1
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Pal S, Udgaonkar JB. Slow Misfolding of a Molten Globule form of a Mutant Prion Protein Variant into a β-rich Dimer. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168736. [PMID: 39097185 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Misfolding of the prion protein is linked to multiple neurodegenerative diseases. A better understanding of the process requires the identification and structural characterization of intermediate conformations via which misfolding proceeds. In this study, three conserved aromatic residues (Tyr168, Phe174, and Tyr217) located in the C-terminal domain of mouse PrP (wt moPrP) were mutated to Ala. The resultant mutant protein, 3A moPrP, is shown to adopt a molten globule (MG)-like native conformation. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange studies coupled with mass spectrometry revealed that for 3A moPrP, the free energy gap between the MG-like native conformation and misfolding-prone partially unfolded forms is reduced. Consequently, 3A moPrP misfolds in native conditions even in the absence of salt, unlike wt moPrP, which requires the addition of salt to misfold. 3A moPrP misfolds to a β-rich dimer in the absence of salt, which can rapidly form an oligomer upon the addition of salt. In the presence of salt, 3A moPrP misfolds to a β-rich oligomer about a thousand-fold faster than wt moPrP. Importantly, the misfolded structure of the dimer is similar to that of the salt-induced oligomer. Misfolding to oligomer seems to be induced at the level of the dimeric unit by monomer-monomer association, and the oligomer grows by accretion of misfolded dimeric units. Additionally, it is shown that the conserved aromatic residues collectively stabilize not only monomeric protein, but also the structural core of the β-rich oligomers. Finally, it is also shown that 3A moPrP misfolds much faster to amyloid-fibrils than does the wt protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Pal
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, Pune 411008, India
| | - Jayant B Udgaonkar
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune, Pune 411008, India.
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2
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Sheng L, Bhalla R. Biomarkers and Target-Specific Small-Molecule Drugs in Alzheimer's Diagnostic and Therapeutic Research: From Amyloidosis to Tauopathy. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:2273-2302. [PMID: 38844706 PMCID: PMC11310295 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-024-04178-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of human dementia and is responsible for over 60% of diagnosed dementia cases worldwide. Abnormal deposition of β-amyloid and the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles have been recognised as the two pathological hallmarks targeted by AD diagnostic imaging as well as therapeutics. With the progression of pathological studies, the two hallmarks and their related pathways have remained the focus of researchers who seek for AD diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the past decades. In this work, we reviewed the development of the AD biomarkers and their corresponding target-specific small molecule drugs for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, underlining their success, failure, and future possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Sheng
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Rajiv Bhalla
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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3
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Paterno G, Bell BM, Riley-DiPaolo A, LaVoie MJ, Giasson BI. Polymerization of recombinant tau core fragments in vitro and seeding studies in cultured cells. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1268360. [PMID: 38161790 PMCID: PMC10757379 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1268360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The relative polymerization of specific tau protein cores that define Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease and corticobasal degeneration were investigated using amyloid fluorometry and electron microscopy. In addition, the relative prion-like activities of polymers comprised of these respective tau protein segments were investigated in a cell-based assay. It is demonstrated that the seeding activities of specific tau core fibrils are affected by the presence of pathogenic tau missense mutations and the microtubule binding domain composition of tau. The unique impact of tau phosphorylation on seeding propensity was also investigated by altering stretches of phospho-mimetic and phospho-null residues in the presence of Alzheimer's disease tau core fibrils. These results have important mechanistic implications for mutation and isoform-specific driven pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giavanna Paterno
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Brach M. Bell
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexis Riley-DiPaolo
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Matthew J. LaVoie
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Benoit I. Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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4
