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Sangar D, Hill E, Jack K, Batchelor M, Mistry B, Ribes JM, Jackson GS, Mead S, Bieschke J. Syntaxin-6 delays prion protein fibril formation and prolongs the presence of toxic aggregation intermediates. eLife 2024; 13:e83320. [PMID: 39109999 PMCID: PMC11377041 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83320] [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: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Prions replicate via the autocatalytic conversion of cellular prion protein (PrPC) into fibrillar assemblies of misfolded PrP. While this process has been extensively studied in vivo and in vitro, non-physiological reaction conditions of fibril formation in vitro have precluded the identification and mechanistic analysis of cellular proteins, which may alter PrP self-assembly and prion replication. Here, we have developed a fibril formation assay for recombinant murine and human PrP (23-231) under near-native conditions (NAA) to study the effect of cellular proteins, which may be risk factors or potential therapeutic targets in prion disease. Genetic screening suggests that variants that increase syntaxin-6 expression in the brain (gene: STX6) are risk factors for sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Analysis of the protein in NAA revealed, counterintuitively, that syntaxin-6 is a potent inhibitor of PrP fibril formation. It significantly delayed the lag phase of fibril formation at highly sub-stoichiometric molar ratios. However, when assessing toxicity of different aggregation time points to primary neurons, syntaxin-6 prolonged the presence of neurotoxic PrP species. Electron microscopy and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy revealed that, instead of highly ordered fibrils, in the presence of syntaxin-6 PrP formed less-ordered aggregates containing syntaxin-6. These data strongly suggest that the protein can directly alter the initial phase of PrP self-assembly and, uniquely, can act as an 'anti-chaperone', which promotes toxic aggregation intermediates by inhibiting fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daljit Sangar
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Hill
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kezia Jack
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Batchelor
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom
| | - Beenaben Mistry
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom
| | - Juan M Ribes
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom
| | - Graham S Jackson
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Mead
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Bieschke
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom
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2
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Mok TH, Nihat A, Majbour N, Sequeira D, Holm-Mercer L, Coysh T, Darwent L, Batchelor M, Groveman BR, Orr CD, Hughson AG, Heslegrave A, Laban R, Veleva E, Paterson RW, Keshavan A, Schott JM, Swift IJ, Heller C, Rohrer JD, Gerhard A, Butler C, Rowe JB, Masellis M, Chapman M, Lunn MP, Bieschke J, Jackson GS, Zetterberg H, Caughey B, Rudge P, Collinge J, Mead S. Seed amplification and neurodegeneration marker trajectories in individuals at risk of prion disease. Brain 2023; 146:2570-2583. [PMID: 36975162 PMCID: PMC10232278 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human prion diseases are remarkable for long incubation times followed typically by rapid clinical decline. Seed amplification assays and neurodegeneration biofluid biomarkers are remarkably useful in the clinical phase, but their potential to predict clinical onset in healthy people remains unclear. This is relevant not only to the design of preventive strategies in those at-risk of prion diseases, but more broadly, because prion-like mechanisms are thought to underpin many neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we report the accrual of a longitudinal biofluid resource in patients, controls and healthy people at risk of prion diseases, to which ultrasensitive techniques such as real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) and single molecule array (Simoa) digital immunoassays were applied for preclinical biomarker discovery. We studied 648 CSF and plasma samples, including 16 people who had samples taken when healthy but later developed inherited prion disease (IPD) ('converters'; range from 9.9 prior to, and 7.4 years after onset). Symptomatic IPD CSF samples were screened by RT-QuIC assay variations, before testing the entire collection of at-risk samples using the most sensitive assay. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light (NfL), tau and UCH-L1 levels were measured in plasma and CSF. Second generation (IQ-CSF) RT-QuIC proved 100% sensitive and specific for sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), iatrogenic and familial CJD phenotypes, and subsequently detected seeding activity in four presymptomatic CSF samples from three E200K carriers; one converted in under 2 months while two remain asymptomatic after at least 3 years' follow-up. A bespoke HuPrP P102L RT-QuIC showed partial sensitivity for P102L disease. No compatible RT-QuIC assay was discovered for classical 6-OPRI, A117V and D178N, and these at-risk samples tested negative with bank vole RT-QuIC. Plasma GFAP and NfL, and CSF NfL levels emerged as proximity markers of neurodegeneration in the typically slow IPDs (e.g. P102L), with significant differences in mean values segregating healthy control from IPD carriers (within 2 years to onset) and symptomatic IPD cohorts; plasma GFAP appears to change before NfL, and before clinical conversion. In conclusion, we show distinct biomarker trajectories in fast and slow IPDs. Specifically, we identify several years of presymptomatic seeding positivity in E200K, a new proximity marker (plasma GFAP) and sequential neurodegenerative marker evolution (plasma GFAP followed by NfL) in slow IPDs. We suggest a new preclinical staging system featuring clinical, seeding and neurodegeneration aspects, for validation with larger prion at-risk cohorts, and with potential application to other neurodegenerative proteopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tze How Mok
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
- NHS National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Akin Nihat
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
- NHS National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Nour Majbour
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Danielle Sequeira
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
- NHS National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Leah Holm-Mercer
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
- NHS National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Thomas Coysh
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
- NHS National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Lee Darwent
