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Rinauro DJ, Chiti F, Vendruscolo M, Limbocker R. Misfolded protein oligomers: mechanisms of formation, cytotoxic effects, and pharmacological approaches against protein misfolding diseases. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:20. [PMID: 38378578 PMCID: PMC10877934 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00651-2] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The conversion of native peptides and proteins into amyloid aggregates is a hallmark of over 50 human disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Increasing evidence implicates misfolded protein oligomers produced during the amyloid formation process as the primary cytotoxic agents in many of these devastating conditions. In this review, we analyze the processes by which oligomers are formed, their structures, physicochemical properties, population dynamics, and the mechanisms of their cytotoxicity. We then focus on drug discovery strategies that target the formation of oligomers and their ability to disrupt cell physiology and trigger degenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon J Rinauro
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Ryan Limbocker
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, 10996, USA.
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2
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Venturini M, Cherchi F, Santalmasi C, Frulloni L, Dettori I, Catarzi D, Pedata F, Colotta V, Varano F, Coppi E, Pugliese AM. Pharmacological Characterization of P626, a Novel Dual Adenosine A 2A/A 2B Receptor Antagonist, on Synaptic Plasticity and during an Ischemic-like Insult in CA1 Rat Hippocampus. Biomolecules 2023; 13:894. [PMID: 37371474 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the use of multi-target compounds has become an increasingly pursued strategy to treat complex pathologies, including cerebral ischemia. Adenosine and its receptors (A1AR, A2AAR, A2BAR, A3AR) are known to play a crucial role in synaptic transmission either in normoxic or ischemic-like conditions. Previous data demonstrate that the selective antagonism of A2AAR or A2BAR delays anoxic depolarization (AD) appearance, an unequivocal sign of neuronal injury induced by a severe oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) insult in the hippocampus. Furthermore, the stimulation of A2AARs or A2BARs by respective selective agonists, CGS21680 and BAY60-6583, increases pre-synaptic neurotransmitter release, as shown by the decrease in paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) at Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses. In the present research, we investigated the effect/s of the newly synthesized dual A2AAR/A2BAR antagonist, P626, in preventing A2AAR- and/or A2BAR-mediated effects by extracellular recordings of synaptic potentials in the CA1 rat hippocampal slices. We demonstrated that P626 prevented PPF reduction induced by CGS21680 or BAY60-6583 and delayed, in a concentration-dependent manner, AD appearance during a severe OGD. In conclusion, P626 may represent a putative neuroprotective compound for stroke treatment with the possible translational advantage of reducing side effects and bypassing differences in pharmacokinetics due to combined treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Venturini
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Federica Cherchi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Clara Santalmasi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Lucia Frulloni
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Ilaria Dettori
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Daniela Catarzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Felicita Pedata
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Vittoria Colotta
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Flavia Varano
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Coppi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Pugliese
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
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3
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Limbocker R, Cremades N, Cascella R, Tessier PM, Vendruscolo M, Chiti F. Characterization of Pairs of Toxic and Nontoxic Misfolded Protein Oligomers Elucidates the Structural Determinants of Oligomer Toxicity in Protein Misfolding Diseases. Acc Chem Res 2023. [PMID: 37071750 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
ConspectusThe aberrant misfolding and aggregation of peptides and proteins into amyloid aggregates occurs in over 50 largely incurable protein misfolding diseases. These pathologies include Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, which are global medical emergencies owing to their prevalence in increasingly aging populations worldwide. Although the presence of mature amyloid aggregates is a hallmark of such neurodegenerative diseases, misfolded protein oligomers are increasingly recognized as of central importance in the pathogenesis of many of these maladies. These oligomers are small, diffusible species that can form as intermediates in the amyloid fibril formation process or be released by mature fibrils after they are formed. They have been closely associated with the induction of neuronal dysfunction and cell death. It has proven rather challenging to study these oligomeric species because of their short lifetimes, low concentrations, extensive structural heterogeneity, and challenges associated with producing stable, homogeneous, and reproducible populations. Despite these difficulties, investigators have developed protocols to produce kinetically, chemically, or structurally stabilized homogeneous populations of protein misfolded oligomers from several amyloidogenic peptides and proteins at experimentally ameneable concentrations. Furthermore, procedures have been established to produce morphologically similar but structurally distinct oligomers from the same protein sequence that are either toxic or nontoxic to cells. These tools offer unique opportunities to identify and investigate the structural determinants of oligomer toxicity by a close comparative inspection of their structures and the mechanisms of action through which they cause cell dysfunction.This Account reviews multidisciplinary results, including from our own groups, obtained by combining chemistry, physics, biochemistry, cell biology, and animal models for pairs of toxic and nontoxic oligomers. We describe oligomers comprised of the amyloid-β peptide, which underlie Alzheimer's disease, and α-synuclein, which are associated with Parkinson's disease and other related neurodegenerative pathologies, collectively known as synucleinopathies. Furthermore, we also discuss oligomers formed by the 91-residue N-terminal domain of [NiFe]-hydrogenase maturation factor from E. coli, which we use as a model non-disease-related protein, and by an amyloid stretch of Sup35 prion protein from yeast. These oligomeric pairs have become highly useful experimental tools for studying the molecular determinants of toxicity characteristic of protein misfolding diseases. Key properties have been identified that differentiate toxic from nontoxic oligomers in their ability to induce cellular dysfunction. These characteristics include solvent-exposed hydrophobic regions, interactions with membranes, insertion into lipid bilayers, and disruption of plasma membrane integrity. By using these properties, it has been possible to rationalize in model systems the responses to pairs of toxic and nontoxic oligomers. Collectively, these studies provide guidance for the development of efficacious therapeutic strategies to target rationally the cytotoxicity of misfolded protein oligomers in neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Limbocker
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York 10996, United States
| | - Nunilo Cremades
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI) and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Peter M Tessier
- Departments of Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering, Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
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4