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Yin HH, Han YL, Yan X, Guan YX. Hematoxylin modulates tau-RD protein fibrillization and ameliorates Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms in a yeast model. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 250:126140. [PMID: 37543268 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126140] [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: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most serious neurodegenerative diseases with no effective treatment options available. The formation of insoluble amyloid fibrils of the hyperphosphorylated tau protein is intimately associated with AD, hence the tau protein has been a key target for AD drug development. In this work, hematoxylin was discovered as a dual functional compound, that is, acting in the inhibition of repeat domain of tau (tau-RD) protein fibrillogenesis and remodeling of pre-formed tau-RD fibrils in vitro. Meanwhile, hematoxylin was able to reduce the accumulation of tau-RD aggregates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Experimental and computational studies indicated that hematoxylin directly interacts with tau-RD protein through hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonds, π-cation interactions, and π-π stackings. In addition, cellular viability assays showed that hematoxylin greatly reduced cytotoxicity induced by tau-RD aggregates. In summary, hematoxylin might be a promising candidate for further development as a potential therapeutic drug for AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Huan Yin
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yin-Lei Han
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiao Yan
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Yi-Xin Guan
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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5
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Benskey MJ, Panoushek S, Saito T, Saido TC, Grabinski T, Kanaan NM. Behavioral and neuropathological characterization over the adult lifespan of the human tau knock-in mouse. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1265151. [PMID: 37842124 PMCID: PMC10576558 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1265151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein with a diverse functional repertoire linked to neurodegenerative disease. Recently, a human tau knock-in (MAPT KI) mouse was developed that may overcome many limitations associated with current animal models used to study tau. In MAPT KI mice, the entire murine Mapt gene was replaced with the human MAPT gene under control of the endogenous Mapt promoter. This model represents an ideal in vivo platform to study the function and dysfunction of human tau protein. Accordingly, a detailed understanding of the effects MAPT KI has on structure and function of the CNS is warranted. Here, we provide a detailed behavioral and neuropathological assessment of MAPT KI mice. We compared MAPT KI to wild-type (WT) C57BL/6j mice in behavioral assessments of anxiety, attention, working memory, spatial memory, and motor performance from 6 to 24 months (m) of age. Using immunohistological and biochemical assays, we quantified markers of glia (microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), synaptic integrity, neuronal integrity and the cytoskeleton. Finally, we quantified levels of total tau, tau isoforms, tau phosphorylation, and tau conformations. MAPT KI mice show normal cognitive and locomotor behavior at all ages, and resilience to mild age-associated locomotor deficits observed in WT mice. Markers of neuronal and synaptic integrity are unchanged in MAPT KI mice with advancing age. Glial markers are largely unchanged in MAPT KI mice, but glial fibrillary acidic protein is increased in the hippocampus of WT and MAPT KI mice at 24 m. MAPT KI mice express all 6 human tau isoforms and levels of tau remain stable throughout adulthood. Hippocampal tau in MAPT KI and WT mice is phosphorylated at serine 396/404 (PHF1) and murine tau in WT animals displays more PHF1 phosphorylation at 6 and 12 m. Lastly, we extended previous reports showing that MAPT KI mice do not display overt pathology. No evidence of other tau phosphorylation residues (AT8, pS422) or abnormal conformations (TNT2 or TOC1) associated with pathogenic tau were detected. The lack of overt pathological changes in MAPT KI mice make this an ideal platform for future investigations into the function and dysfunction of tau protein in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Benskey
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Spencer Panoushek
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Takashi Saito
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, Riken Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Takaomi C. Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, Riken Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Tessa Grabinski
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Nicholas M. Kanaan
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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6
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Masquelier E, Taxon E, Liang SP, Al Sabeh Y, Sepunaru L, Gordon MJ, Morse DE. A new electrochemical method that mimics phosphorylation of the core tau peptide K18 enables kinetic and structural analysis of intermediates and assembly. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:103011. [PMID: 36781124 PMCID: PMC10024187 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.103011] [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: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein's reversible assembly and binding of microtubules in brain neurons are regulated by charge-neutralizing phosphorylation, while its hyperphosphorylation drives the irreversible formation of cytotoxic filaments associated with neurodegenerative diseases. However, the structural changes that facilitate these diverse functions are unclear. Here, we analyzed K18, a core peptide of tau, using newly developed spectroelectrochemical instrumentation that enables electroreduction as a surrogate for charge neutralization by phosphorylation, with simultaneous, real-time quantitative analyses of the resulting conformational transitions and assembly. We observed a tipping point between behaviors that paralleled the transition between tau's physiologically required, reversible folding and assembly and the irreversibility of assemblies. The resulting rapidly electroassembled structures represent the first fibrillar tangles of K18 that have been formed in vitro at room temperature without using heparin or other charge-complementary anionic partners. These methods make it possible to (i) trigger and analyze in real time the early stages of conformational transitions and assembly without the need for preformed seeds, heterogenous coacervation, or crowding; (ii) kinetically resolve and potentially isolate never-before-seen early intermediates in these processes; and (iii) develop assays for additional factors and mechanisms that can direct the trajectory of assembly from physiologically benign and reversible to potentially pathological and irreversible structures. We anticipate wide applicability of these methods to other amyloidogenic systems and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Masquelier
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Esther Taxon
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Sheng-Ping Liang
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Yahya Al Sabeh
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Lior Sepunaru
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Michael J Gordon
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Daniel E Morse
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
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7
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Jackson NA, Guerrero-Muñoz MJ, Castillo-Carranza DL. The prion-like transmission of tau oligomers via exosomes. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:974414. [PMID: 36062141 PMCID: PMC9434014 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.974414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The conversion and transmission of misfolded proteins established the basis for the prion concept. Neurodegenerative diseases are considered “prion-like” disorders that lack infectivity. Among them, tauopathies are characterized by the conversion of native tau protein into an abnormally folded aggregate. During the progression of the disease, misfolded tau polymerizes into oligomers and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). While the toxicity of NFTs is an ongoing debate, the contribution of tau oligomers to early onset neurodegenerative pathogenesis is accepted. Tau oligomers are readily transferred from neuron to neuron propagating through the brain inducing neurodegeneration. Recently, transmission of tau oligomers via exosomes is now proposed. There is still too much to uncover about tau misfolding and propagation. Here we summarize novel findings of tau oligomers transmission and propagation via exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel A. Jackson
- School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Diana L. Castillo-Carranza
- School of Medicine, University of Monterrey, San Pedro Garza García, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Diana L. Castillo-Carranza,
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8
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Kumar H, Udgaonkar JB. Elongation of Fibrils Formed by a Tau Fragment is Inhibited by a Transient Dimeric Intermediate. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:3385-3397. [PMID: 35503811 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c10752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The formation and propagation of aggregates of the tau protein in the brain are associated with the tauopathy group of neurodegenerative diseases. Different tauopathies have been shown to be associated with structurally distinct aggregates of tau. However, the mechanism by which different structural folds arise remains poorly understood. In this study of fibril formation by the fragment tau-K18 of tau, it is shown that the Lys 280 → Glu mutation in the variant tau-K18 K280E forms fibrils that are morphologically distinct from those formed by wild-type (wt) tau-K18. The mutant fibrils appear to have two protofilaments twisted around each other, whereas the wt fibrils are straight and appear to have a single protofilament. Modeling the kinetics of seeded aggregation, using a simple Michaelis-Menten-like mechanism, reveals that the two morphologically distinct fibrils are elongated with different catalytic efficiencies. Surprisingly, when the elongation of monomeric tau-K18 is seeded with tau-K18 K280E fibrils, it is seen to be inhibited at high monomer concentrations. Such inhibition is not seen when elongation is seeded with tau-K18 fibrils. The mechanism of inhibition is shown to be describable as uncompetitive inhibition, in which a transient dimeric form of tau-K18 acts as an uncompetitive inhibitor. Importantly, a dimeric form of tau-K18 is seen to be populated to a detectable extent early during aggregation. A covalently linked tau dimer, with an inter-molecular disulphide linkage, is shown to be capable of acting as an inhibitor. In summary, a quantitative kinetic approach has provided an understanding of how the formation of distinct structural folds of tau fibrils can be modulated by mutation and how the elongation of one fibril type, but not the other, is inhibited by a transiently formed dimer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish Kumar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru 560065, India
| | - Jayant B Udgaonkar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru 560065, India.,Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 411008, India