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Mark Batchelor
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Bradley R Groveman
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Christina D Orr
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Andrew G Hughson
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Amanda Heslegrave
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Rhiannon Laban
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Elena Veleva
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Ross W Paterson
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Ashvini Keshavan
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Jonathan M Schott
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Imogen J Swift
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Carolin Heller
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Alexander Gerhard
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Medicine Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Medicine Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Christopher Butler
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK
| | - Mario Masellis
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Miles Chapman
- Neuroimmunology and CSF Laboratory, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Michael P Lunn
- Neuroimmunology and CSF Laboratory, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jan Bieschke
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Graham S Jackson
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, S-43180 Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, S-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792-2420, USA
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | - Peter Rudge
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
- NHS National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - John Collinge
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
- NHS National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Simon Mead
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at University College London, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, London W1W 7FF, UK
- NHS National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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3
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Adhikari UK, Sakiz E, Habiba U, Mikhael M, Senesi M, David MA, Guillemin GJ, Ooi L, Karl T, Collins S, Tayebi M. Treatment of microglia with Anti-PrP monoclonal antibodies induces neuronal apoptosis in vitro. Heliyon 2021; 7:e08644. [PMID: 35005289 PMCID: PMC8715334 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous reports highlighted the neurotoxic effects caused by some motif-specific anti-PrPC antibodies in vivo and in vitro. In the current study, we investigated the detailed alterations of the proteome with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry following direct application of anti-PrPC antibodies on mouse neuroblastoma cells (N2a) and mouse primary neuronal (MPN) cells or by cross-linking microglial PrPC with anti-PrPC antibodies prior to co-culture with the N2a/MPN cells. Here, we identified 4 (3 upregulated and 1 downregulated) and 17 (11 upregulated and 6 downregulated) neuronal apoptosis-related proteins following treatment of the N2a and N11 cell lines respectively when compared with untreated cells. In contrast, we identified 1 (upregulated) and 4 (2 upregulated and 2 downregulated) neuronal apoptosis-related proteins following treatment of MPN cells and N11 when compared with untreated cells. Furthermore, we also identified 3 (2 upregulated and 1 downregulated) and 2 (1 upregulated and 1 downregulated) neuronal apoptosis-related related proteins following treatment of MPN cells and N11 when compared to treatment with an anti-PrP antibody that lacks binding specificity for mouse PrP. The apoptotic effect of the anti-PrP antibodies was confirmed with flow cytometry following labelling of Annexin V-FITC. The toxic effects of the anti-PrP antibodies was more intense when antibody-treated N11 were co-cultured with the N2a and the identified apoptosis proteome was shown to be part of the PrPC-interactome. Our observations provide a new insight into the prominent role played by microglia in causing neurotoxic effects following treatment with anti-PrPC antibodies and might be relevant to explain the antibody mediated toxicity observed in other related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer. Antibody cross-linking neuronal PrPC induces apoptosis. Antibody cross-linking microglial PrPC induces neuronal apoptosis. Different apoptotic pathways were triggered by specific anti-PrP antibody treatments.
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4
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Mok TH, Nihat A, Luk C, Sequeira D, Batchelor M, Mead S, Collinge J, Jackson GS. Bank vole prion protein extends the use of RT-QuIC assays to detect prions in a range of inherited prion diseases. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5231. [PMID: 33664355 PMCID: PMC7933407 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84527-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) real-time quaking-induced conversion assay (RT-QuIC) is an ultrasensitive prion amyloid seeding assay for diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) but several prion strains remain unexplored or resistant to conversion with commonly used recombinant prion protein (rPrP) substrates. Here, bank vole (BV) rPrP was used to study seeding by a wide range of archived post-mortem human CSF samples from cases of sporadic, acquired and various inherited prion diseases in high throughput 384-well format. BV rPrP substrate yielded positive reactions in 70/79 cases of sporadic CJD [Sensitivity 88.6% (95% CI 79.5-94.7%)], 1/2 variant CJD samples, and 9/20 samples from various inherited prion diseases; 5/57 non-prion disease control CSFs had positive reactions, yielding an overall specificity of 91.2% (95% CI 80.1-97.1%). Despite limitations of using post-mortem samples and our results' discrepancy with other studies, we demonstrated for the first time that BV rPrP is susceptible to conversion by human CSF samples containing certain prion strains not previously responsive in conventional rPrPs, thus justifying further optimisation for wider diagnostic and prognostic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tze How Mok
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Akin Nihat
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Connie Luk
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Danielle Sequeira
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Mark Batchelor
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Simon Mead
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - John Collinge
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Graham S Jackson
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK.
