CaCO3-based calcium ion scavenging method, which was validated by the aforementioned methods as well as thioflavin-T fluorescence assays and transmission electron microscopy. We found that the aggregation was inhibited significantly when the concentration of calcium-free Ator exceeded that of Aβ by at least a factor of 2. The 1H–15N heteronuclear single quantum correlation and saturation-transfer difference NMR data suggest that calcium-free Ator exerts its effect through interaction with the 16KLVF19 binding site on the Aβ peptide via its aromatic rings as well as hydroxyl and methyl groups. On the other hand, molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that the increasing concentration of Ator is necessary for the inhibition of the conformational transition of Aβ from an α-helix-dominant to a β-sheet-dominant structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Nedaei
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasrollah Rezaei-Ghaleh
- Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany; Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karin Giller
- Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Becker
- Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Leila Karami
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Moosavi-Movahedi
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Christian Griesinger
- Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Ali Akbar Saboury
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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6
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Roldán-Martín L, Peccati F, Sciortino G, Sodupe M, Maréchal JD. Impact of Cu(II) and Al(III) on the conformational landscape of amyloidβ 1-42. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:13023-13032. [PMID: 34095932 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp01561c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Metal ions have been found to play an important role in the formation of extracellular β-amyloid plaques, a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, the conformational landscape of Aβ42 with Al(iii) and Cu(ii) has been explored using Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics. Both metals reduce the flexibility of the peptide and entail a higher structural organization, although to different degrees. As a general trend, Cu(ii) binding leads to an increased α-helix content and to the formation of two α-helices that tend to organize in a U-shape. By contrast, most Al(iii) complexes induce a decrease in helical content, leading to more extended structures that favor the appearance of transitory β-strands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Roldán-Martín
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Francesca Peccati
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Sciortino
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. and Institut of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mariona Sodupe
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Jean-Didier Maréchal
- Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
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7
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Tau/Aβ chimera peptides: A Thioflavin-T and MALDI-TOF study of Aβ amyloidosis in the presence of Cu(II) or Zn(II) ions and total lipid brain extract (TLBE) vesicles. Chem Phys Lipids 2021; 237:105085. [PMID: 33895131 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2021.105085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Currently, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative condition, with limited therapeutic options. Several factors, like Amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, bio-metals dyshomeostasis and oxidative stress contribute to AD pathogenesis. These pathogenic processes might occur in the aqueous phase but also on neuronal membranes. Thus, investigating the connection between Aβ and biomembranes, becomes important for unveiling the molecular mechanism underlying Aβ amyloidosis as a critical event in AD pathology. In this work, the interaction of two peptides, made up with hybrid sequences from Tau protein 9-16 (EVMEDHAG) or 26-33 (QGGYTMHQ) N-terminal domain and Aβ16-20 (KLVFF) hydrophobic region, with full length Aβ40 or Aβ42 peptides is reported. The studied "chimera" peptides Ac-EVMEDHAGKLVFF-NH2 (τ9-16-KL) and Ac-QGGYTMHQKLVFF-NH2 (τ26-33-KL) are endowed with Aβ recognition and metal ion interaction capabilities provided by the tau or Aβ sequences, respectively. These peptides were characterized in previous study along with their metal dependent interaction and amyloidogenesis, either in the presence or absence of metal ion and artificial membranes made up with Total Lipid Brain Extract (TLBE) components, (Sciacca et al., 2020). In the present paper, the ability of the two peptides to inhibit Aβ aggregation is studied using composite experimental conditions including aqueous solution, the presence of metal ions (Cu or Zn), the presence of lipid vesicles mimicking neuronal membranes as well as the co-presence of metals and TLBE artificial membranes. We used Thioflavine-T (ThT) fluorescence or MALDI-TOF spectrometry analysis of Aβ limited proteolysis to respectively monitor the Aβ aggregation kinetic or validation of the Aβ interacting regions. We demonstrate that τ9-16-KL and τ26-33-KL peptides differently affect Aβ aggregation kinetics, with the tau sequence playing a crucial role. The results are discussed in terms of chimera's peptides hydrophobicity and electrostatic driven interactions at the aqueous/membrane interface.