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9
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Sen S, Kumar H, Udgaonkar JB. Microsecond Dynamics During the Binding-induced Folding of an Intrinsically Disordered Protein. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167254. [PMID: 34537237 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Tau is an intrinsically disordered protein implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases. The repeat domain fragment of tau, tau-K18, is known to undergo a disorder to order transition in the presence of lipid micelles and vesicles, in which helices form in each of the repeat domains. Here, the mechanism of helical structure formation, induced by a phospholipid mimetic, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at sub-micellar concentrations, has been studied using multiple biophysical probes. A study of the conformational dynamics of the disordered state, using photoinduced electron transfer coupled to fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (PET-FCS) has indicated the presence of an intermediate state, I, in equilibrium with the unfolded state, U. The cooperative binding of the ligand (L), SDS, to I has been shown to induce the formation of a compact, helical intermediate (IL5) within the dead time (∼37 µs) of a continuous flow mixer. Quantitative analysis of the PET-FCS data and the ensemble microsecond kinetic data, suggests that the mechanism of induction of helical structure can be described by a U ↔ I ↔ IL5 ↔ FL5 mechanism, in which the final helical state, FL5, forms from IL5 with a time constant of 50-200 µs. Finally, it has been shown that the helical conformation is an aggregation-competent state that can directly form amyloid fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreemantee Sen
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru 560065, India; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
| | - Harish Kumar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru 560065, India; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India
| | - Jayant B Udgaonkar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru 560065, India; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, Pashan, Pune 411 008, India.
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10
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Amyloid particles facilitate surface-catalyzed cross-seeding by acting as promiscuous nanoparticles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2104148118. [PMID: 34462352 PMCID: PMC8433567 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2104148118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid seeds are nanometer-sized protein particles that accelerate amyloid assembly as well as propagate and transmit the amyloid protein conformation associated with a wide range of protein misfolding diseases. However, seeded amyloid growth through templated elongation at fibril ends cannot explain the full range of molecular behaviors observed during cross-seeded formation of amyloid by heterologous seeds. Here, we demonstrate that amyloid seeds can accelerate amyloid formation via a surface catalysis mechanism without propagating the specific amyloid conformation associated with the seeds. This type of seeding mechanism is demonstrated through quantitative characterization of the cross-seeded assembly reactions involving two nonhomologous and unrelated proteins: the human Aβ42 peptide and the yeast prion-forming protein Sup35NM. Our results demonstrate experimental approaches to differentiate seeding by templated elongation from nontemplated amyloid seeding and rationalize the molecular mechanism of the cross-seeding phenomenon as a manifestation of the aberrant surface activities presented by amyloid seeds as nanoparticles.
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Xiao S, Lu Y, Wu Q, Yang J, Chen J, Zhong S, Eliezer D, Tan Q, Wu C. Fisetin inhibits tau aggregation by interacting with the protein and preventing the formation of β-strands. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 178:381-393. [PMID: 33662414 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease which severely impacts the health of the elderly. Current treatments are only able to alleviate symptoms, but not prevent or cure the disease. The neurofibrillary tangles formed by tau protein aggregation are one of the defining characteristics of Alzheimer's disease, so tau protein has become a key target for the drug design. In this study, we show that fisetin, a plant-derived polyphenol compound, can inhibit aggregation of the tau fragment, K18, and can disaggregate tau K18 filaments in vitro. Meanwhile it is able to prevent the formation of tau aggregates in cells. Both experimental and computational studies indicate that fisetin could directly interact with tau K18 protein. The binding is mainly created by hydrogen bond and van der Waal force, prevents the formation of β-strands at the two hexapeptide motifs, and does not perturb the secondary structure or the tubulin binding ability of tau protein. In summary, fisetin might be a candidate for further development as a potential preventive or therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shifeng Xiao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yafei Lu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Qiuping Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Jiaying Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Jierui Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Suyue Zhong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - David Eliezer
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Qiulong Tan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China.
| | - Chengchen Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China.