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5
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Sangeetham SB, Engelke AD, Fodor E, Krausz SL, Tatzelt J, Welker E. The G127V variant of the prion protein interferes with dimer formation in vitro but not in cellulo. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3116. [PMID: 33542378 PMCID: PMC7862613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82647-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrapie prion, PrPSc, formation is the central event of all types of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), while the pathway with possible intermediates and their mechanism of formation from the normal isoform of prion (PrP), remains not fully understood. Recently, the G127V variant of the human PrP is reported to render the protein refractory to transmission of TSEs, via a yet unknown mechanism. Molecular dynamics studies suggested that this mutation interferes with the formation of PrP dimers. Here we analyze the dimerization of 127G and 127VPrP, in both in vitro and a mammalian cell culture system. Our results show that while molecular dynamics may capture the features affecting dimerization in vitro, G127V inhibiting dimer formation of PrP, these are not evidenced in a more complex cellular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudheer Babu Sangeetham
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences, University of Szeged, Dugonics square 13, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Anna Dorothee Engelke
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Elfrieda Fodor
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Sarah Laura Krausz
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Aktogen Hungary Ltd., Kecskemét, 6000, Hungary
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary.
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
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6
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Corbett GT, Wang Z, Hong W, Colom-Cadena M, Rose J, Liao M, Asfaw A, Hall TC, Ding L, DeSousa A, Frosch MP, Collinge J, Harris DA, Perkinton MS, Spires-Jones TL, Young-Pearse TL, Billinton A, Walsh DM. PrP is a central player in toxicity mediated by soluble aggregates of neurodegeneration-causing proteins. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 139:503-526. [PMID: 31853635 PMCID: PMC7035229 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02114-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are an enormous public health problem, affecting tens of millions of people worldwide. Nearly all of these diseases are characterized by oligomerization and fibrillization of neuronal proteins, and there is great interest in therapeutic targeting of these aggregates. Here, we show that soluble aggregates of α-synuclein and tau bind to plate-immobilized PrP in vitro and on mouse cortical neurons, and that this binding requires at least one of the same N-terminal sites at which soluble Aβ aggregates bind. Moreover, soluble aggregates of tau, α-synuclein and Aβ cause both functional (impairment of LTP) and structural (neuritic dystrophy) compromise and these deficits are absent when PrP is ablated, knocked-down, or when neurons are pre-treated with anti-PrP blocking antibodies. Using an all-human experimental paradigm involving: (1) isogenic iPSC-derived neurons expressing or lacking PRNP, and (2) aqueous extracts from brains of individuals who died with Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Pick's disease, we demonstrate that Aβ, α-synuclein and tau are toxic to neurons in a manner that requires PrPC. These results indicate that PrP is likely to play an important role in a variety of late-life neurodegenerative diseases and that therapeutic targeting of PrP, rather than individual disease proteins, may have more benefit for conditions which involve the aggregation of more than one protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant T Corbett
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Zemin Wang
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Wei Hong
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Marti Colom-Cadena
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH89JZ, UK
| | - Jamie Rose
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH89JZ, UK
| | - Meichen Liao
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Adhana Asfaw
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tia C Hall
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Lai Ding
- Program for Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexandra DeSousa
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Matthew P Frosch
- Massachusetts General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - John Collinge
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - David A Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | | | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH89JZ, UK
| | - Tracy L Young-Pearse
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Andrew Billinton
- Neuroscience, IMED Biotechnology Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Dominic M Walsh
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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7
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Sang JC, Lee JE, Dear AJ, De S, Meisl G, Thackray AM, Bujdoso R, Knowles TPJ, Klenerman D. Direct observation of prion protein oligomer formation reveals an aggregation mechanism with multiple conformationally distinct species. Chem Sci 2019; 10:4588-4597. [PMID: 31123569 PMCID: PMC6492631 DOI: 10.1039/c8sc05627g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of the prion protein (PrP) plays a key role in the development of prion diseases. In the past decade, a similar process has been associated with other proteins, such as Aβ, tau, and α-synuclein, which participate in other neurodegenerative diseases. It is increasingly recognized that the small oligomeric species of aggregates can play an important role in the development of prion diseases. However, determining the nature of the oligomers formed during the aggregation process has been experimentally difficult due to the lack of suitable methods capable of the detection and characterization of the low level of oligomers that may form. To address this problem, we have utilized single-aggregate methods to study the early events associated with aggregation of recombinant murine PrP in vitro to approach the bona fide process in vivo. PrP aggregation resulted in the formation of thioflavin T (ThT)-inactive and ThT-active species of oligomers. The ThT-active oligomers undergo conversion from a Proteinase K (PK)-sensitive to PK-resistant conformer, from which mature fibrils can eventually emerge. Overall, our results show that single-aggregate methods can provide structural and mechanistic insights into PrP aggregation, identify the potential species that mediates cytotoxicity, and reveal that a range of distinct oligomeric species with different properties is formed during prion protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Sang
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK .
| | - Ji-Eun Lee
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK .
| | - Alexander J Dear
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK .
| | - Suman De
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK .
| | - Georg Meisl
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK .
| | - Alana M Thackray
- Department of Veterinary Medicine , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge , CB3 0ES , UK
| | - Raymond Bujdoso
- Department of Veterinary Medicine , University of Cambridge , Madingley Road , Cambridge , CB3 0ES , UK
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK .
| | - David Klenerman
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK .
