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Nohesara S, Abdolmaleky HM, Thiagalingam S. Potential for New Therapeutic Approaches by Targeting Lactate and pH Mediated Epigenetic Dysregulation in Major Mental Diseases. Biomedicines 2024; 12:457. [PMID: 38398057 PMCID: PMC10887322 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020457] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence have shown that lactate-mediated pH alterations in the brains of patients with neuropsychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia (SCZ), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and autism may be attributed to mitochondrial dysfunction and changes in energy metabolism. While neuronal activity is associated with reduction in brain pH, astrocytes are responsible for rebalancing the pH to maintain the equilibrium. As lactate level is the main determinant of brain pH, neuronal activities are impacted by pH changes due to the binding of protons (H+) to various types of proteins, altering their structure and function in the neuronal and non-neuronal cells of the brain. Lactate and pH could affect diverse types of epigenetic modifications, including histone lactylation, which is linked to histone acetylation and DNA methylation. In this review, we discuss the importance of pH homeostasis in normal brain function, the role of lactate as an essential epigenetic regulatory molecule and its contributions to brain pH abnormalities in neuropsychiatric diseases, and shed light on lactate-based and pH-modulating therapies in neuropsychiatric diseases by targeting epigenetic modifications. In conclusion, we attempt to highlight the potentials and challenges of translating lactate-pH-modulating therapies to clinics for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Nohesara
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Hamid Mostafavi Abdolmaleky
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
- Nutrition/Metabolism Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sam Thiagalingam
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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2
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Multivariate effects of pH, salt, and Zn 2+ ions on Aβ 40 fibrillation. Commun Chem 2022; 5:171. [PMID: 36697708 PMCID: PMC9814776 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00786-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide aggregation plays a central role in the progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD), of which Aβ-deposited extracellular amyloid plaques are a major hallmark. The brain micro-environmental variation in AD patients, like local acidification, increased ionic strength, or changed metal ion levels, cooperatively modulates the aggregation of the Aβ peptides. Here, we investigate the multivariate effects of varied pH, ionic strength and Zn2+ on Aβ40 fibrillation kinetics. Our results reveal that Aβ fibrillation kinetics are strongly affected by pH and ionic strength suggesting the importance of electrostatic interactions in regulating Aβ40 fibrillation. More interestingly, the presence of Zn2+ ions can further alter or even reserve the role of pH and ionic strength on the amyloid fibril kinetics, suggesting the importance of amino acids like Histidine that can interact with Zn2+ ions. Both pH and ionic strength regulate the secondary nucleation processes, however regardless of pH and Zn2+ ions, ionic strength can also modulate the morphology of Aβ40 aggregates. These multivariate effects in bulk solution provide insights into the correlation of pH-, ionic strength- or Zn2+ ions changes with amyloid deposits in AD brain and will deepen our understanding of the molecular pathology in the local brain microenvironment.
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Gabryelczyk B, Alag R, Philips M, Low K, Venkatraman A, Kannaian B, Shi X, Linder M, Pervushin K, Miserez A. In vivo liquid–liquid phase separation protects amyloidogenic and aggregation‐prone peptides during overexpression in
Escherichia coli
. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4292. [PMID: 35481658 PMCID: PMC8994509 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Studying pathogenic effects of amyloids requires homogeneous amyloidogenic peptide samples. Recombinant production of these peptides is challenging due to their susceptibility to aggregation and chemical modifications. Thus, chemical synthesis is primarily used to produce amyloidogenic peptides suitable for high-resolution structural studies. Here, we exploited the shielded environment of protein condensates formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) as a protective mechanism against premature aggregation. We designed a fusion protein tag undergoing LLPS in Escherichia coli and linked it to highly amyloidogenic peptides, including β amyloids. We find that the fusion proteins form membraneless organelles during overexpression and remain fluidic-like. We also developed a facile purification method of functional Aβ peptides free of chromatography steps. The strategy exploiting LLPS can be applied to other amyloidogenic, hydrophobic, and repetitive peptides that are otherwise difficult to produce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Gabryelczyk
- Biological and Biomimetic Materials Laboratory (BBML), Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering Aalto University Espoo Finland
| | - Reema Alag
- School of Biological Sciences NTU Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Bhuvaneswari Kannaian
- Biological and Biomimetic Materials Laboratory (BBML), Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore
| | - Xiangyan Shi
- Department of Biology Shenzhen MSU‐BIT University Shenzhen China