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12
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Kumar H, Udgaonkar JB. The Lys 280 → Gln mutation mimicking disease-linked acetylation of Lys 280 in tau extends the structural core of fibrils and modulates their catalytic properties. Protein Sci 2021; 30:785-803. [PMID: 33496017 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrillar aggregates isolated from the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases invariably have post-translational modifications (PTMs). The roles that PTMs play in modulating the structures and polymorphism of amyloid aggregates, and hence their ability to catalyze the conversion of monomeric protein to their fibrillar structure is, however, poorly understood. This is particularly true in the case of tau aggregates, where specific folds of fibrillar tau have been implicated in specific tauopathies. Several PTMs, including acetylation at Lys 280, increase aggregation of tau in the brain, and increase neurodegeneration. In this study, tau-K18 K280Q, in which the Lys 280 → Gln mutation is used to mimic acetylation at Lys 280, is shown, using HX-MS measurements, to form fibrils with a structural core that is longer than that of tau-K18 fibrils. Measurements of critical concentrations show that the binding affinity of monomeric tau-K18 for its fibrillar counterpart is only marginally more than that of monomeric tau-K18 K280Q for its fibrillar counterpart. Quantitative analysis of the kinetics of seeded aggregation, using a simple Michaelis-Menten-like model, in which the monomer first binds and then undergoes conformational conversion to β-strand, shows that the fibrils of tau-K18 K280Q convert monomeric protein more slowly than do fibrils of tau-K18. In contrast, monomeric tau-K18 K280Q is converted faster to fibrils than is monomeric tau-K18. Thus, the effect of Lys 280 acetylation on tau aggregate propagation in brain cells is expected to depend on the amount of acetylated tau present, and on whether the propagating seed is acetylated at Lys 280 or not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish Kumar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, India
| | - Jayant B Udgaonkar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, India.,Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India
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13
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Xiao S, Wu Q, Yao X, Zhang J, Zhong W, Zhao J, Liu Q, Zhang M. Inhibitory Effects of Isobavachalcone on Tau Protein Aggregation, Tau Phosphorylation, and Oligomeric Tau-Induced Apoptosis. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:123-132. [PMID: 33320518 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases without any effective medicine treatments. The neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau protein are one important pathological characteristic. Thus, one practicable strategy for AD drug design is to discover compounds that could inhibit tau protein aggregation and/or phosphorylation. In this study, isobavachalcone, a natural plant-derived compound, has been shown to inhibit tau protein aggregation and disaggregate tau fibrils in vitro by directly interacting with tau protein at amino acids I278, V309, etc. It is able to reduce tau phosphorylation at four disease-related sites in vivo by regulating the critical kinase and protein phosphatase, GSK3β and PP2A. The compound also exhibits protection against tau oligomers-induced apoptosis through the mitochondria and ER mediated apoptotic pathways. In summary, isobavachalcone is a promising candidate for further evaluation as a potential preventive and therapeutic medicine for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shifeng Xiao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Qiuping Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Xuanbao Yao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Jiahao Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Weicong Zhong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Junyi Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
| | - Mohan Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, China
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14
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Ren B, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Liu Y, Zhang D, Gong X, Feng Z, Tang J, Chang Y, Zheng J. Fundamentals of cross-seeding of amyloid proteins: an introduction. J Mater Chem B 2019; 7:7267-7282. [PMID: 31647489 DOI: 10.1039/c9tb01871a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Misfolded protein aggregates formed by the same (homologous) or different (heterologous/cross) sequences are the pathological hallmarks of many protein misfolding diseases (PMDs) including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Different from homologous-amyloid aggregation that is solely associated with a specific PMD, cross-amyloid aggregation (i.e. cross-seeding) of different amyloid proteins is more fundamentally and biologically important for understanding and untangling not only the pathological process of each PMD, but also a potential molecular cross-talk between different PMDs. However, the cross-amyloid aggregation is still a subject poorly explored and little is known about its sequence/structure-dependent aggregation mechanisms, as compared to the widely studied homo-amyloid aggregation. Here, we review the most recent and important findings of amyloid cross-seeding behaviors from in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies. Some typical cross-seeding phenomena between Aβ/hIAPP, Aβ/tau, Aβ/α-synuclein, and tau/α-synuclein are selected and presented, and the underlying specific or general cross-seeding mechanisms are also discussed to better reveal their sequence-structure-property relationships. The potential use of the cross-seeding concept to design amyloid inhibitors is also proposed. Finally, we offer some personal perspectives on current major challenges and future research directions in this less-studied yet important field, and hopefully this work will stimulate more research to explore all possible fundamental and practical aspects of amyloid cross-seeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiping Ren
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA.