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Omidi-Shahsavandi M, Yaghmaei P, Ahmadian S, Ebrahim-Habibi A. Effect of silibinin and trans-chalcone in an Alzheimer's disease-like model generated by insulin amyloids. Braz J Med Biol Res 2023; 56:e12443. [PMID: 36856252 PMCID: PMC9974074 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x2023e12443] [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: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are characteristic of several disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), with no cure or preventive therapy. Diminishing amyloid deposits using aromatic compounds is an interesting approach toward AD treatment. The present study examined the anti-fibrillogenic effects of silibinin and trans-chalcone in vitro, in vivo, and in silico on insulin amyloids. In vitro incubation of insulin at 37°C for 24 h induced amyloid formation. Addition of trans-chalcone and silibinin to insulin led to reduced amounts of fibrils as shown by thioflavin S fluorescence and Congo red absorption spectroscopy, with a better effect observed for silibinin. In vivo bilateral injection of fibrils formed by incubation of insulin in the presence or absence of silibinin and trans-chalcone or insulin fibrils plus the compounds in rats' hippocampus was performed to obtain AD characteristics. Passive avoidance (PA) test showed that treatment with both compounds efficiently increased latency compared with the model group. Histological investigation of the hippocampus in the cornu ammonis (CA1) and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the rat's brain stained with hematoxylin-eosin and thioflavin S showed an inhibitory effect on amyloid aggregation and markedly reduced amyloid plaques. In silico, a docking experiment on native and fibrillar forms of insulin provided an insight onto the possible binding site of the compounds. In conclusion, these small aromatic compounds are suggested to have a protective effect on AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Omidi-Shahsavandi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - P. Yaghmaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - S. Ahmadian
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - A. Ebrahim-Habibi
- Biosensor Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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5
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Fazelinejad H, Zahedi E, Nazarian S, Kaffash Siuki Z, Nasri S, Dadmehr M, Mehrabi M, Khodarahmi R. Neuroprotective effect of Bis(Indolyl)phenylmethane in Alzheimer’s disease rat model through inhibition of hen Lysozyme amyloid fibril-induced neurotoxicity. JOURNAL OF THE IRANIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13738-022-02692-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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6
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Misfolded protein oligomers induce an increase of intracellular Ca 2+ causing an escalation of reactive oxidative species. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:500. [PMID: 36030306 PMCID: PMC9420098 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04513-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation in the brain of the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide in the form of senile plaques. According to the amyloid hypothesis, the aggregation process of Aβ also generates smaller soluble misfolded oligomers that contribute to disease progression. One of the mechanisms of Aβ oligomer cytotoxicity is the aberrant interaction of these species with the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes, with a consequent increase in cytosolic Ca2+ levels, flowing from the extracellular space, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here we investigated the relationship between the increase in Ca2+ and ROS levels immediately after the exposure to misfolded protein oligomers, asking whether they are simultaneous or instead one precedes the other. Using Aβ42-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs) and type A HypF-N model oligomers (OAs), we followed the kinetics of ROS production and Ca2+ influx in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and rat primary cortical neurons in a variety of conditions. In all cases we found a faster increase of intracellular Ca2+ than ROS levels, and a lag phase in the latter process. A Ca2+-deprived cell medium prevented the increase of intracellular Ca2+ ions and abolished ROS production. By contrast, treatment with antioxidant agents prevented ROS formation, did not prevent the initial Ca2+ flux, but allowed the cells to react to the initial calcium dyshomeostasis, restoring later the normal levels of the ions. These results reveal a mechanism in which the entry of Ca2+ causes the production of ROS in cells challenged by aberrant protein oligomers.
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7
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Errico S, Ramshini H, Capitini C, Canale C, Spaziano M, Barbut D, Calamai M, Zasloff M, Oropesa-Nuñez R, Vendruscolo M, Chiti F. Quantitative Measurement of the Affinity of Toxic and Nontoxic Misfolded Protein Oligomers for Lipid Bilayers and of its Modulation by Lipid Composition and Trodusquemine. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:3189-3202. [PMID: 34382791 PMCID: PMC8414483 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative diseases are associated with the self-assembly of peptides and proteins into fibrillar aggregates. Soluble misfolded oligomers formed during the aggregation process, or released by mature fibrils, play a relevant role in neurodegenerative processes through their interactions with neuronal membranes. However, the determinants of the cytotoxicity of these oligomers are still unclear. Here we used liposomes and toxic and nontoxic oligomers formed by the same protein to measure quantitatively the affinity of the two oligomeric species for lipid membranes. To this aim, we quantified the perturbation to the lipid membranes caused by the two oligomers by using the fluorescence quenching of two probes embedded in the polar and apolar regions of the lipid membranes and a well-defined protein-oligomer binding assay using fluorescently labeled oligomers to determine the Stern-Volmer and dissociation constants, respectively. With both approaches, we found that the toxic oligomers have a membrane affinity 20-25 times higher than that of nontoxic oligomers. Circular dichroism, intrinsic fluorescence, and FRET indicated that neither oligomer type changes its structure upon membrane interaction. Using liposomes enriched with trodusquemine, a potential small molecule drug known to penetrate lipid membranes and make them refractory to toxic oligomers, we found that the membrane affinity of the oligomers was remarkably lower. At protective concentrations of the small molecule, the binding of the oligomers to the lipid membranes was fully prevented. Furthermore, the affinity of the toxic oligomers for the lipid membranes was found to increase and slightly decrease with GM1 ganglioside and cholesterol content, respectively, indicating that physicochemical properties of lipid membranes modulate their affinity for misfolded oligomeric species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Errico
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Hassan Ramshini
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
- Department
of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran 19395-4697, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Claudia Capitini
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Florence, Sesto
Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Claudio Canale
- Department
of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa 16146, Italy
| | - Martina Spaziano
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
| | - Denise Barbut
- Enterin
Inc., 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, United States
| | - Martino Calamai
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
- National
Institute of Optics, National Research Council
of Italy (CNR), Florence 50125, Italy
| | - Michael Zasloff
- Enterin
Inc., 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, United States
- MedStar-Georgetown
Transplant Institute, Georgetown University
School of Medicine, Washington D.C. 20007, United States
| | - Reinier Oropesa-Nuñez
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Uppsala
University, Uppsala SE-751 03, Sweden
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Florence 50134, Italy
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8