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8
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Mengel D, Hong W, Corbett GT, Liu W, DeSousa A, Solforosi L, Fang C, Frosch MP, Collinge J, Harris DA, Walsh DM. PrP-grafted antibodies bind certain amyloid β-protein aggregates, but do not prevent toxicity. Brain Res 2019; 1710:125-135. [PMID: 30593771 PMCID: PMC6431553 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prion protein (PrP) is known to bind certain soluble aggregates of the amyloid β-protein (Aβ), and two regions of PrP, one centered around residues 19-33, and the other around 87-112, are thought to be particularly important for this interaction. When either of these sequences are grafted into a human IgG the resulting antibodies react with disease-associated PrP conformers, whereas the parental b12 IgG does not. METHODS Human antibodies containing grafts of PrP 19-33 or 87-112 were prepared as before (Solforosi et al., 2007) and tested for their ability to recognize synthetic and Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain-derived Aβ. Since aqueous extracts of AD brain contain a complex mixture of active and inactive Aβ species, we also assessed whether PrP-grafted antibodies could protect against neuritotoxicity mediated by AD brain-derived Aβ. For these experiments, human iPSC-derived neurons were grown in 96-well plates at 5000 cells per well and on post-induction day 21, AD brain extracts were added +/- test antibodies. Neurons were imaged for 3 days using an IncuCyte live-cell imaging system, and neurite number and density quantified. RESULTS Grafted antibodies bound a significant portion of aggregated Aβ in aqueous AD extracts, but when these antibodies were co-incubated with neurons treated with brain extracts they did not reduce toxicity. By contrast, the PrP fragment N1 did protect against Aβ. CONCLUSIONS These results further demonstrate that not all Aβ oligomers are toxic and suggest that PrP derivatives may allow development of agents that differentially recognize toxic and innocuous Aβ aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mengel
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wei Hong
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Grant T Corbett
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wen Liu
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra DeSousa
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura Solforosi
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Cheng Fang
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew P Frosch
- Massachusetts General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - John Collinge
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; MRC Prion Unit at UCL, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases and NHS National Prion Clinic, UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dominic M Walsh
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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9
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Abstract
The cellular prion protein, PrPC, is a small, cell surface glycoprotein with a function that is currently somewhat ill defined. It is also the key molecule involved in the family of neurodegenerative disorders called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which are also known as prion diseases. The misfolding of PrPC to a conformationally altered isoform, designated PrPTSE, is the main molecular process involved in pathogenesis and appears to precede many other pathologic and clinical manifestations of disease, including neuronal loss, astrogliosis, and cognitive loss. PrPTSE is also believed to be the major component of the infectious "prion," the agent responsible for disease transmission, and preparations of this protein can cause prion disease when inoculated into a naïve host. Thus, understanding the biochemical and biophysical properties of both PrPC and PrPTSE, and ultimately the mechanisms of their interconversion, is critical if we are to understand prion disease biology. Although entire books could be devoted to research pertaining to the protein, herein we briefly review the state of knowledge of prion biochemistry, including consideration of prion protein structure, function, misfolding, and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Gill
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom; Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew R Castle
- Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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10
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Plössl K, Schmid V, Straub K, Schmid C, Ammon M, Merkl R, Weber BHF, Friedrich U. Pathomechanism of mutated and secreted retinoschisin in X-linked juvenile retinoschisis. Exp Eye Res 2018; 177:23-34. [PMID: 30040949 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2018.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the RS1 gene encoding retinoschisin cause X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS), a hereditary retinal dystrophy in males. While most of the XLRS associated mutations strongly interfere with cellular secretion, this is not true for mutants RS1-F108C, -R141G, -R141H, -R182C, -H207Q and -R209H. Native retinoschisin builds double-octamers and binds to retinal membranes, interacting with the retinal Na/K-ATPase. Functionally, it regulates MAP kinase signaling and Na/K-ATPase localization, and hampers photoreceptor degeneration. In this study, we investigated the capacity of the retinoschisin mutants still secreted extracellularly to fulfil these tasks. We addressed secretion and oligomerization of the heterologously expressed mutants as well as their binding to recombinant retinal Na/K-ATPases and murine retinoschisin-deficient (Rs1h-/Y) retinal and non-retinal explants. This has refined the categorization of secreted retinoschisin mutants: (i) no octamerization, unspecific membrane binding (RS1-F108C and -R182C), (ii) double-octamerization but no membrane binding (RS1-R141H), and (iii) double-octamerization and unspecific membrane binding (RS1-R141G, -H207Q, and -R209H). Notably, selected mutants of all categories (RS1-F108C, -R141H, and -R209H) failed to regulate retinal MAP kinase signaling and Na/K-ATPase localization in Rs1h-/Y retinal explants, and could not attenuate photoreceptor degeneration. Bioinformatic modeling of the secreted mutants depicted prominent alterations in the spatial and temporal conformation of a substructure called "spike 3" and its vicinity, implying a crucial role of this substructure for binding capacity and specificity. Taken together, our data point to a pathomechanism for secreted retinoschisin mutants, specifically to disturbances of the retinoschisin interface accompanied by unphysiological membrane interactions and impaired regulatory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Plössl
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Verena Schmid
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Straub
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Carina Schmid
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mirjam Ammon
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Merkl