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8
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Benoit SL, Maier RJ. The nickel-chelator dimethylglyoxime inhibits human amyloid beta peptide in vitro aggregation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6622. [PMID: 33758258 PMCID: PMC7988135 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86060-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of the most common neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer's disease (AD), is the extracellular deposition and aggregation of Amyloid Beta (Aβ)-peptides in the brain. Previous studies have shown that select metal ions, most specifically copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) ions, have a synergistic effect on the aggregation of Aβ-peptides. In the present study, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine the metal content of a commercial recombinant human Aβ40 peptide. Cu and Zn were among the metals detected; unexpectedly, nickel (Ni) was one of the most abundant elements. Using a fluorescence-based assay, we found that Aβ40 peptide in vitro aggregation was enhanced by addition of Zn2+ and Ni2+, and Ni2+-induced aggregation was facilitated by acidic conditions. Nickel binding to Aβ40 peptide was confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry. Addition of the Ni-specific chelator dimethylglyoxime (DMG) inhibited Aβ40 aggregation in absence of added metal, as well as in presence of Cu2+ and Ni2+, but not in presence of Zn2+. Finally, mass spectrometry analysis revealed that DMG can coordinate Cu or Ni, but not Fe, Se or Zn. Taken together, our results indicate that Ni2+ ions enhance, whereas nickel chelation inhibits, Aβ peptide in vitro aggregation. Hence, DMG-mediated Ni-chelation constitutes a promising approach towards inhibiting or slowing down Aβ40 aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane L Benoit
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Georgia, 805 Biological Sciences Bldg, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
- Center for Metalloenzyme Studies, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Robert J Maier
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Georgia, 805 Biological Sciences Bldg, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
- Center for Metalloenzyme Studies, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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9
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Caporale A, Adorinni S, Lamba D, Saviano M. Peptide-Protein Interactions: From Drug Design to Supramolecular Biomaterials. Molecules 2021; 26:1219. [PMID: 33668767 PMCID: PMC7956380 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26051219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The self-recognition and self-assembly of biomolecules are spontaneous processes that occur in Nature and allow the formation of ordered structures, at the nanoscale or even at the macroscale, under thermodynamic and kinetic equilibrium as a consequence of specific and local interactions. In particular, peptides and peptidomimetics play an elected role, as they may allow a rational approach to elucidate biological mechanisms to develop new drugs, biomaterials, catalysts, or semiconductors. The forces that rule self-recognition and self-assembly processes are weak interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attractions, and van der Waals forces, and they underlie the formation of the secondary structure (e.g., α-helix, β-sheet, polyproline II helix), which plays a key role in all biological processes. Here, we present recent and significant examples whereby design was successfully applied to attain the desired structural motifs toward function. These studies are important to understand the main interactions ruling the biological processes and the onset of many pathologies. The types of secondary structure adopted by peptides during self-assembly have a fundamental importance not only on the type of nano- or macro-structure formed but also on the properties of biomaterials, such as the types of interaction, encapsulation, non-covalent interaction, or covalent interaction, which are ultimately useful for applications in drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Caporale
- IC-CNR, c/o Area Science Park, S.S. 14 Km 163.5 Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Simone Adorinni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche di Università di Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Doriano Lamba
- IC-CNR, c/o Area Science Park, S.S. 14 Km 163.5 Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
- Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Consorzio Interuniversitario, Viale delle Medaglie d’Oro 305, I-00136 Roma, Italy
| | - Michele Saviano
- Istituto di Cristallografia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IC-CNR), Via Giovanni Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
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10
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One- and Two-Electron Oxidations of β-Amyloid 25-35 by Carbonate Radical Anion (CO 3•-) and Peroxymonocarbonate (HCO 4-): Role of Sulfur in Radical Reactions and Peptide Aggregation. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25040961. [PMID: 32093407 PMCID: PMC7070857 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25040961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. The methionine (Met) residue at position 35 in Aβ C-terminal domain is critical for neurotoxicity, aggregation, and free radical formation initiated by the peptide. The role of Met in modulating toxicological properties of Aβ most likely involves an oxidative event at the sulfur atom. We therefore investigated the one- or two-electron oxidation of the Met residue of Aβ25-35 fragment and the effect of such oxidation on the behavior of the peptide. Bicarbonate promotes two-electron oxidations mediated by hydrogen peroxide after generation of peroxymonocarbonate (HCO4−, PMC). The bicarbonate/carbon dioxide pair stimulates one-electron oxidations mediated by carbonate radical anion (CO3•−). PMC efficiently oxidizes thioether sulfur of the Met residue to sulfoxide. Interestingly, such oxidation hampers the tendency of Aβ to aggregate. Conversely, CO3•− causes the one-electron oxidation of methionine residue to sulfur radical cation (MetS•+). The formation of this transient reactive intermediate during Aβ oxidation may play an important role in the process underlying amyloid neurotoxicity and free radical generation.