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Perni M, Mannini B, Xu CK, Kumita JR, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Vendruscolo M. Exogenous misfolded protein oligomers can cross the intestinal barrier and cause a disease phenotype in C. elegans. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14391. [PMID: 34257326 PMCID: PMC8277765 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93527-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Misfolded protein oligomers are increasingly recognized as highly cytotoxic agents in a wide range of human disorders associated with protein aggregation. In this study, we assessed the possible uptake and resulting toxic effects of model protein oligomers administered to C. elegans through the culture medium. We used an automated machine-vision, high-throughput screening procedure to monitor the phenotypic changes in the worms, in combination with confocal microscopy to monitor the diffusion of the oligomers, and oxidative stress assays to detect their toxic effects. Our results suggest that the oligomers can diffuse from the intestinal lumen to other tissues, resulting in a disease phenotype. We also observed that pre-incubation of the oligomers with a molecular chaperone (αB-crystallin) or a small molecule inhibitor of protein aggregation (squalamine), reduced the oligomer absorption. These results indicate that exogenous misfolded protein oligomers can be taken up by the worms from their environment and spread across tissues, giving rise to pathological effects in regions distant from their place of absorbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Perni
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Benedetta Mannini
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Catherine K Xu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Janet R Kumita
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
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9
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Leal-Lasarte M, Mannini B, Chiti F, Vendruscolo M, Dobson CM, Roodveldt C, Pozo D. Distinct responses of human peripheral blood cells to different misfolded protein oligomers. Immunology 2021; 164:358-371. [PMID: 34043816 PMCID: PMC8442237 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that peripheral immune cells play a prominent role in neurodegeneration connected to protein misfolding, which are associated with formation of aberrant aggregates, including soluble protein misfolded oligomers. The precise links, however, between the physicochemical features of diverse oligomers and their effects on the immune system, particularly on adaptive immunity, remain currently unexplored, due partly to the transient and heterogeneous nature of the oligomers themselves. To overcome these limitations, we took advantage of two stable and well‐characterized types of model oligomers (A and B), formed by HypF‐N bacterial protein, type B oligomers displaying lower solvent‐exposed hydrophobicity. Exposure to oligomers of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) revealed differential effects, with type B, but not type A, oligomers leading to a reduction in CD4+ cells. Type A oligomers promoted enhanced differentiation towards CD4+CD25HighFoxP3+ Tregs and displayed a higher suppressive effect on lymphocyte proliferation than Tregs treated with oligomers B or untreated cells. Moreover, our results reveal Th1 and Th17 lymphocyte differentiation mediated by type A oligomers and a differential balance of TGF‐β, IL‐6, IL‐23, IFN‐γ and IL‐10 mediators. These results indicate that type B oligomers recapitulate some of the biological responses associated with Parkinson's disease in peripheral immunocompetent cells, while type A oligomers resemble responses associated with Alzheimer's disease. We anticipate that further studies characterizing the differential effects of protein misfolded oligomers on the peripheral immune system may lead to the development of blood‐based diagnostics, which could report on the type and properties of oligomers present in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Leal-Lasarte
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), Seville, Spain
| | - Benedetta Mannini
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Cintia Roodveldt
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), Seville, Spain.,Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - David Pozo
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), Seville, Spain.,Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
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10
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Fani G, Mannini B, Vecchi G, Cascella R, Cecchi C, Dobson CM, Vendruscolo M, Chiti F. Aβ Oligomers Dysregulate Calcium Homeostasis by Mechanosensitive Activation of AMPA and NMDA Receptors. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:766-781. [PMID: 33538575 PMCID: PMC7898266 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia, is characterized by the aggregation of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) and by an impairment of calcium homeostasis caused by excessive activation of glutamatergic receptors (excitotoxicity). Here, we studied the effects on calcium homeostasis caused by the formation of Aβ oligomeric assemblies. We found that Aβ oligomers cause a rapid influx of calcium ions (Ca2+) across the cell membrane by rapidly activating extrasynaptic N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and, to a lower extent, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors. We also observed, however, that misfolded oligomers do not interact directly with these receptors. Further experiments with lysophosphatidylcholine and arachidonic acid, which cause membrane compression and stretch, respectively, indicated that these receptors are activated through a change in membrane tension induced by the oligomers and transmitted mechanically to the receptors via the lipid bilayer. Indeed, lysophosphatidylcholine is able to neutralize the oligomer-induced activation of the NMDA receptors, whereas arachidonic acid activates the receptors similarly to the oligomers with no additive effects. An increased rotational freedom observed for a fluorescent probe embedded within the membrane in the presence of the oligomers also indicates a membrane stretch. These results reveal a mechanism of toxicity of Aβ oligomers in Alzheimer's disease through the perturbation of the mechanical properties of lipid membranes sensed by NMDA and AMPA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Fani
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Benedetta Mannini
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Giulia Vecchi
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
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11
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Farrugia MY, Caruana M, Ghio S, Camilleri A, Farrugia C, Cauchi RJ, Cappelli S, Chiti F, Vassallo N. Toxic oligomers of the amyloidogenic HypF-N protein form pores in mitochondrial membranes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17733. [PMID: 33082392 PMCID: PMC7575562 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74841-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on the amyloidogenic N-terminal domain of the E. coli HypF protein (HypF-N) have contributed significantly to a detailed understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases characterised by the formation of misfolded oligomers, by proteins such as amyloid-β, α-synuclein and tau. Given that both cell membranes and mitochondria are increasingly recognised as key targets of oligomer toxicity, we investigated the damaging effects of aggregates of HypF-N on mitochondrial membranes. Essentially, we found that HypF-N oligomers characterised by high surface hydrophobicity (type A) were able to trigger a robust permeabilisation of mito-mimetic liposomes possessing cardiolipin-rich membranes and dysfunction of isolated mitochondria, as demonstrated by a combination of mitochondrial shrinking, lowering of mitochondrial membrane potential and cytochrome c release. Furthermore, using single-channel electrophysiology recordings we obtained evidence that the type A aggregates induced currents reflecting formation of ion-conducting pores in mito-mimetic planar phospholipid bilayers, with multi-level conductances ranging in the hundreds of pS at negative membrane voltages. Conversely, HypF-N oligomers with low surface hydrophobicity (type B) could not permeabilise or porate mitochondrial membranes. These results suggest an inherent toxicity of membrane-active aggregates of amyloid-forming proteins to mitochondria, and that targeting of oligomer-mitochondrial membrane interactions might therefore afford protection against such damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ylenia Farrugia
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Mario Caruana
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Stephanie Ghio
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Angelique Camilleri
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | | | - Ruben J Cauchi
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Sara Cappelli