| | - Yanxian Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA.
| | - Mingzhen Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA.
| | - Yonglan Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA.
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA.
| | - Xiong Gong
- Department of Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
| | - Zhangqi Feng
- School of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianxin Tang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Biomedical Nanomaterials and Devices, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Yung Chang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA.
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15
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The growth of amyloid fibrils: rates and mechanisms. Biochem J 2019; 476:2677-2703. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAmyloid fibrils are β-sheet-rich linear protein polymers that can be formed by a large variety of different proteins. These assemblies have received much interest in recent decades, due to their role in a range of human disorders. However, amyloid fibrils are also found in a functional context, whereby their structural, mechanical and thermodynamic properties are exploited by biological systems. Amyloid fibrils form through a nucleated polymerisation mechanism with secondary processes acting in many cases to amplify the number of fibrils. The filamentous nature of amyloid fibrils implies that the fibril growth rate is, by several orders of magnitude, the fastest step of the overall aggregation reaction. This article focusses specifically on in vitro experimental studies of the process of amyloid fibril growth, or elongation, and summarises the state of knowledge of its kinetics and mechanisms. This work attempts to provide the most comprehensive summary, to date, of the available experimental data on amyloid fibril elongation rate constants and the temperature and concentration dependence of amyloid fibril elongation rates. These data are compared with those from other types of protein polymers. This comparison with data from other polymerising proteins is interesting and relevant because many of the basic ideas and concepts discussed here were first introduced for non-amyloid protein polymers, most notably by the Japanese school of Oosawa and co-workers for cytoskeletal filaments.
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16
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Cieplak AS. Tau Inclusions in Alzheimer's, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Pick's Disease. A Speculation on How Differences in Backbone Polarization Underlie Divergent Pathways of Tau Aggregation. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:488. [PMID: 31156372 PMCID: PMC6530265 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau-related dementias appear to involve specific to each disease aggregation pathways and morphologies of filamentous tau assemblies. To understand etiology of these differences, here we elucidate molecular mechanism of formation of tau PHFs based on the PMO theory of misfolding and aggregation of pleiomorphic proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In this model, fibrillization of tau is initiated by the coupled binding and folding of the MTB domains that yields antiparallel homodimers, in analogy to folding of split inteins. The free energy of binding is minimized when the antiparallel alignment brings about backbone-backbone H-bonding between the MTBD segments of similar "strand" propensities. To assess these propensities, a function of the NMR shielding tensors of the Cα atoms is introduced as the folding potential function FP i ; the Cα tensors are obtained by the quantum mechanical modeling of protein secondary structure (GIAO//B3LYP/D95**). The calculated FP i plots show that the "strand" propensities of the MBTD segments, and hence the homodimer's register, can be affected by the relatively small changes in the environment's pH, as a result of protonation of MBTD's conserved histidines. The assembly of the antiparallel tau dimers into granular aggregates and their subsequent conversion into the parallel cross-β structure of paired helical filaments is expected to follow the same path as the previously described fibrillization of Aβ. Consequently, the core structure of the nascent tau fibril is determined by the register of the tau homodimer. This model accounts for the reported differences in (i) fibril-core structure of in vivo and in vitro filaments, (ii) cross-seeding of isoforms, (iii) effects of reducing/non-reducing conditions, (iv) effects of PHF6 mutations, and (v) homologs' aggregation properties. The proposed model also suggests that in contrast to Alzheimer's and chronic traumatic encephalopathy disease, the assembly of tau prions in Pick's disease would be facilitated by a moderate drop in pH that accompanies e.g., transit in the endosomal system, inflammation response or an ischemic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Stanisław Cieplak
- Department of Chemistry, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, United States
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17