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11
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Siddiqi MK, Majid N, Alam P, Malik S, Alam A, Rajan S, Ajmal MR, Khan RH. Both beta sheet breaker and alpha helix forming pentapeptide inhibits protein fibrillation: Implication for the treatment of amyloid disorders. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 143:102-111. [PMID: 31811850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.11.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
For the first time, the effect of two novel designed pentapeptides on amyloid growth of human insulin using combined biophysical, microscopic, cell viability and computational approaches. Collective experimental data from ThT, ANS, and TEM demonstrate that in spite of having contrasting features, both peptides can effectively inhibit amyloid formation by prolonging lag phase, slowing down aggregation rate, and reducing final fibril formation (up to 84.26% and 85.24% by P1 and P7 respectively). Although pure amyloid caused profound cellular toxicity in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells, amyloid formed in the presence of peptides showed much reduced cellular toxicity. Such an inhibitory effect can be attributed to interference with the structural transition of insulin toward β-sheet structure by peptides. Furthermore, molecular dynamic simulations confirm that peptide preferentially binds to nearby region which is more prone to form aggregates that consequently disrupts self-assembly into amyloid fibrils (P1 and P7 possess inhibition constant value of 0.000183 and 0.000216 nm, respectively), supporting our experimental observations. This study underscores the information about the sequence based inhibition mechanism of peptides that might dictate their inhibition or modulation capacity, which might be helpful in designing anti-amyloid therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nabeela Majid
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Parvez Alam
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Sadia Malik
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Aftab Alam
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Sudeepa Rajan
- National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, Delhi 110067, India
| | - Mohd Rehan Ajmal
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Rizwan Hasan Khan
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
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Ayala S, Genevaux P, Hureau C, Faller P. (Bio)chemical Strategies To Modulate Amyloid-β Self-Assembly. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:3366-3374. [PMID: 31265239 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid plaques are one of the two hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). They consist mainly of fibrils made of self-assembled amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. Aβ is produced in healthy brains from proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein. Aβ aggregates, in particular smaller, soluble aggregates, are toxic to cells. Hence, modulating the self-assembly of Aβ became a very active field of research, with the aim to reduce the amount of the toxic aggregates of Aβ or to block their toxic action. A great variety of molecules, chemical and biological, are able to modify the aggregation of Aβ. Here we give an overview of the different mechanistic ways to modulate Aβ aggregation and on which step in the self-assembly molecules can interfere. We discuss the aggregation modulators according to different important parameters, including the type of interaction (weak interaction, coordination or covalent bonds), the importance of kinetics and thermodynamics, the size of the modulating molecules, and binding specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ayala
- LCC, CNRS & University of Toulouse (UPS, INPT), 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Genevaux
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Christelle Hureau
- LCC, CNRS & University of Toulouse (UPS, INPT), 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Peter Faller
- LCC, CNRS & University of Toulouse (UPS, INPT), 205 route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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Abstract
A proposal for building a Free Electron Laser, EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB, at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, is at present under consideration. This FEL facility will provide a unique combination of a high brightness GeV-range electron beam generated in a X-band RF linac, a 0.5 PW-class laser system and the first FEL source driven by a plasma accelerator. The FEL will produce ultra-bright pulses, with up to 10 12 photons/pulse, femtosecond timescale and wavelength down to 3 nm, which lies in the so called “water window”. The experimental activity will be focused on the realization of a plasma driven short wavelength FEL able to provide high-quality photons for a user beamline. In this paper, we describe the main classes of experiments that will be performed at the facility, including coherent diffraction imaging, soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering and photofragmentation measurements. These techniques will allow studying a variety of samples, both biological and inorganic, providing information about their structure and dynamical behavior. In this context, the possibility of inducing changes in samples via pump pulses leading to the stimulation of chemical reactions or the generation of coherent excitations would tremendously benefit from pulses in the soft X-ray region. High power synchronized optical lasers and a TeraHertz radiation source will indeed be made available for THz and pump–probe experiments and a split-and-delay station will allow performing XUV-XUV pump–probe experiments.