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard H F Weber
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Friedrich
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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11
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Sangeetham SB, Huszár K, Bencsura P, Nyeste A, Hunyadi-Gulyás É, Fodor E, Welker E. Interrogating the Dimerization Interface of the Prion Protein Via Site-Specific Mutations to p-Benzoyl-L-Phenylalanine. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:2784-2801. [PMID: 29778603 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are centered on the conformational transition of the prion protein from a mainly helical, monomeric structure to a β-sheet rich ordered aggregate. Experiments indicate that the main infectious and toxic species in this process are however shorter oligomers, formation of which from the monomers is yet enigmatic. Here, we created 25 variants of the mouse prion protein site-specifically containing one genetically-incorporated para-benzoyl-phenylalanine (pBpa), a cross-linkable non-natural amino acid, in order to interrogate the interface of a prion protein-dimer, which might lie on the pathway of oligomerization. Our results reveal that the N-terminal part of the prion protein, especially regions around position 127 and 107, is integral part of the dimer interface. These together with additional pBpa-containing variants of mPrP might also facilitate to gain more structural insights into oligomeric and fibrillar prion protein species including the pathological variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudheer Babu Sangeetham
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Huszár
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Petra Bencsura
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Antal Nyeste
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary; ProteoScientia Ltd., Cserhátszentiván, Hungary
| | - Éva Hunyadi-Gulyás
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Elfrieda Fodor
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary; Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
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12
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Zhan YA, Abskharon R, Li Y, Yuan J, Zeng L, Dang J, Martinez MC, Wang Z, Mikol J, Lehmann S, Bu S, Steyaert J, Cui L, Petersen RB, Kong Q, Wang GX, Wohlkonig A, Zou WQ. Quiescin-sulfhydryl oxidase inhibits prion formation in vitro. Aging (Albany NY) 2017; 8:3419-3429. [PMID: 27959866 PMCID: PMC5270677 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Prions are infectious proteins that cause a group of fatal transmissible diseases in animals and humans. The scrapie isoform (PrPSc) of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) is the only known component of the prion. Several lines of evidence have suggested that the formation and molecular features of PrPSc are associated with an abnormal unfolding/refolding process. Quiescin-sulfhydryl oxidase (QSOX) plays a role in protein folding by introducing disulfides into unfolded reduced proteins. Here we report that QSOX inhibits human prion propagation in protein misfolding cyclic amplification reactions and murine prion propagation in scrapie-infected neuroblastoma cells. Moreover, QSOX preferentially binds PrPSc from prion-infected human or animal brains, but not PrPC from uninfected brains. Surface plasmon resonance of the recombinant mouse PrP (moPrP) demonstrates that the affinity of QSOX for monomer is significantly lower than that for octamer (312 nM vs 1.7 nM). QSOX exhibits much lower affinity for N-terminally truncated moPrP (PrP89-230) than for the full-length moPrP (PrP23-231) (312 nM vs 2 nM), suggesting that the N-terminal region of PrP is critical for the interaction of PrP with QSOX. Our study indicates that QSOX may play a role in prion formation, which may open new therapeutic avenues for treating prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-An Zhan
- First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, The People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Romany Abskharon
- VIB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium.,National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIFO), 11516 Cairo, Egypt.,CNS, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Yu Li
- First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, The People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Jue Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Liang Zeng
- First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, The People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Johnny Dang
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Manuel Camacho Martinez
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Zerui Wang
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.,Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, The People's Republic of China
| | - Jacqueline Mikol
- Hôpital Lariboisière, Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- IRMB -Hôpital ST ELOI, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Shizhong Bu
- Diabetes Research Center, Ningbo University, The People's Republic of China
| | - Jan Steyaert
- VIB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Li Cui
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, The People's Republic of China
| | - Robert B Petersen
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.,Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Qingzhong Kong
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.,Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Gong-Xiang Wang
- First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, The People's Republic of China
| | - Alexandre Wohlkonig
- VIB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wen-Quan Zou
- First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, The People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.,Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.,National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.,Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, The People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, The People's Republic of China
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13
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Method for Folding of Recombinant Prion Protein to Soluble β-Sheet Secondary Structure. Methods Mol Biol 2017. [PMID: 28861779 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7244-9_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
A key event in the pathogenesis of prion diseases is the change in structure of the normal cellular form of the prion protein from a predominantly α-helix form to the β-sheet-rich prion protein found in disease-associated tissue. To allow more detailed structural research into PrP misfolding, it is necessary to have techniques which enable enrichment of the β-sheet content in recombinant PrP.This method describes the procedure for inducing β-folding of recombinant PrP to resemble a disease-associated structure and ultimately produce soluble β-folded recombinant PrP.
