Molecular mechanisms for the destabilization of model membranes by islet amyloid polypeptide

The mechanistic basis of the membrane-permeabilizing activities of the virulence-associated protein A (VapA) from Rhodococcus equi

Pathogenic Rhodococcus equi release the virulence-associated protein A (VapA) within macrophage phagosomes. VapA permeabilizes phagosome and lysosome membranes and reduces acidification of both compartments. Using biophysical techniques, we found that VapA interacts with model membranes in four steps: (i) binding, change of mechanical properties, (ii) formation of specific membrane domains, (iii) permeabilization within the domains, and (iv) pH-specific transformation of domains. Biosensor data revealed that VapA binds to membranes in one step at pH 6.5 and in two steps at pH 4.5 and decreases membrane fluidity. The integration of VapA into lipid monolayers was only significant at lateral pressures <20 mN m-1 indicating preferential incorporation into membrane regions with reduced integrity. Atomic force microscopy of lipid mono- and bilayers showed that VapA increased the surface heterogeneity of liquid disordered domains. Furthermore, VapA led to the formation of a new microstructured domain type and, at pH 4.5, to the formation of 5 nm high domains. VapA binding, its integration and lipid domain formation depended on lipid composition, pH, protein concentration and lateral membrane pressure. VapA-mediated permeabilization is clearly distinct from that caused by classical microbial pore formers and is a key contribution to the multiplication of Rhodococcus equi in phagosomes.

Development of a novel fluorescence assay for studying lipid bilayer perturbation induced by amyloidogenic peptides using cell plasma membrane vesicles

Numerous pathophysiological conditions are associated with the misfolding and aggregation of proteins into insoluble amyloid fibrils. The mechanisms by which this process leads to cellular dysfunction remain elusive, though several hypotheses point toward the perturbation of the cell plasma membrane by pre-fibrillar intermediates and/or amyloid growth. However, current models to study membrane perturbations are largely limited to synthetic lipid vesicles and most of experimental approaches cannot be transposed to complex cell-derived plasma membrane systems. Herein, vesicles originating from the plasma membrane of erythrocytes and β-pancreatic cells were used to study the perturbations induced by an amyloidogenic peptide, the islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). These biologically relevant lipid vesicles displayed a characteristic clustering in the presence of the amyloidogenic peptide, which was able to rupture membranes. By exploiting Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), a rapid, simple, and potentially high-throughput assay to detect membrane perturbations of intact mammalian cell plasma membrane vesicles was implemented. The FRET kinetics of membrane perturbations closely correlated with the kinetics of thioflavin-T fluorescence associated with amyloid formation. This novel kinetics assay expands the toolbox available to study amyloid-associated membrane damage, bridging the gap between synthetic lipid vesicles and living cells.

A unifying framework for amyloid-mediated membrane damage: The lipid-chaperone hypothesis

Over the past thirty years, researchers have highlighted the role played by a class of proteins or polypeptides that forms pathogenic amyloid aggregates in vivo, including i) the amyloid Aβ peptide, which is known to form senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease; ii) α-synuclein, responsible for Lewy body formation in Parkinson's disease and iii) IAPP, which is the protein component of type 2 diabetes-associated islet amyloids. These proteins, known as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), are present as highly dynamic conformational ensembles. IDPs can partially (mis) fold into (dys) functional conformations and accumulate as amyloid aggregates upon interaction with other cytosolic partners such as proteins or lipid membranes. In addition, an increasing number of reports link the toxicity of amyloid proteins to their harmful effects on membrane integrity. Still, the molecular mechanism underlying the amyloidogenic proteins transfer from the aqueous environment to the hydrocarbon core of the membrane is poorly understood. This review starts with a historical overview of the toxicity models of amyloidogenic proteins to contextualize the more recent lipid-chaperone hypothesis. Then, we report the early molecular-level events in the aggregation and ion-channel pore formation of Aβ, IAPP, and α-synuclein interacting with model membranes, emphasizing the complexity of these processes due to their different spatial-temporal resolutions. Next, we underline the need for a combined experimental and computational approach, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of the most commonly used techniques. Finally, the last two chapters highlight the crucial role of lipid-protein complexes as molecular switches among ion-channel-like formation, detergent-like, and fibril formation mechanisms and their implication in fighting amyloidogenic diseases.