| | - Markus Linder
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering Aalto University Espoo Finland
| | | | - Ali Miserez
- Biological and Biomimetic Materials Laboratory (BBML), Center for Sustainable Materials (SusMat), School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences NTU Singapore
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4
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Kour A, Dube T, Kumar A, Panda JJ. Anti-Amyloidogenic and Fibril-Disaggregating Potency of the Levodopa-Functionalized Gold Nanoroses as Exemplified in a Diphenylalanine-Based Amyloid Model. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:397-410. [PMID: 35120290 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The phenomenon of proteins/peptide assembly into amyloid fibrils is associated with various neurodegenerative and age-related human disorders. Inhibition of the aggregation behavior of amyloidogenic peptides/proteins or disruption of the pre-formed aggregates is a viable therapeutic option to control the progression of various protein aggregation-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the current work, we investigated both the amyloid inhibition and disaggregation proclivity of levodopa-functionalized gold nanoroses (GNRs) against various peptide-based amyloid models, including the amyloid beta peptide [Aβ (1-42) and Aβ (1-40)] and the dipeptide phenylalanine-phenylalanine (FF). Our results depicted the anti-aggregation behavior of the GNR toward FF and both forms of Aβ-derived fibrils. The peptides demonstrated a variation in their fiber-like morphology and a decline in thioflavin T fluorescence after being co-incubated with the GNR. We further demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of the GNR in neuroblastoma cells against FF and Aβ (1-42) fiber-induced toxicity, exemplified both in terms of regaining cellular viability and reducing production of reactive oxygen species. Overall, these findings support the potency of the GNR as a promising platform for combating AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avneet Kour
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India.,University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Taru Dube
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Jiban Jyoti Panda
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
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5
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Energy Metabolism and Intracellular pH Alteration in Neural Spheroids Carrying Down Syndrome. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111741. [PMID: 34829971 PMCID: PMC8615730 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain diseases including Down syndrome (DS/TS21) are known to be characterized by changes in cellular metabolism. To adequately assess such metabolic changes during pathological processes and to test drugs, methods are needed that allow monitoring of these changes in real time with minimally invasive effects. Thus, the aim of our work was to study the metabolic status and intracellular pH of spheroids carrying DS using fluorescence microscopy and FLIM. For metabolic analysis we measured the fluorescence intensities, fluorescence lifetimes and the contributions of the free and bound forms of NAD(P)H. For intracellular pH assay we measured the fluorescence intensities of SypHer-2 and BCECF. Data were processed with SPCImage and Fiji-ImageJ. We demonstrated the predominance of glycolysis in TS21 spheroids compared with normal karyotype (NK) spheroids. Assessment of the intracellular pH indicated a more alkaline intracellular pH in the TS21 spheroids compared to NK spheroids. Using fluorescence imaging, we performed a comprehensive comparative analysis of the metabolism and intracellular pH of TS21 spheroids and showed that fluorescence microscopy and FLIM make it possible to study living cells in 3D models in real time with minimally invasive effects.
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Effect of packing density of lipid vesicles on the Aβ42 fibril polymorphism. Chem Phys Lipids 2021; 236:105073. [PMID: 33675780 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2021.105073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ42) on lipid membranes is closely related to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Herein, we demonstrated the effect of the packing density of lipid vesicles on the Aβ42 fibrillation kinetics and fibril morphology. We used three distinct phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids, containing different numbers of cis-double bonds in acyl chains, and therefore, a different packing density in the lipid vesicles. Our results showed that the fibrillation of Aβ42 was greatly enhanced and the formed fibrils became shorter as the number of double bonds in lipids increased. Due to the low-density characteristics of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine (DOPC), Aβ42 monomers were able to interact with the hydrophobic acyl chain of lipids exposed to the aqueous phase, thereby inducing rapid fibrillation and short fibril morphologies. Furthermore, the effects of the anionic lipids dioleoyl phosphatidylserine (DOPS) and dioleoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DOPG), and mixed vesicles of DOPC/DOPS and DOPC/DOPG on Aβ42 fibrillations were investigated. The tight binding of Aβ42 to the lipid head groups via electrostatic interactions was able to suppress the modulation of Aβ42 fibrillations compared to accelerated fibrillations on loosely packed membranes. Our proposed mechanism regarding the influence of lipid packing density on Aβ42 fibrillations provides an advanced understanding of lipid-associated amyloid fibrillations.