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14
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Sengupta I, Bhate SH, Das R, Udgaonkar JB. Salt-Mediated Oligomerization of the Mouse Prion Protein Monitored by Real-Time NMR. J Mol Biol 2017; 429:1852-1872. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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15
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Malevanets A, Chong PA, Hansen DF, Rizk P, Sun Y, Lin H, Muhandiram R, Chakrabartty A, Kay LE, Forman-Kay JD, Wodak SJ. Interplay of buried histidine protonation and protein stability in prion misfolding. Sci Rep 2017; 7:882. [PMID: 28408762 PMCID: PMC5429843 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00954-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Misofolding of mammalian prion proteins (PrP) is believed to be the cause of a group of rare and fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Despite intense scrutiny however, the mechanism of the misfolding reaction remains unclear. We perform nuclear Magnetic Resonance and thermodynamic stability measurements on the C-terminal domains (residues 90–231) of two PrP variants exhibiting different pH-induced susceptibilities to aggregation: the susceptible hamster prion (GHaPrP) and its less susceptible rabbit homolog (RaPrP). The pKa of histidines in these domains are determined from titration experiments, and proton-exchange rates are measured at pH 5 and pH 7. A single buried highly conserved histidine, H187/H186 in GHaPrP/RaPrP, exhibited a markedly down shifted pKa ~5 for both proteins. However, noticeably larger pH-induced shifts in exchange rates occur for GHaPrP versus RaPrP. Analysis of the data indicates that protonation of the buried histidine destabilizes both PrP variants, but produces a more drastic effect in the less stable GHaPrP. This interpretation is supported by urea denaturation experiments performed on both PrP variants at neutral and low pH, and correlates with the difference in disease susceptibility of the two species, as expected from the documented linkage between destabilization of the folded state and formation of misfolded and aggregated species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatoly Malevanets
- Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1A8, Canada
| | - P Andrew Chong
- Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1A8, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - D Flemming Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,University College London, Division of Biosciences, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Paul Rizk
- Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1A8, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yulong Sun
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Hong Lin
- Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1A8, Canada
| | - Ranjith Muhandiram
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Avi Chakrabartty
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Lewis E Kay
- Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1A8, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Julie D Forman-Kay
- Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1A8, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Shoshana J Wodak
- Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1A8, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada. .,VIB Structural Biology Research Center, VUB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
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16
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Chamachi NG, Chakrabarty S. Temperature-Induced Misfolding in Prion Protein: Evidence of Multiple Partially Disordered States Stabilized by Non-Native Hydrogen Bonds. Biochemistry 2017; 56:833-844. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b01042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Neharika G. Chamachi
- Physical and Materials Chemistry
Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
| | - Suman Chakrabarty
- Physical and Materials Chemistry
Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
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17
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Abstract
Misfolding and aggregation of prion protein are related to several neurodegenerative diseases in humans such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, fatal familial insomnia, and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease. A growing number of applications in the prion field including assays for detection of PrPSc and methods for production of PrPSc de novo require recombinant prion protein (PrP) of high purity and quality. Here, we report an experimental procedure for expression and purification of full-length mammalian prion protein. This protocol has been proved to yield PrP of extremely high purity that lacks PrP adducts, oxidative modifications, or truncation, which is typically generated as a result of spontaneous oxidation or degradation. We also describe methods for preparation of amyloid fibrils from recombinant PrP in vitro. Recombinant PrP fibrils can be used as a noninfectious synthetic surrogate of PrPSc for development of prion diagnostics including generation of PrPSc-specific antibody.