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Neville Vassallo
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
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12
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Amyloidogenic Peptides in Human Neuro-Degenerative Diseases and in Microorganisms: A Sorrow Shared Is a Sorrow Halved? Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25040925. [PMID: 32093040 PMCID: PMC7070710 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25040925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The term "amyloid" refers to proteinaceous deposits of peptides that might be generated from larger precursor proteins e.g., by proteolysis. Common to these peptides is a stable cross-β dominated secondary structure which allows self-assembly, leading to insoluble oligomers and lastly to fibrils. These highly ordered protein aggregates have been, for a long time, mainly associated with human neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (Amyloid-β peptides). However, they also exert physiological functions such as in release of deposited hormones in human beings. In the light of the rediscovery of our microbial commensals as important companions in health and disease, the fact that microbes also possess amyloidogenic peptides is intriguing. Transmission of amyloids by iatrogenic means or by consumption of contaminated meat from diseased animals is a well-known fact. What if also our microbial commensals might drive human amyloidosis or suffer from our aggregated amyloids? Moreover, as the microbial amyloids are evolutionarily older, we might learn from these organisms how to cope with the sword of Damocles forged of endogenous, potentially toxic peptides. This review summarizes knowledge about the interplay between human amyloids involved in neurodegenerative diseases and microbial amyloids.
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13
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Mannini B, Vecchi G, Labrador-Garrido A, Fabre B, Fani G, Franco JM, Lilley K, Pozo D, Vendruscolo M, Chiti F, Dobson CM, Roodveldt C. Differential Interactome and Innate Immune Response Activation of Two Structurally Distinct Misfolded Protein Oligomers. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:3464-3478. [PMID: 31313906 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation of misfolded protein oligomers during early stages of amyloid aggregation and the activation of neuroinflammatory responses are two key events associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Although it has been established that misfolded oligomers are involved in the neuroinflammatory process, the links between their structural features and their functional effects on the immune response remain unknown. To explore such links, we took advantage of two structurally distinct soluble oligomers (type A and B) of protein HypF-N and compared the elicited microglial inflammatory responses. By using confocal microscopy, protein pull-down, and high-throughput mass spectrometry, we found that, even though both types bound to a common pool of microglial proteins, type B oligomers-with a lower solvent-exposed hydrophobicity-showed enhanced protein binding, correlating with the observed inflammatory response. Furthermore, the interactome associated with inflammatory-mediated neurodegeneration revealed previously unidentified receptors and signaling molecules likely to be involved in the oligomer-elicited innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Mannini
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, U.K
| | - Giulia Vecchi
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, U.K
| | - Adahir Labrador-Garrido
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER) - Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of Seville, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Bertrand Fabre
- Cambridge Centre for Proteomics, Systems Biology Centre, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1GA Cambridge, U.K
| | - Giulia Fani
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, U.K
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Jaime M. Franco
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER) - Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of Seville, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Kathryn Lilley
- Cambridge Centre for Proteomics, Systems Biology Centre, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1GA Cambridge, U.K
| | - David Pozo
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER) - Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of Seville, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, U.K
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, U.K
| | - Cintia Roodveldt
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER) - Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092 Seville, Spain
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of Seville, 41092 Seville, Spain
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14
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Vivoli Vega M, Cascella R, Chen SW, Fusco G, De Simone A, Dobson CM, Cecchi C, Chiti F. The Toxicity of Misfolded Protein Oligomers Is Independent of Their Secondary Structure. ACS Chem Biol 2019; 14:1593-1600. [PMID: 31074957 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The self-assembly of proteins into structured fibrillar aggregates is associated with a range of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, in which an important cytotoxic role is thought to be played by small soluble oligomers accumulating during the aggregation process or released by mature fibrils. As the structural characteristics of such species and their links with toxicity are still not fully defined, we have compared six examples of preformed misfolded protein oligomers with different β-sheet content, as determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and with different toxicity, as determined by three cellular readouts of cell viability. The results show the absence of any measurable correlation between the nature of their secondary structure and their cellular toxicity, both when comparing the six types of oligomers as a group and when comparing species in subgroups characterized by either the same size or the same exposure of hydrophobic moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirella Vivoli Vega
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Serene W Chen
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Centre for Misfolding disease, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding disease, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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15
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Oropesa-Nuñez R, Keshavan S, Dante S, Diaspro A, Mannini B, Capitini C, Cecchi C, Stefani M, Chiti F, Canale C. Toxic HypF-N Oligomers Selectively Bind the Plasma Membrane to Impair Cell Adhesion Capability. Biophys J 2019; 114:1357-1367. [PMID: 29590593 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 01/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The deposition of fibrillar protein aggregates in human organs is the hallmark of several pathological states, including highly debilitating neurodegenerative disorders and systemic amyloidoses. It is widely accepted that small oligomers arising as intermediates in the aggregation process, released by fibrils, or growing in secondary nucleation steps are the cytotoxic entities in protein-misfolding diseases, notably neurodegenerative conditions. Increasing evidence indicates that cytotoxicity is triggered by the interaction between nanosized protein aggregates and cell membranes, even though little information on the molecular details of such interaction is presently available. In this work, we propose what is, to our knowledge, a new approach, based on the use of single-cell force spectroscopy applied to multifunctional substrates, to study the interaction between protein oligomers, cell membranes, and/or the extracellular matrix. We compared the interaction of single Chinese hamster ovary cells with two types of oligomers (toxic and nontoxic) grown from the N-terminal domain of the Escherichia coli protein HypF. We were able to quantify the affinity between both oligomer type and the cell membrane by measuring the mechanical work needed to detach the cells from the aggregates, and we could discriminate the contributions of the membrane lipid and protein fractions to such affinity. The fundamental role of the ganglioside GM1 in the membrane-oligomers interaction was also highlighted. Finally, we observed that the binding of toxic oligomers to the cell membrane significantly affects the functionality of adhesion molecules such as Arg-Gly-Asp binding integrins, and that this effect requires the presence of the negatively charged sialic acid moiety of GM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinier Oropesa-Nuñez