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Iino T, Watanabe S, Yamashita K, Tamada E, Hasegawa T, Irino Y, Iwanaga S, Harada A, Noda K, Suto K, Yoshida T. Quantification of Amyloid-β in Plasma by Simple and Highly Sensitive Immunoaffinity Enrichment and LC-MS/MS Assay. J Appl Lab Med 2021; 6:834-845. [DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfaa225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Numerous immunoassays have been developed to quantify amyloid β1-40 (Aβ40) and amyloid β1-42 (Aβ42). Nevertheless, given the low concentration of Aβ and the high levels of interfering factors in plasma, quantification of plasma Aβ is still challenging. To overcome the problems related to the specificity of Aβ immunoassays, this study aimed to develop an immunoaffinity enrichment and LC-MS/MS (IA-MS) assay.
Methods
We developed an IA-MS assay using antibody-labeled magnetic beads for purification and LC-MS/MS for Aβ quantification. To avoid the loss of Aβ due to aggregation in acidic buffer, we used alkaline elution buffer for immunoaffinity enrichment. The concentrations of the Aβs in plasma samples were measured, and the correlation between the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio was also evaluated.
Results
The intensities of the Aβ mass peaks were significantly higher with the alkaline elution buffer than with the acidic elution buffer (Aβ40: 3.6-fold, Aβ42: 5.4-fold). This assay exhibited high reproducibility (intra-assay and inter-assay precision, %CV <15), and the working ranges of Aβ40 and Aβ42 were determined to be 21.7 to 692.8 pg/mL and 5.6 to 180.6 pg/mL, respectively. The concentrations of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in plasma were measured by IA-MS, and the plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio was correlated with the CSF Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio (rs = 0.439, P < 0.01).
Conclusions
The IA-MS assay has sufficient analytic performance for measuring endogenous Aβ40 and Aβ42 in plasma. This assay can lead to new lines of clinical discovery related to amyloid pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Iino
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan
| | | | | | - Eiya Tamada
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan
| | | | - Yasuhiro Irino
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Shigeki Iwanaga
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Amane Harada
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Kenta Noda
- Central Research Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan
| | - Kouzou Suto
- Bio-Diagnostic Reagent Technology Center, Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan
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8
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Zhang W, Fan Y. Preparation of Amyloid Fibrils Using Recombinant Technology. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2347:113-121. [PMID: 34472060 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1574-4_11] [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] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are widely investigated as they are directly associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. For example, a vast of experimental results have shown that the oligomeric and fibrillar aggregates of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, the accessibility of certain amounts of pure Aβ peptide is necessary for the studies of the mechanism of neurotoxicity. In this regard, recombinant methods provide the possibility to synthesize the Aβ peptide in vitro and thus promote the investigation of the relationship between peptide structure and pathogenic mechanism. These investigations further provide the fundamental supports for developing potential drugs for AD treatment. In addition to providing support for the study of pathogenic mechanisms, the recombination of Aβ peptides also offers the possibility to utilize these unique protein nanomaterials. For example, Aβ peptides tend to assemble into chiral amyloid fibrils with an ultra-high aspect ratio. These unique nano features, together with the inherent protein characteristics, of amyloid fibrils, allow them to be used in biomedical and environmental fields. Accordingly, herein, we aim to introduce the recombinant protocols for the synthesis of Aβ peptides. The experimental route to assemble these peptides to amyloid fibrils is also summarized in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yimin Fan
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
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9
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Rezabakhsh A, Rahbarghazi R, Fathi F. Surface plasmon resonance biosensors for detection of Alzheimer's biomarkers; an effective step in early and accurate diagnosis. Biosens Bioelectron 2020; 167:112511. [PMID: 32858422 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The rapid and direct detection of biomarkers in biofluids at clinically relevant concentrations faces serious limitations to develop diagnostic criteria for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this regard, the early detection of biomarkers correlated with AD using novel modalities and instruments is at the center of attention. Recently, some newly invented optical-based biosensors namely Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) has been extensively investigated for the detection of biomarkers using a label-free method or by checking interaction between ligand and analyte. These approaches can sense a very small amount of target molecules in the blood and cerebrospinal fluids samples. In this review, the different hypothesis related to AD, and the structural properties of AD biomarkers was introduced. Also, we aim to highlight the specific role of available SPR-based sensing methods for early detection of AD biomarkers such as aggregated β-amyloid and tau proteins. Efforts to better understand the accuracy and efficiency of optical-based biosensors in the field of neurodegenerative disease enable us to accelerate the advent of novel modalities in the clinical setting for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysa Rezabakhsh
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Emergency Medicine Research Team, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Rahbarghazi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Fathi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran; Biosensor Sciences and Technologies Research Center (BSTRC), Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.