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18
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Schmidt C, Fizet J, Properzi F, Batchelor M, Sandberg MK, Edgeworth JA, Afran L, Ho S, Badhan A, Klier S, Linehan JM, Brandner S, Hosszu LLP, Tattum MH, Jat P, Clarke AR, Klöhn PC, Wadsworth JDF, Jackson GS, Collinge J. A systematic investigation of production of synthetic prions from recombinant prion protein. Open Biol 2016; 5:150165. [PMID: 26631378 PMCID: PMC4703057 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.150165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the protein-only hypothesis, infectious mammalian prions, which exist as distinct strains with discrete biological properties, consist of multichain assemblies of misfolded cellular prion protein (PrP). A critical test would be to produce prion strains synthetically from defined components. Crucially, high-titre ‘synthetic' prions could then be used to determine the structural basis of infectivity and strain diversity at the atomic level. While there have been multiple reports of production of prions from bacterially expressed recombinant PrP using various methods, systematic production of high-titre material in a form suitable for structural analysis remains a key goal. Here, we report a novel high-throughput strategy for exploring a matrix of conditions, additives and potential cofactors that might generate high-titre prions from recombinant mouse PrP, with screening for infectivity using a sensitive automated cell-based bioassay. Overall, approximately 20 000 unique conditions were examined. While some resulted in apparently infected cell cultures, this was transient and not reproducible. We also adapted published methods that reported production of synthetic prions from recombinant hamster PrP, but again did not find evidence of significant infectious titre when using recombinant mouse PrP as substrate. Collectively, our findings are consistent with the formation of prion infectivity from recombinant mouse PrP being a rare stochastic event and we conclude that systematic generation of prions from recombinant PrP may only become possible once the detailed structure of authentic ex vivo prions is solved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schmidt
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jeremie Fizet
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Francesca Properzi
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Mark Batchelor
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Malin K Sandberg
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Julie A Edgeworth
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Louise Afran
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sammy Ho
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Anjna Badhan
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Steffi Klier
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jacqueline M Linehan
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sebastian Brandner
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Laszlo L P Hosszu
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - M Howard Tattum
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Parmjit Jat
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Anthony R Clarke
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Peter C Klöhn
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jonathan D F Wadsworth
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Graham S Jackson
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - John Collinge
- MRC Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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Risse E, Nicoll AJ, Taylor WA, Wright D, Badoni M, Yang X, Farrow MA, Collinge J. Identification of a Compound That Disrupts Binding of Amyloid-β to the Prion Protein Using a Novel Fluorescence-based Assay. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:17020-8. [PMID: 25995455 PMCID: PMC4505445 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.637124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The prion protein (PrP) has been implicated both in prion diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, where its monomeric cellular isoform (PrPC) is recruited into pathogenic self-propagating polymers of misfolded protein, and in Alzheimer disease, where PrPC may act as a receptor for synaptotoxic oligomeric forms of amyloid-β (Aβ). There has been considerable interest in identification of compounds that bind to PrPC, stabilizing its native fold and thereby acting as pharmacological chaperones to block prion propagation and pathogenesis. However, compounds binding PrPC could also inhibit the binding of toxic Aβ species and may have a role in treating Alzheimer disease, a highly prevalent dementia for which there are currently no disease-modifying treatments. However, the absence of a unitary, readily measurable, physiological function of PrP makes screening for ligands challenging, and the highly heterogeneous nature of Aβ oligomer preparations makes conventional competition binding assays difficult to interpret. We have therefore developed a high-throughput screen that utilizes site-specifically fluorescently labeled protein to identify compounds that bind to PrP and inhibit both Aβ binding and prion propagation. Following a screen of 1,200 approved drugs, we identified Chicago Sky Blue 6B as the first small molecule PrP ligand capable of inhibiting Aβ binding, demonstrating the feasibility of development of drugs to block this interaction. The interaction of Chicago Sky Blue 6B was characterized by isothermal titration calorimetry, and its ability to inhibit Aβ binding and reduce prion levels was established in cell-based assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Risse
- From the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J Nicoll
- From the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - William A Taylor
- From the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Wright
- From the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Mayank Badoni
- From the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaofan Yang
- From the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A Farrow
- From the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - John Collinge
- From the Medical Research Council (MRC) Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
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20
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Ellett LJ, Coleman BM, Shambrook MC, Johanssen VA, Collins SJ, Masters CL, Hill AF, Lawson VA. Glycosaminoglycan sulfation determines the biochemical properties of prion protein aggregates. Glycobiology 2015; 25:745-55. [PMID: 25701659 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwv014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are transmissible neurodegenerative disorders associated with the conversion of the cellular prion protein, PrP(C), to a misfolded isoform called PrP(Sc). Although PrP(Sc) is a necessary component of the infectious prion, additional factors, or cofactors, have been shown to contribute to the efficient formation of transmissible PrP(Sc). Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are attractive cofactor candidates as they can be found associated with PrP(Sc) deposits, have been shown to enhance PrP misfolding in vitro, are found in the same cellular compartments as PrP(C) and have been shown to be disease modifying in vivo. Here we investigated the effects of the sulfated GAGs, heparin and heparan sulfate (HS), on disease associated misfolding of full-length recombinant PrP. More specifically, the degree of sulfation of these molecules was investigated for its role in modulating the disease-associated characteristics of PrP. Both heparin and HS induced a β-sheet conformation in recombinant PrP that was associated with the formation of aggregated species; however, the biochemical properties of the aggregates formed in the presence of heparin or HS varied in solubility and protease resistance. Furthermore, these properties could be modified by changes in GAG sulfation, indicating that subtle changes in the properties of prion disease cofactors could initiate disease associated misfolding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bradley M Coleman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute
| | - Mitch C Shambrook
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute
| | | | | | - Colin L Masters
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University Of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Andrew F Hill
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute
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21
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Peripheral administration of a humanized anti-PrP antibody blocks Alzheimer's disease Aβ synaptotoxicity. J Neurosci 2014; 34:6140-5. [PMID: 24790184 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3526-13.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with pathological assembly states of amyloid-β protein (Aβ). Aβ-related synaptotoxicity can be blocked by anti-prion protein (PrP) antibodies, potentially allowing therapeutic targeting of this aspect of AD neuropathogenesis. Here, we show that intravascular administration of a high-affinity humanized anti-PrP antibody to rats can prevent the plasticity-disrupting effects induced by exposure to soluble AD brain extract. These results provide an in vivo proof of principle for such a therapeutic strategy.