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy; DIBRIS Department, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Sandeep Keshavan
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy; DIBRIS Department, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Silvia Dante
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Alberto Diaspro
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
| | - Benedetta Mannini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Capitini
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Massimo Stefani
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Claudio Canale
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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16
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Foti A, Barreca F, Fazio E, D’Andrea C, Matteini P, Maragò OM, Gucciardi PG. Low cost tips for tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy fabricated by two-step electrochemical etching of 125 µm diameter gold wires. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 9:2718-2729. [PMID: 30416923 PMCID: PMC6204785 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.9.254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) has become a well-applied technique for nanospectroscopy, allowing for single molecule sensitivity with sub-nanometer spatial resolution. The demand for efficient, reproducible and cost-effective probes for TERS is increasing. Here we report on a new electrochemical etching protocol to fabricate TERS tips starting from 125 µm diameter gold wires in a reproducible way. The process is reliable (50% of the tips have radius of curvature <35 nm, 66% <80 nm), fast (less than 2 min) and 2.5 times cheaper than the etching of standard 250 µm diameter wires. The TERS performance of the tips is tested on dyes, pigments and biomolecules and enhancement factors higher than 105 are observed. TERS mapping with a spatial resolution of 5 nm is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Foti
- CNR-IPCF, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno D’Alcontres 37, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Francesco Barreca
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Enza Fazio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Cristiano D’Andrea
- IFAC-CNR, Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Paolo Matteini
- IFAC-CNR, Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Onofrio Maria Maragò
- CNR-IPCF, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno D’Alcontres 37, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Pietro Giuseppe Gucciardi
- CNR-IPCF, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, Viale F. Stagno D’Alcontres 37, 98168 Messina, Italy
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17
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D'Andrea C, Foti A, Cottat M, Banchelli M, Capitini C, Barreca F, Canale C, de Angelis M, Relini A, Maragò OM, Pini R, Chiti F, Gucciardi PG, Matteini P. Nanoscale Discrimination between Toxic and Nontoxic Protein Misfolded Oligomers with Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2018; 14:e1800890. [PMID: 30091859 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201800890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Highly toxic protein misfolded oligomers associated with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are nowadays considered primarily responsible for promoting synaptic failure and neuronal death. Unraveling the relationship between structure and neurotoxicity of protein oligomers appears pivotal in understanding the causes of the pathological process, as well as in designing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies tuned toward the earliest and presymptomatic stages of the disease. Here, it is benefited from tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) as a surface-sensitive tool with spatial resolution on the nanoscale, to inspect the spatial organization and surface character of individual protein oligomers from two samples formed by the same polypeptide sequence and different toxicity levels. TERS provides direct assignment of specific amino acid residues that are exposed to a large extent on the surface of toxic species and buried in nontoxic oligomers. These residues, thanks to their outward disposition, might represent structural factors driving the pathogenic behavior exhibited by protein misfolded oligomers, including affecting cell membrane integrity and specific signaling pathways in neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano D'Andrea
- IFAC-CNR, Institute of Applied Physics "Nello Carrara,", National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Antonino Foti
- IPCF-CNR, Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes, National Research Council, Viale F. Stagno D'Alcontres 37, I-98158, Messina, Italy
| | - Maximilien Cottat
- IFAC-CNR, Institute of Applied Physics "Nello Carrara,", National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Martina Banchelli
- IFAC-CNR, Institute of Applied Physics "Nello Carrara,", National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Claudia Capitini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, I-50134, Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesco Barreca
- Department of MIFT, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, I-98166, Messina, Italy
| | - Claudio Canale
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 33, I-16146, Genova, Italy
| | - Marella de Angelis
- IFAC-CNR, Institute of Applied Physics "Nello Carrara,", National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Annalisa Relini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, I-16146, Genova, Italy
| | - Onofrio M Maragò
- IPCF-CNR, Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes, National Research Council, Viale F. Stagno D'Alcontres 37, I-98158, Messina, Italy
| | - Roberto Pini
- IFAC-CNR, Institute of Applied Physics "Nello Carrara,", National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, I-50134, Firenze, Italy
| | - Pietro G Gucciardi
- IPCF-CNR, Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes, National Research Council, Viale F. Stagno D'Alcontres 37, I-98158, Messina, Italy
| | - Paolo Matteini
- IFAC-CNR, Institute of Applied Physics "Nello Carrara,", National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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18
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Capitini C, Patel JR, Natalello A, D'Andrea C, Relini A, Jarvis JA, Birolo L, Peduzzo A, Vendruscolo M, Matteini P, Dobson CM, De Simone A, Chiti F. Structural differences between toxic and nontoxic HypF-N oligomers. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:8637-8640. [PMID: 30020284 DOI: 10.1039/c8cc03446j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We have studied two misfolded oligomeric forms of the protein HypF-N, which show similar morphologies but very different toxicities. We measured over 80 intermolecular distance-dependent parameters for each oligomer type using FRET, in conjunction with solution- and solid-state NMR and other biophysical techniques. The results indicate that the formation of a highly organised hydrogen bonded core in the toxic oligomers results in the exposure of a larger number of hydrophobic residues than in the nontoxic species, causing the former to form aberrant interactions with cellular components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Capitini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Jayneil R Patel
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW72AZ London, UK
| | - Antonino Natalello
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Cristiano D'Andrea
- Institute of Applied Physics, National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Annalisa Relini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genoa, Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146, Genova, Italy
| | - James A Jarvis
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW72AZ London, UK
| | - Leila Birolo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Monte S. Angelo Campus, Via Cinthia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Peduzzo
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Paolo Matteini
- Institute of Applied Physics, National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW72AZ London, UK
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy.