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X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Measurements of Cu-ProIAPP Complexes at Physiological Concentrations. CONDENSED MATTER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/condmat4010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The amyloidogenic islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) and the associated pro-peptide ProIAPP1–48 are involved in cell death in type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has been observed that interactions of this peptide with metal ions have an impact on the cytotoxicity of the peptides as well as on their deposition in the form of amyloid fibrils. In particular, Cu(II) seems to inhibit amyloid fibril formation, thus suggesting that Cu homeostasis imbalance may be involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We performed X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) measurements of Cu(II)-ProIAPP complexes under near-physiological (10 μM), equimolar concentrations of Cu(II) and peptide. Such low concentrations were made accessible to XAS measurements owing to the use of the High Energy Resolved Fluorescence Detection XAS facility recently installed at the ESRF beamline BM16 (FAME-UHD). Our preliminary data show that XAS measurements at micromolar concentrations are feasible and confirm that ProIAPP1–48-Cu(II) binding at near-physiological conditions can be detected.
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Nieznanska H, Bandyszewska M, Surewicz K, Zajkowski T, Surewicz WK, Nieznanski K. Identification of prion protein-derived peptides of potential use in Alzheimer's disease therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2018; 1864:2143-2153. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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16
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Zhang H, Dong X, Liu F, Zheng J, Sun Y. Ac-LVFFARK-NH 2 conjugation to β-cyclodextrin exhibits significantly enhanced performance on inhibiting amyloid β-protein fibrillogenesis and cytotoxicity. Biophys Chem 2018; 235:40-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Jiang Z, Dong X, Sun Y. Charge effects of self-assembled chitosan-hyaluronic acid nanoparticles on inhibiting amyloid β-protein aggregation. Carbohydr Res 2018; 461:11-18. [PMID: 29549749 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) aggregation is crucial for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, and surface charge of nanoparticles (NPs) has been recognized as an important factor influencing Aβ aggregation. Herein, we report a systematic study on the issue with a series of self-assembled chitosan-hyaluronic acid composite (CH) NPs of different surface charges (CH1 to CH7, zeta potentials from +38 to -35 mV). Both the positive and negative CH NPs inhibited Aβ aggregation and the inhibitory effect increased with increasing the surface charges density. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy revealed the difference in their working mechanisms. Studies at different pH values further confirmed the importance of electrostatic interactions in Aβ aggregation and presented that the effects of CH NPs changed due to the change of Aβ charge property with pH. This work has thus provided new insight into the surface charge effects on Aβ aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Jiang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
| | - Xiaoyan Dong
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China.
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
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Giacomazza D, Viappiani C, Cera ED, Musio C. SIBPA under the Tuscan sun: Introduction to the SIBPA XXIII Special Issue. Biophys Chem 2017; 229:1-4. [PMID: 28941613 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2017.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The Italian Society for Pure and Applied Biophysics (SIBPA) held its XXIII National Congress in the gorgeous Tuscan town of Cortona, Italy, on September 18-21, 2016. This special issue features a selection of contributions from the Congress in the areas of molecular, applied, cellular and computational biophysics. Cutting-edge developments in nanoscale biophysics were introduced for the first time in the program. SIBPA continues its successful promotion of biophysical disciplines at the national and international levels, with added strength from its partnership with Biophysical Chemistry and Elsevier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Giacomazza
- CNR Institute of Biophysics, Unit at Palermo, Via U. La Malfa 153, Palermo, I
| | - Cristiano Viappiani
- Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences, Parco Area delle Scienze 7A, 43124 Parma, I
| | - Enrico Di Cera
- Edward A. Doisy Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Carlo Musio
- CNR Institute of Biophysics, Unit at Trento, Via alla Cascata 56/C, 38123 Trento, I
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