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Ebashi M, Ito Y, Uematsu M, Nakamura A, Hirokawa K, Kamei S, Uchihara T. How to demix Alzheimer-type and PSP-type tau lesions out of their mixture -hybrid approach to dissect comorbidity. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:71. [PMID: 31060611 PMCID: PMC6503360 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0708-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), are shared between progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Alzheimer disease (AD). Histological distinction of PSP and AD is possible based on the distribution of NFTs. However, neuropathologists may encounter diagnostic difficulty with comorbidity of PSP and AD. In this study, we tried to circumvent this difficulty by analyzing five autopsied brains harboring both PSP and AD pathology. Tau-positive lesions were sorted based on their cell type (neuron versus glia), and tau isoforms: three-repeat (3R) versus four-repeat (4R) tau. 16 regions were selected to map these lesions throughout the brain. 4R-tau lesions were present in all areas examined. Among them, 3R-tau lesions were absent in some areas. These 4R selective (4R+/3R-) areas dictate prototypic distribution of PSP, not usually found in AD, such as pontine nucleus, red nucleus, inferior olivary nucleus, dentate nucleus, globus pallidus and putamen, each contained both glial and neuronal lesions. In contrast, additional 3R-tau lesions were found in hippocampal formation to neocortex, where 3R immunoreactivity (IR) was predominant over the 4R counterpart mainly in neurons as found in AD but not in PSP. Although tau lesions in central grey matter, substantia nigra and locus coeruleus are found in both AD and PSP, 4R-selectivity with glial component suggests PSP origin. Even if the presence of 3 R IR in these areas suggests AD pathology, it does not exclude the involvement of PSP-type lesion because distinction of 4R IR into PSP or AD is not yet possible. Further demixing may be possible if biochemical difference of 4R tau between PSP and AD is identified.
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Kumar H, Udgaonkar JB. Mechanistic approaches to understand the prion-like propagation of aggregates of the human tau protein. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2019; 1867:922-932. [PMID: 30986567 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The dynamic nature of the tau protein under physiological conditions is likely to be critical for it to perform its diverse functions inside a cell. Under some conditions, this intrinsically disordered protein assembles into pathogenic aggregates that are self-perpetuating, toxic and infectious in nature. The role of liquid-liquid phase separation in the initiation of the aggregation reaction remains to be delineated. Depending on the nature of the aggregate, its structure, and its localization, neurodegenerative disorders with diverse clinical features are manifested. The prion-like mechanism by which these aggregates propagate and spread across the brain is not well understood. Various factors (PTMs, mutations) have been strongly associated with the pathological aggregates of tau. However, little is known about how these factors modulate the pathological properties linked to aggregation. This review describes the current progress towards understanding the mechanism of propagation of tau aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish Kumar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru 560065, India
| | - Jayant B Udgaonkar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru 560065, India; Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 411008, India.
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19
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Zhang M, Wu Q, Yao X, Zhao J, Zhong W, Liu Q, Xiao S. Xanthohumol inhibits tau protein aggregation and protects cells against tau aggregates. Food Funct 2019; 10:7865-7874. [DOI: 10.1039/c9fo02133g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Xanthohumol is shown to interact with tau protein and inhibit its aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohan Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography
- Shenzhen University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Qiuping Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography
- Shenzhen University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Xuanbao Yao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography
- Shenzhen University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Junyi Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography
- Shenzhen University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Weicong Zhong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography
- Shenzhen University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Qiong Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography
- Shenzhen University
- Shenzhen
- China
| | - Shifeng Xiao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology and Ecology
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography
- Shenzhen University
- Shenzhen
- China
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