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19
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Analysis of Physicochemical Interaction of Aβ40 with a GM1 Ganglioside-Containing Lipid Membrane. J Phys Chem B 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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20
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Oropesa-Nuñez R, Seghezza S, Dante S, Diaspro A, Cascella R, Cecchi C, Stefani M, Chiti F, Canale C. Interaction of toxic and non-toxic HypF-N oligomers with lipid bilayers investigated at high resolution with atomic force microscopy. Oncotarget 2018; 7:44991-45004. [PMID: 27391440 PMCID: PMC5216700 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolded oligomers are considered the most toxic species amongst those formed in the process of amyloid formation and the molecular basis of their toxicity, although not completely understood, is thought to originate from the interaction with the cellular membrane. Here, we sought to highlight the molecular determinants of oligomer-membrane interaction by atomic force microscopy. We monitored the interaction between multiphase supported lipid bilayers and two types of HypF-N oligomers displaying different structural features and cytotoxicities. By our approach we imaged with unprecedented resolution the ordered and disordered lipid phases of the bilayer and different oligomer structures interacting with either phase. We identified the oligomers and lipids responsible for toxicity and, more generally, we established the importance of the membrane lipid component in mediating oligomer toxicity. Our findings support the importance of GM1 ganglioside in mediating the oligomer-bilayer interaction and support a mechanism of oligomer cytotoxicity involving bilayer destabilization by globular oligomers within GM1-rich ordered raft regions rather than by annular oligomers in the surrounding disordered membrane domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinier Oropesa-Nuñez
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,DIBRIS Department, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Silvia Seghezza
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Silvia Dante
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Alberto Diaspro
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Physics, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Massimo Stefani
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Claudio Canale
- Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
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21
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Cappelli S, Penco A, Mannini B, Cascella R, Wilson MR, Ecroyd H, Li X, Buxbaum JN, Dobson CM, Cecchi C, Relini A, Chiti F. Effect of molecular chaperones on aberrant protein oligomers in vitro: super-versus sub-stoichiometric chaperone concentrations. Biol Chem 2016; 397:401-15. [PMID: 26812789 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2015-0250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Living systems protect themselves from aberrant proteins by a network of chaperones. We have tested in vitro the effects of different concentrations, ranging from 0 to 16 μm, of two molecular chaperones, namely αB-crystallin and clusterin, and an engineered monomeric variant of transthyretin (M-TTR), on the morphology and cytotoxicity of preformed toxic oligomers of HypF-N, which represent a useful model of misfolded protein aggregates. Using atomic force microscopy imaging and static light scattering analysis, all were found to bind HypF-N oligomers and increase the size of the aggregates, to an extent that correlates with chaperone concentration. SDS-PAGE profiles have shown that the large aggregates were predominantly composed of the HypF-N protein. ANS fluorescence measurements show that the chaperone-induced clustering of HypF-N oligomers does not change the overall solvent exposure of hydrophobic residues on the surface of the oligomers. αB-crystallin, clusterin and M-TTR can diminish the cytotoxic effects of the HypF-N oligomers at all chaperone concentration, as demonstrated by MTT reduction and Ca2+ influx measurements. The observation that the protective effect is primarily at all concentrations of chaperones, both when the increase in HypF-N aggregate size is minimal and large, emphasizes the efficiency and versatility of these protein molecules.
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Evangelisti E, Cascella R, Becatti M, Marrazza G, Dobson CM, Chiti F, Stefani M, Cecchi C. Binding affinity of amyloid oligomers to cellular membranes is a generic indicator of cellular dysfunction in protein misfolding diseases. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32721. [PMID: 27619987 PMCID: PMC5020652 DOI: 10.1038/srep32721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The conversion of peptides or proteins from their soluble native states into intractable amyloid deposits is associated with a wide range of human disorders. Misfolded protein oligomers formed during the process of aggregation have been identified as the primary pathogenic agents in many such conditions. Here, we show the existence of a quantitative relationship between the degree of binding to neuronal cells of different types of oligomers formed from a model protein, HypF-N, and the GM1 content of the plasma membranes. In addition, remarkably similar behavior is observed for oligomers of the Aβ42 peptide associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Further analysis has revealed the existence of a linear correlation between the level of the influx of Ca2+ across neuronal membranes that triggers cellular damage, and the fraction of oligomeric species bound to the membrane. Our findings indicate that the susceptibility of neuronal cells to different types of misfolded oligomeric assemblies is directly related to the extent of binding of such oligomers to the cellular membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Evangelisti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio" and Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration (CIMN), University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio" and Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration (CIMN), University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Matteo Becatti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio" and Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration (CIMN), University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanna Marrazza
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW Cambridge, UK
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio" and Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration (CIMN), University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Stefani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio" and Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration (CIMN), University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Cecchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio" and Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration (CIMN), University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
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Forloni G, Artuso V, La Vitola P, Balducci C. Oligomeropathies and pathogenesis of Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases. Mov Disord 2016; 31:771-81. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.26624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gianluigi Forloni
- Departement of Neuroscience; IRCCS, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri,”; Milano Italy
| | | | - Pietro La Vitola
- Departement of Neuroscience; IRCCS, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri,”; Milano Italy
| | - Claudia Balducci
- Departement of Neuroscience; IRCCS, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri,”; Milano Italy
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Abstract
In Escherichia coli, hydrogen metabolism plays a prominent role in anaerobic physiology. The genome contains the capability to produce and assemble up to four [NiFe]-hydrogenases, each of which are known, or predicted, to contribute to different aspects of cellular metabolism. In recent years, there have been major advances in the understanding of the structure, function, and roles of the E. coli [NiFe]-hydrogenases. The membrane-bound, periplasmically oriented, respiratory Hyd-1 isoenzyme has become one of the most important paradigm systems for understanding an important class of oxygen-tolerant enzymes, as well as providing key information on the mechanism of hydrogen activation per se. The membrane-bound, periplasmically oriented, Hyd-2 isoenzyme has emerged as an unusual, bidirectional redox valve able to link hydrogen oxidation to quinone reduction during anaerobic respiration, or to allow disposal of excess reducing equivalents as hydrogen gas. The membrane-bound, cytoplasmically oriented, Hyd-3 isoenzyme is part of the formate hydrogenlyase complex, which acts to detoxify excess formic acid under anaerobic fermentative conditions and is geared towards hydrogen production under those conditions. Sequence identity between some Hyd-3 subunits and those of the respiratory NADH dehydrogenases has led to hypotheses that the activity of this isoenzyme may be tightly coupled to the formation of transmembrane ion gradients. Finally, the E. coli genome encodes a homologue of Hyd-3, termed Hyd-4, however strong evidence for a physiological role for E. coli Hyd-4 remains elusive. In this review, the versatile hydrogen metabolism of E. coli will be discussed and the roles and potential applications of the spectrum of different types of [NiFe]-hydrogenases available will be explored.