Early-stage culprit in protein misfolding diseases investigated using electrochemical parameters: New insights over peptide-membrane interactions

The dysfunctioning of β-cells caused by the unspecific misfolding of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) at the membrane results in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Here, we report for the first time, the early-stage interaction of hIAPP oligomers on the DMPC (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) lipid membrane using electrochemical parameters. Electrochemical techniques are better than other techniques to detect hIAPP at significantly lower concentrations. The surface level interactions between the peptide (hIAPP) and lipid membrane (DMPC) were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), confocal microscopy (CM) and electrochemical techniques such as Tafel polarization, cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Inserting IAPP into the fluid domains results in breaking the lipid-to-lipid interaction, leading to restriction of membrane mobility. The S_Lateral values of the liposome and IAPP co-solubilized liposome indicates the cooperative insertion of IAPP. Further, a new method of immobilizing a membrane to the gold surface has been employed, resulting in an electrical contact with the buffer, preventing the direct utilization of a steady-state voltage across the bilayer. The electrochemical studies revealed that the charge transfer resistance decreased for 3-mercaptopropanoic acid modified gold (MPA-Au) electrode coated with the liposome and after the addition of IAPP, followed by an increase in the capacitance. The present study has opened up new dimensions to the understanding of peptide-membrane interactions and shows different experimental approaches for the future researchers in this domain.

Exploring interactions between lipids and amyloid-forming proteins: A review on applying fluorescence and NMR techniques

A hallmark of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other amyloid diseases is the assembly of amyloid proteins into amyloid aggregates or fibrils. In many cases, the formation and cytotoxicity of amyloid assemblies are associated with their interaction with cell membranes. Despite studied for many years, the characterization of the interaction is challenged for reasons on the multiple aggregation states of amyloid-forming proteins, transient and weak interactions in the complex system. Although several strategies such as computation biology, spectroscopy, and imaging methods have been performed, there is an urgent need to detail the molecular mechanism in different time scales and high resolutions. This review highlighted the recent applications of fluorescence, solution and solid-state NMR in exploring the interactions between amyloid protein and membranes attributing to their advantages of high sensitivity and atomic resolution.

DMPC Phospholipid Bilayer as a Potential Interface for Human Cystatin C Oligomerization: Analysis of Protein-Liposome Interactions Using NMR Spectroscopy

Studies revolving around mechanisms responsible for the development of amyloid-based diseases lay the foundations for the recognition of molecular targets of future to-be-developed treatments. However, the vast number of peptides and proteins known to be responsible for fibril formation, combined with their complexity and complexity of their interactions with various cellular components, renders this task extremely difficult and time-consuming. One of these proteins, human cystatin C (hCC), is a well-known and studied cysteine-protease inhibitor. While being a monomer in physiological conditions, under the necessary stimulus—usually a mutation, it tends to form fibrils, which later participate in the disease development. This process can potentially be regulated (in several ways) by many cellular components and it is being hypothesized that the cell membrane might play a key role in the oligomerization pathway. Studies involving cell membranes pose several difficulties; therefore, an alternative in the form of membrane mimetics is a very attractive solution. Here, we would like to present the first study on hCC oligomerization under the influence of phospholipid liposomes, acting as a membrane mimetic. The protein–mimetic interactions are studied utilizing circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance, and size exclusion chromatography.

The human islet amyloid polypeptide in protein misfolding disorders: Mechanisms of aggregation and interaction with biomembranes

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), otherwise known as amylin, is a 37-residue peptide hormone which is reported to be a common factor in protein misfolding disorders such as type-2 diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, due to deposition of insoluble hIAPP amyloid in the pancreas and brain. Multiple studies point to the importance of the peptide's interaction with biological membranes and the cytotoxicity of hIAPP species. Here, we discuss the aggregation pathways of hIAPP amyloid fibril formation and focus on the complex interplay between membrane-mediated assembly of hIAPP and the associated mechanisms of membrane damage caused by the peptide species. Mitochondrial membranes, which are unique in their lipid composition, are proposed as prime targets for the early intracellular formation of hIAPP toxic entities. We suggest that future studies should include more physiologically-relevant and in-cell studies to allow a more accurate model of in vivo interactions. Finally, we underscore an urgent need for developing effective therapeutic strategies aimed at hindering hIAPP-phospholipid interactions.

Protein-conformational diseases in childhood: Naturally-occurring hIAPP amyloid-oligomers and early β-cell damage in obesity and diabetes

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

This is the first time that obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM) as protein conformational diseases (PCD) are reported in children and they are typically diagnosed too late, when β-cell damage is evident. Here we wanted to investigate the level of naturally-ocurring or real (not synthetic) oligomeric aggregates of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) that we called RIAO in sera of pediatric patients with obesity and diabetes. We aimed to reduce the gap between basic biomedical research, clinical practice-health decision making and to explore whether RIAO work as a potential biomarker of early β-cell damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a multicentric collaborative, cross-sectional, analytical, ambispective and blinded study; the RIAO from pretreated samples (PTS) of sera of 146 pediatric patients with obesity or DM and 16 healthy children, were isolated, measured by sound indirect ELISA with novel anti-hIAPP cytotoxic oligomers polyclonal antibody (MEX1). We carried out morphological and functional studied and cluster-clinical data driven analysis.