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10
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Histidine-Lacked Aβ(1–16) Peptides: pH-Dependent Conformational Changes in Metal Ion Binding. Int J Pept Res Ther 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-020-10048-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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11
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Aggregation Mechanism of Alzheimer's Amyloid β-Peptide Mediated by α-Strand/α-Sheet Structure. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031094. [PMID: 32046006 PMCID: PMC7038184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases and a widespread form of dementia. Aggregated forms of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) are identified as a toxic species responsible for neuronal damage in AD. Extensive research has been conducted to reveal the aggregation mechanism of Aβ. However, the structure of pathological aggregates and the mechanism of aggregation are not well understood. Recently, experimental studies have confirmed that the α-sheet structure in Aβ drives aggregation and toxicity in AD. However, how the α-sheet structure is formed in Aβ and how it contributes to Aβ aggregation remains elusive. In the present study, molecular dynamics simulations suggest that Aβ adopts the α-strand conformation by peptide-plane flipping. Multiple α-strands interact through hydrogen bonding to form α-sheets. This structure acts as a nucleus that initiates and promotes aggregation and fibrillation of Aβ. Our findings are supported by previous experimental as well as theoretical studies. This study provides valuable structural insights for the design of anti-AD drugs exploiting the α-strand/α-sheet structure.
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12
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Liu H, Sun Y, Li Z, Yang R, Yang J, Aryee AA, Zhang X, Ge J, Qu L, Lin Y. SciFinder-guided rational design of fluorescent carbon dots for ratiometric monitoring intracellular pH fluctuations under heat shock. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2019.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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13
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Owen MC, Gnutt D, Gao M, Wärmländer SKTS, Jarvet J, Gräslund A, Winter R, Ebbinghaus S, Strodel B. Effects of in vivo conditions on amyloid aggregation. Chem Soc Rev 2019; 48:3946-3996. [PMID: 31192324 DOI: 10.1039/c8cs00034d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One of the grand challenges of biophysical chemistry is to understand the principles that govern protein misfolding and aggregation, which is a highly complex process that is sensitive to initial conditions, operates on a huge range of length- and timescales, and has products that range from protein dimers to macroscopic amyloid fibrils. Aberrant aggregation is associated with more than 25 diseases, which include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and type II diabetes. Amyloid aggregation has been extensively studied in the test tube, therefore under conditions that are far from physiological relevance. Hence, there is dire need to extend these investigations to in vivo conditions where amyloid formation is affected by a myriad of biochemical interactions. As a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, these interactions need to be understood in detail to develop novel therapeutic interventions, as millions of people globally suffer from neurodegenerative disorders and type II diabetes. The aim of this review is to document the progress in the research on amyloid formation from a physicochemical perspective with a special focus on the physiological factors influencing the aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide, the islet amyloid polypeptide, α-synuclein, and the hungingtin protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Owen
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno 625 00, Czech Republic
| | - David Gnutt
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, TU Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany and Lead Discovery Wuppertal, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Mimi Gao
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Str. 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany and Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, R&D, Industriepark Höchst, 65926 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sebastian K T S Wärmländer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jüri Jarvet
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Astrid Gräslund
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Roland Winter
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Str. 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Simon Ebbinghaus
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, TU Braunschweig, Rebenring 56, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Institute of Complex Systems: Structural Biochemistry, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 42525 Jülich, Germany. and Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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14
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Schumann-Gillett A, O'Mara ML. The effects of oxidised phospholipids and cholesterol on the biophysical properties of POPC bilayers. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1861:210-219. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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15