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25
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Inhibition of amyloid fibril formation and cytotoxicity by a chemical analog of Curcumin as a stable inhibitor. Int J Biol Macromol 2015; 78:396-404. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2015.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Guerrini L, Arenal R, Mannini B, Chiti F, Pini R, Matteini P, Alvarez-Puebla RA. SERS Detection of Amyloid Oligomers on Metallorganic-Decorated Plasmonic Beads. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:9420-9428. [PMID: 25897657 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b01056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Protein misfolded proteins are among the most toxic endogenous species of macromolecules. These chemical entities are responsible for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob's and different non-neurophatic amyloidosis. Notably, these oligomers show a combination of marked heterogeneity and low abundance in body fluids, which have prevented a reliable detection by immunological methods so far. Herein we exploit the selectivity of proteins to react with metallic ions and the sensitivity of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) toward small electronic changes in coordination compounds to design and engineer a reliable optical sensor for protein misfolded oligomers. Our strategy relies on the functionalization of Au nanoparticle-decorated polystyrene beads with an effective metallorganic Raman chemoreceptor, composed by Al(3+) ions coordinated to 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) with high Raman cross-section, that selectively binds aberrant protein oligomers. The mechanical deformations of the MBA phenyl ring upon complexation with the oligomeric species are registered in its SERS spectrum and can be quantitatively correlated with the concentration of the target biomolecule. The SERS platform used here appears promising for future implementation of diagnostic tools of aberrant species associated with protein deposition diseases, including those with a strong social and economic impact, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Guerrini
- †Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Centro de Tecnologia Quimica de Cataluña, C/de Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, N5, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- ‡Medcom Advance SA, Viladecans Busines Park, Edificio Brasil, C/Bertran i Musitu, 83-85, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raul Arenal
- §Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Instituto de Nanociencia de Aragon (INA), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- ∥Fundación ARAID, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Benedetta Mannini
- ⊥Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- ⊥Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Roberto Pini
- #Institute of Applied Physics Nello Carrara, National Research Council, via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Paolo Matteini
- #Institute of Applied Physics Nello Carrara, National Research Council, via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Ramon A Alvarez-Puebla
- †Universitat Rovira i Virgili and Centro de Tecnologia Quimica de Cataluña, C/de Marcel·lí Domingo s/n, N5, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- ‡Medcom Advance SA, Viladecans Busines Park, Edificio Brasil, C/Bertran i Musitu, 83-85, 08840 Viladecans, Barcelona, Spain
- ○ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
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Mannini B, Mulvihill E, Sgromo C, Cascella R, Khodarahmi R, Ramazzotti M, Dobson CM, Cecchi C, Chiti F. Toxicity of protein oligomers is rationalized by a function combining size and surface hydrophobicity. ACS Chem Biol 2014; 9:2309-17. [PMID: 25079908 DOI: 10.1021/cb500505m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The misfolding and aberrant assembly of peptides and proteins into fibrillar aggregates is the hallmark of many pathologies. Fibril formation is accompanied by oligomeric species thought to be the primary pathogenic agents in many of these diseases. With the aim of identifying the structural determinants responsible for the toxicity of misfolded oligomers, we created 12 oligomeric variants from the N-terminal domain of the E. coli HypF protein (HypF-N) by replacing one or more charged amino acid residues with neutral apolar residues and allowing the mutated proteins to aggregate under two sets of conditions. The resulting oligomeric species have different degrees of cytotoxicity when added to the extracellular medium of the cells, as assessed by the extent of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction, apoptosis, and influx of Ca2+ into the cells. The structural properties of the oligomeric variants were characterized by evaluating their surface hydrophobicity with 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate (ANS) binding and by measuring their size by means of turbidimetry as well as light scattering. We find that increases in the surface hydrophobicity of the oligomers following mutation can promote the formation of larger assemblies and that the overall toxicity correlates with a combination of both surface hydrophobicity and size, with the most toxic oligomers having high hydrophobicity and small size. These results have allowed the relationships between these three parameters to be studied simultaneously and quantitatively, and have enabled the generation of an equation that is able to rationalize and even predict toxicity of the oligomers resulting from their surface hydrophobicity and size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Mannini
- Department
of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Estefania Mulvihill
- Department
of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Caterina Sgromo
- Department
of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Cascella
- Department
of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Reza Khodarahmi
- Medical
Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Matteo Ramazzotti
- Department
of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Cecchi
- Department
of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Department
of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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28
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Bucciantini M, Rigacci S, Stefani M. Amyloid Aggregation: Role of Biological Membranes and the Aggregate-Membrane System. J Phys Chem Lett 2014; 5:517-27. [PMID: 26276603 DOI: 10.1021/jz4024354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Several human degenerative diseases involve amyloidogenic peptides/proteins with high conformational plasticity and propensity to self-aggregate into polymeric fibrillar assemblies sharing the cross-β structure and endowed with cytotoxic potential. Although the mechanisms of amyloid growth and toxicity are not fully understood, a common property of amyloids is their ability to interact with lipid bilayers disturbing membrane integrity. Lipid bilayers can also act as conformational catalysts, favoring protein misfolding and inducing the growth of aggregation nuclei, early oligomers, and mature fibrils with specific biophysical, structural, and toxicity features. This Perspective will highlight these effects in the context of a membrane-oligomer system where the conformational/biophysical features of either component affect those of the other. In this context, we will highlight the modulation of the protein-cell surface interaction by the content of membrane cholesterol and gangliosides, notably GM1. In particular, we will discuss data that indicate how these interactions affect the structural and stability properties of both protein and bilayers as well as the final cytotoxic effect. Our goal is to propose shared membrane-based mechanisms that could apply to any amyloidogenic peptide/protein, providing a biochemical background for amyloid growth and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Bucciantini