RESULTS

We demonstrated by western blot, Transmission Electron Microscopy and cell viability experiments that RIAO circulate in the blood and can be measured by ELISA; are elevated in serum of childhood obesity and diabetes; are neurotoxics and works as biomarkers of early β-cell failure. We explored the range of evidence-based medicine clusters that included the RIAO level, which allowed us to classify and stratify the obesity patients with high cardiometabolic risk.

CONCLUSIONS

RIAO level increases as the number of complications rises; RIAOs > 3.35 μg/ml is a predictor of changes in the current indicators of β-cell damage. We proposed a novel physio-pathological pathway and shows that PCD affect not only elderly patients but also children. Here we reduced the gap between basic biomedical research, clinical practice and health decision making.

The hazardous effects of the environmental toxic gases on amyloid beta-peptide aggregation: A theoretical perspective

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of dementia in elderly people. It has been well documented that the exposure to environmental toxins such as CO, CO₂, SO₂ and NO₂ that are present in the air is considered as a hallmark for the progression of Alzheimer's disease. However, their actual mechanism by which environmental toxin triggers the aggregation of Aβ42 peptide at the molecular and atomic levels remain unknown. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation was carried out to study the aggregation mechanism of the Aβ₄₂ peptide due to its interaction of toxic gas (CO, CO₂, SO₂ and NO₂). During the 400 ns simulation, all the Aβ₄₂ interacted toxic gas (CO, CO₂, SO_2, and NO₂) complexes have smaller Root Mean Square Deviation values when compared to the Aβ₄₂ peptide, which shows that the interaction of toxic gases (CO, CO₂, SO_2, and NO₂) would increase the Aβ₄₂ peptide structural stability. The radius of gyration analysis also supports that Aβ₄₂ interacted CO₂ and SO₂ complexes have the minimum value in the range of 0.95 nm and 1.5 nm. It is accounted that the Aβ₄₂ interacted CO₂ and SO₂ complexes have a greater compact structure in comparison to Aβ₄₂ interacted CO and NO₂ complexes. Furthermore, all the Aβ₄₂ interacted toxic gas (CO, CO₂, SO_2, and NO₂) complexes exhibited an enhanced secondary structural probability for coil and turn regions with a reduced α-helix probability, which indicates that the interaction of toxic gases may enhance the toxicity and aggregation of Aβ₄₂.

Combining molecular dynamics simulations and experimental analyses in protein misfolding

The fold of a protein determines its function and its misfolding can result in loss-of-function defects. In addition, for certain proteins their misfolding can lead to gain-of-function toxicities resulting in protein misfolding diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or the prion diseases. In all of these diseases one or more proteins misfold and aggregate into disease-specific assemblies, often in the form of fibrillar amyloid deposits. Most, if not all, protein misfolding diseases share a fundamental molecular mechanism that governs the misfolding and subsequent aggregation. A wide variety of experimental methods have contributed to our knowledge about misfolded protein aggregates, some of which are briefly described in this review. The misfolding mechanism itself is difficult to investigate, as the necessary timescale and resolution of the misfolding events often lie outside of the observable parameter space. Molecular dynamics simulations fill this gap by virtue of their intrinsic, molecular perspective and the step-by-step iterative process that forms the basis of the simulations. This review focuses on molecular dynamics simulations and how they combine with experimental analyses to provide detailed insights into protein misfolding and the ensuing diseases.

Unpacking the aggregation-oligomerization-fibrillization process of naturally-occurring hIAPP amyloid oligomers isolated directly from sera of children with obesity or diabetes mellitus

The formation of amyloid oligomers and fibrils of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) has been linked with β- cell failure and death which causes the onset, progression, and comorbidities of diabetes. We begin to unpack the aggregation-oligomerization-fibrillization process of these oligomers taken from sera of pediatric patients. The naturally occurring or real hIAPP (not synthetic) amyloid oligomers (RIAO) were successfully isolated, we demonstrated the presence of homo (dodecamers, hexamers, and trimers) and hetero-RIAO, as well as several biophysical characterizations which allow us to learn from the real phenomenon taking place. We found that the aggregation/oligomerization process is active in the sera and showed that it happens very fast. The RIAO can form fibers and react with anti-hIAPP and anti-amyloid oligomers antibodies. Our results opens the epistemic horizon and reveal real differences between the four groups (Controls vs obesity, T1DM or T2DM) accelerating the process of understanding and discovering novel and more efficient prevention, diagnostic, transmission and therapeutic pathways.