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Genetically encoded fluorescent indicators for live cell pH imaging. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1862:2924-2939. [PMID: 30279147 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intracellular pH underlies most cellular processes. There is emerging evidence of a pH-signaling role in plant cells and microorganisms. Dysregulation of pH is associated with human diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. SCOPE OF REVIEW In this review, we attempt to provide a summary of the progress that has been made in the field during the past two decades. First, we present an overview of the current state of the design and applications of fluorescent protein (FP)-based pH indicators. Then, we turn our attention to the development and applications of hybrid pH sensors that combine the capabilities of non-GFP fluorophores with the advantages of genetically encoded tags. Finally, we discuss recent advances in multicolor pH imaging and the applications of genetically encoded pH sensors in multiparameter imaging. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Genetically encoded pH sensors have proven to be indispensable noninvasive tools for selective targeting to different cellular locations. Although a variety of genetically encoded pH sensors have been designed and applied at the single cell level, there is still much room for improvements and future developments of novel powerful tools for pH imaging. Among the most pressing challenges in this area is the design of brighter redshifted sensors for tissue research and whole animal experiments. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The design of precise pH measuring instruments is one of the important goals in cell biochemistry and may give rise to the development of new powerful diagnostic tools for various diseases.
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16
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Mirkin NG, Krimm S. Milieu-Initiated Inversion of the Aqueous Polyproline II/β Propensity in the Alanine Tripeptide: Aggregation Origin of the Onset of Amyloid Formation. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:4428-4432. [PMID: 29617133 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Extending our earlier analogous study of the alanine dipeptide (ADP), we have now analyzed the effect of the external environment on the polyproline II (P) and β relative energies, the P/β propensity, of the alanine tripeptide (ATP). Ab initio calculations of ATP(H2O)19 and ATP(H2O)19(HCl) exhibit the same propensity inversion as in ADP: in the pure water case the PP conformation is favored while the addition of the HCl molecule results in the ββ conformation being of lower energy. A comparison, following an intermediate insertion and departure of an HCl molecule, shows that the energy of a hydrogen-bonded (H2O)19βATP::βATP(H2O)19 structure is lower than that of the sum of two separate PP systems, i.e., that the aggregated state of the peptide is favored. This arises from the basic physical response to their total environmental influences. Questions about quantitative results from molecular dynamics simulations, obviously needed to analyze longer chains and other side chains, are addressed via rigid water calculations. The desirability of basing studies of amyloid formation on our proposed alternative milieu-folding paradigm is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi G Mirkin
- LSA Biophysics , University of Michigan , 930 N. University Avenue , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , United States
| | - Samuel Krimm
- LSA Biophysics , University of Michigan , 930 N. University Avenue , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , United States
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17
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Ziaunys M, Sneideris T, Smirnovas V. Self-inhibition of insulin amyloid-like aggregation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:27638-27645. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp04838j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
NaCl induces formation of insulin tetramers leading to inhibition of amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Life Sciences Center
- Vilnius University
- LT-10257 Vilnius
- Lithuania
| | - Tomas Sneideris
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Life Sciences Center
- Vilnius University
- LT-10257 Vilnius
- Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Life Sciences Center
- Vilnius University
- LT-10257 Vilnius
- Lithuania
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Gospodarczyk W, Kozak M. Microchip Circulation Drastically Accelerates Amyloid Aggregation of 1-42 β-amyloid Peptide from Felis catus. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:2558-2567. [PMID: 28759721 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The amyloid aggregation process of amyloid β1-42 peptide is responsible for Alzheimer's disease, affecting millions of elderly people worldwide. Although there has been a great deal of attention directed toward tackling this disease, still no medicine has been found for this fatal disorder. To address this challenge, it is vital to thoroughly understand the molecular mechanism underlying the amyloid peptide aggregation process, as well as seek substances that could hamper this aggregation. In order to shed light on mechanisms leading to amyloidogenesis, we employed a microfluidic system to determine the possible influence of in vivo-like flow in the microchip channel itself on feline Aβ1-42 peptide amyloidogenesis. We have shown that shear forces occurring during such flow immensely accelerated peptide aggregation. We also tested the inhibitory influence of 3,3'-[1,6-(2,5-dioxahexane)]bis(1-dodecylimidazolium) dichloride gemini surfactant on peptide amyloidogenesis. Our results suggest that this surfactant may inhibit amyloid β1-42 fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Witold Gospodarczyk