- †Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences and Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration, University of Florence, V.le Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Rigacci
- †Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences and Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration, University of Florence, V.le Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Stefani
- †Department of Biomedical Experimental and Clinical Sciences and Research Centre on the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration, University of Florence, V.le Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
- ‡National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB), Viale Medaglie d'Oro 305, 00136 Rome, Italy
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Relini A, Marano N, Gliozzi A. Misfolding of amyloidogenic proteins and their interactions with membranes. Biomolecules 2013; 4:20-55. [PMID: 24970204 PMCID: PMC4030986 DOI: 10.3390/biom4010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we discuss amyloidogenic proteins, their misfolding, resulting structures, and interactions with membranes, which lead to membrane damage and subsequent cell death. Many of these proteins are implicated in serious illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Misfolding of amyloidogenic proteins leads to the formation of polymorphic oligomers and fibrils. Oligomeric aggregates are widely thought to be the toxic species, however, fibrils also play a role in membrane damage. We focus on the structure of these aggregates and their interactions with model membranes. Study of interactions of amlyoidogenic proteins with model and natural membranes has shown the importance of the lipid bilayer in protein misfolding and aggregation and has led to the development of several models for membrane permeabilization by the resulting amyloid aggregates. We discuss several of these models: formation of structured pores by misfolded amyloidogenic proteins, extraction of lipids, interactions with receptors in biological membranes, and membrane destabilization by amyloid aggregates perhaps analogous to that caused by antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Relini
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa 16146, Italy.
| | - Nadia Marano
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa 16146, Italy.
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Transthyretin suppresses the toxicity of oligomers formed by misfolded proteins in vitro. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:2302-14. [PMID: 24075940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Although human transthyretin (TTR) is associated with systemic amyloidoses, an anti-amyloidogenic effect that prevents Aβ fibril formation in vitro and in animal models has been observed. Here we studied the ability of three different types of TTR, namely human tetramers (hTTR), mouse tetramers (muTTR) and an engineered monomer of the human protein (M-TTR), to suppress the toxicity of oligomers formed by two different amyloidogenic peptides/proteins (HypF-N and Aβ42). muTTR is the most stable homotetramer, hTTR can dissociate into partially unfolded monomers, whereas M-TTR maintains a monomeric state. Preformed toxic HypF-N and Aβ42 oligomers were incubated in the presence of each TTR then added to cell culture media. hTTR, and to a greater extent M-TTR, were found to protect human neuroblastoma cells and rat primary neurons against oligomer-induced toxicity, whereas muTTR had no protective effect. The thioflavin T assay and site-directed labeling experiments using pyrene ruled out disaggregation and structural reorganization within the discrete oligomers following incubation with TTRs, while confocal microscopy, SDS-PAGE, and intrinsic fluorescence measurements indicated tight binding between oligomers and hTTR, particularly M-TTR. Moreover, atomic force microscopy (AFM), light scattering and turbidimetry analyses indicated that larger assemblies of oligomers are formed in the presence of M-TTR and, to a lesser extent, with hTTR. Overall, the data suggest a generic capacity of TTR to efficiently neutralize the toxicity of oligomers formed by misfolded proteins and reveal that such neutralization occurs through a mechanism of TTR-mediated assembly of protein oligomers into larger species, with an efficiency that correlates inversely with TTR tetramer stability.
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31
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Different ataxin-3 amyloid aggregates induce intracellular Ca(2+) deregulation by different mechanisms in cerebellar granule cells. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2013; 1833:3155-3165. [PMID: 24035922 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2013.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Revised: 08/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This work aims at elucidating the relation between morphological and physicochemical properties of different ataxin-3 (ATX3) aggregates and their cytotoxicity. We investigated a non-pathological ATX3 form (ATX3Q24), a pathological expanded form (ATX3Q55), and an ATX3 variant truncated at residue 291 lacking the polyQ expansion (ATX3/291Δ). Solubility, morphology and hydrophobic exposure of oligomeric aggregates were characterized. Then we monitored the changes in the intracellular Ca(2+) levels and the abnormal Ca(2+) signaling resulting from aggregate interaction with cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. ATX3Q55, ATX3/291Δ and, to a lesser extent, ATX3Q24 oligomers displayed similar morphological and physicochemical features and induced qualitatively comparable time-dependent intracellular Ca(2+) responses. However, only the pre-fibrillar aggregates of expanded ATX3 (the only variant which forms bundles of mature fibrils) triggered a characteristic Ca(2+) response at a later stage that correlated with a larger hydrophobic exposure relative to the two other variants. Cell interaction with early oligomers involved glutamatergic receptors, voltage-gated channels and monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1)-rich membrane domains, whereas cell interaction with more aged ATX3Q55 pre-fibrillar aggregates resulted in membrane disassembly by a mechanism involving only GM1-rich areas. Exposure to ATX3Q55 and ATX3/291Δ aggregates resulted in cell apoptosis, while ATX3Q24 was substantially innocuous. Our findings provide insight into the mechanisms of ATX3 aggregation, aggregate cytotoxicity and calcium level modifications in exposed cerebellar cells.
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