- Department of Macromolecular
Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Maciej Kozak
- Department of Macromolecular
Physics, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
- Joint Laboratory
for SAXS studies, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
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Wei G, Su Z, Reynolds NP, Arosio P, Hamley IW, Gazit E, Mezzenga R. Self-assembling peptide and protein amyloids: from structure to tailored function in nanotechnology. Chem Soc Rev 2017; 46:4661-4708. [PMID: 28530745 PMCID: PMC6364806 DOI: 10.1039/c6cs00542j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 531] [Impact Index Per Article: 75.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Self-assembled peptide and protein amyloid nanostructures have traditionally been considered only as pathological aggregates implicated in human neurodegenerative diseases. In more recent times, these nanostructures have found interesting applications as advanced materials in biomedicine, tissue engineering, renewable energy, environmental science, nanotechnology and material science, to name only a few fields. In all these applications, the final function depends on: (i) the specific mechanisms of protein aggregation, (ii) the hierarchical structure of the protein and peptide amyloids from the atomistic to mesoscopic length scales and (iii) the physical properties of the amyloids in the context of their surrounding environment (biological or artificial). In this review, we will discuss recent progress made in the field of functional and artificial amyloids and highlight connections between protein/peptide folding, unfolding and aggregation mechanisms, with the resulting amyloid structure and functionality. We also highlight current advances in the design and synthesis of amyloid-based biological and functional materials and identify new potential fields in which amyloid-based structures promise new breakthroughs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wei
- Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Bremen, Bremen,
Germany
| | - Zhiqiang Su
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing
University of Chemical Technology, China
| | - Nicholas P. Reynolds
- ARC Training Centre for Biodevices, Swinburne University of
Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH-Zurich,
Switzerland
| | | | - Ehud Gazit
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Raffaele Mezzenga
- Department of Health Science and Technology, ETH-Zurich,
Switzerland
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20
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Peró-Gascón R, Benavente F, Barbosa J, Sanz-Nebot V. Determination of acidity constants and prediction of electrophoretic separation of amyloid beta peptides. J Chromatogr A 2017; 1508:148-157. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.05.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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21
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Moore KA, Pate KM, Soto-Ortega DD, Lohse S, van der Munnik N, Lim M, Jackson KS, Lyles VD, Jones L, Glassgow N, Napumecheno VM, Mobley S, Uline MJ, Mahtab R, Murphy CJ, Moss MA. Influence of gold nanoparticle surface chemistry and diameter upon Alzheimer's disease amyloid-β protein aggregation. J Biol Eng 2017; 11:5. [PMID: 28191036 PMCID: PMC5292815 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-017-0047-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Deposits of aggregated amyloid-β protein (Aβ) are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Thus, one therapeutic strategy is to eliminate these deposits by halting Aβ aggregation. While a variety of possible aggregation inhibitors have been explored, only nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit promise at low substoichiometric ratios. With tunable size, shape, and surface properties, NPs present an ideal platform for rationally designed Aβ aggregation inhibitors. In this study, we characterized the inhibitory capabilities of gold nanospheres exhibiting different surface coatings and diameters. Results Both NP diameter and surface chemistry were found to modulate the extent of aggregation, while NP electric charge influenced aggregate morphology. Notably, 8 nm and 18 nm poly(acrylic acid)-coated NPs abrogated Aβ aggregation at a substoichiometric ratio of 1:2,000,000. Theoretical calculations suggest that this low stoichiometry could arise from altered solution conditions near the NP surface. Specifically, local solution pH and charge density are congruent with conditions that influence aggregation. Conclusions These findings demonstrate the potential of surface-coated gold nanospheres to serve as tunable therapeutic agents for the inhibition of Aβ aggregation. Insights gained into the physiochemical properties of effective NP inhibitors will inform future rational design of effective NP-based therapeutics for AD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13036-017-0047-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A Moore
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - Kayla M Pate
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2C02 Swearingen Engineering Center, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - Deborah D Soto-Ortega
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - Samuel Lohse
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Nicholas van der Munnik
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2C02 Swearingen Engineering Center, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - Mihyun Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - Kaliah S Jackson
- Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117 USA
| | - Venetia D Lyles
- Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117 USA
| | - Lemeisha Jones
- Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117 USA
| | - Nisha Glassgow
- Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117 USA
| | - Vanessa M Napumecheno
- Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117 USA
| | - Shanee Mobley
- Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117 USA
| | - Mark J Uline
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208 USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2C02 Swearingen Engineering Center, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - Rahina Mahtab
- Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC 29117 USA
| | - Catherine J Murphy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Melissa A Moss
- Biomedical Engineering Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208 USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2C02 Swearingen Engineering Center, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
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Elucidating the Aβ42 Anti-Aggregation Mechanism of Action of Tramiprosate in Alzheimer's Disease: Integrating Molecular Analytical Methods, Pharmacokinetic and Clinical Data. CNS Drugs 2017; 31:495-509. [PMID: 28435985 PMCID: PMC5488121 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-017-0434-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomers play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and represent a promising target for drug development. Tramiprosate is a small-molecule Aβ anti-aggregation agent that was evaluated in phase III clinical trials for AD but did not meet the primary efficacy endpoints; however, a pre-specified subgroup analysis revealed robust, sustained, and clinically meaningful cognitive and functional effects in patients with AD homozygous for the ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4/4 homozygotes), who carry an increased risk for the disease. Therefore, to build on this important efficacy attribute and to further improve its pharmaceutical properties, we have developed a prodrug of tramiprosate ALZ-801 that is in advanced stages of clinical development. To elucidate how tramiprosate works, we investigated its molecular mechanism of action (MOA) and the translation to observed clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE The two main objectives of this research were to (1) elucidate and characterize the MOA of tramiprosate via an integrated application of three independent molecular methodologies and (2) present an integrated translational analysis that links the MOA, conformation of the target, stoichiometry, and pharmacokinetic dose exposure to the observed clinical outcome in APOE4/4 homozygote subjects. METHOD We used three molecular analytical methods-ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and molecular dynamics-to characterize the concentration-related interactions of tramiprosate versus Aβ42 monomers and the resultant conformational alterations affecting aggregation into oligomers. The molecular stoichiometry of the tramiprosate versus Aβ42 interaction was further analyzed in the context of clinical pharmacokinetic dose exposure and central nervous system Aβ42 levels (i.e., pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic translation in humans). RESULTS We observed a multi-ligand interaction of tramiprosate with monomeric Aβ42, which differs from the traditional 1:1 binding. This resulted in the stabilization of Aβ42 monomers and inhibition of oligomer formation and elongation, as demonstrated by IMS-MS and molecular dynamics. Using NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics, we also showed that tramiprosate bound to Lys16, Lys28, and Asp23, the key amino acid side chains of Aβ42 that are responsible for both conformational seed formation and neuronal toxicity. The projected molar excess of tramiprosate versus Aβ42 in humans using the dose effective in patients with AD aligned with the molecular stoichiometry of the interaction, providing a clear clinical translation of the MOA. A consistent alignment of these preclinical-to-clinical elements describes a unique example of translational medicine and supports the efficacy seen in symptomatic patients with AD. This unique "enveloping mechanism" of tramiprosate also provides a potential basis for tramiprosate dose selection for patients with homozygous AD at earlier stages of disease. CONCLUSION We have identified the molecular mechanism that may account for the observed clinical efficacy of tramiprosate in patients with APOE4/4 homozygous AD. In addition, the integrated application of the molecular methodologies (i.e., IMS-MS, NMR, and thermodynamics analysis) indicates that it is feasible to modulate and control the Aβ42 conformational dynamics landscape by a small molecule, resulting in a favorable Aβ42 conformational change that leads to a clinically relevant amyloid anti-aggregation effect and inhibition of oligomer formation. This novel enveloping MOA of tramiprosate has potential utility in the development of disease-modifying therapies for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases caused by misfolded proteins.
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