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22
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Copper-induced structural propensities of the amyloidogenic region of human prion protein. J Biol Inorg Chem 2014; 19:635-45. [DOI: 10.1007/s00775-014-1132-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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23
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Nicoll AJ, Panico S, Freir DB, Wright D, Terry C, Risse E, Herron CE, O'Malley T, Wadsworth JDF, Farrow MA, Walsh DM, Saibil HR, Collinge J. Amyloid-β nanotubes are associated with prion protein-dependent synaptotoxicity. Nat Commun 2014; 4:2416. [PMID: 24022506 PMCID: PMC3908552 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests water-soluble, non-fibrillar forms of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) have important roles in Alzheimer’s disease with toxicities mimicked by synthetic Aβ1–42. However, no defined toxic structures acting via specific receptors have been identified and roles of proposed receptors, such as prion protein (PrP), remain controversial. Here we quantify binding to PrP of Aβ1–42 after different durations of aggregation. We show PrP-binding and PrP-dependent inhibition of long-term potentiation (LTP) correlate with the presence of protofibrils. Globular oligomers bind less avidly to PrP and do not inhibit LTP, whereas fibrils inhibit LTP in a PrP-independent manner. That only certain transient Aβ assemblies cause PrP-dependent toxicity explains conflicting reports regarding the involvement of PrP in Aβ-induced impairments. We show that these protofibrils contain a defined nanotubular structure with a previously unidentified triple helical conformation. Blocking the formation of Aβ nanotubes or their interaction with PrP might have a role in treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Prion protein has been suggested to bind toxic amyloid-ß oligomers. Nicoll et al. demonstrate that binding to prion protein and prion protein-dependent synaptotoxicity correlate with the presence of a tubular form of amyloid-ß with a defined triple helical structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Nicoll
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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24
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Cheng CJ, Daggett V. Molecular dynamics simulations capture the misfolding of the bovine prion protein at acidic pH. Biomolecules 2014; 4:181-201. [PMID: 24970211 PMCID: PMC4030982 DOI: 10.3390/biom4010181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that is transmissible to humans and that is currently incurable. BSE is caused by the prion protein (PrP), which adopts two conformers; PrPC is the native innocuous form, which is α-helix rich; and PrPSc is the β-sheet rich misfolded form, which is infectious and forms neurotoxic species. Acidic pH induces the conversion of PrPC to PrPSc. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations of bovine PrP at various pH regimes. An acidic pH environment induced conformational changes that were not observed in neutral pH simulations. Putative misfolded structures, with nonnative β-strands formed in the flexible N-terminal domain, were found in acidic pH simulations. Two distinct pathways were observed for the formation of nonnative β-strands: at low pH, hydrophobic contacts with M129 nucleated the nonnative β-strand; at mid-pH, polar contacts involving Q168 and D178 facilitated the formation of a hairpin at the flexible N-terminus. These mid- and low pH simulations capture the process of nonnative β-strand formation, thereby improving our understanding of how PrPC misfolds into the β-sheet rich PrPSc and how pH factors into the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin Jung Cheng
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195-5013, USA.
| | - Valerie Daggett
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195-5013, USA.
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25
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Kotamarthi HC, Sharma R, Narayan S, Ray S, Ainavarapu SRK. Multiple Unfolding Pathways of Leucine Binding Protein (LBP) Probed by Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy (SMFS). J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:14768-74. [DOI: 10.1021/ja406238q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hema Chandra Kotamarthi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Riddhi Sharma
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Satya Narayan
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Sayoni Ray
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India
| | - Sri Rama Koti Ainavarapu
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005, India
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26
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Lu X, Zeng J, Gao Y, Zhang JZH, Zhang D, Mei Y. The intrinsic helical propensities of the helical fragments in prion protein under neutral and low pH conditions: a replica exchange molecular dynamics study. J Mol Model 2013; 19:4897-908. [DOI: 10.1007/s00894-013-1985-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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27
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Sorrentino S, Bucciarelli T, Corsaro A, Tosatto A, Thellung S, Villa V, Schininà ME, Maras B, Galeno R, Scotti L, Creati F, Marrone A, Re N, Aceto A, Florio T, Mazzanti M. Calcium binding promotes prion protein fragment 90-231 conformational change toward a membrane destabilizing and cytotoxic structure. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38314. [PMID: 22811758 PMCID: PMC3394757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathological form of prion protein (PrP(Sc)), as other amyloidogenic proteins, causes a marked increase of membrane permeability. PrP(Sc) extracted from infected Syrian hamster brains induces a considerable change in membrane ionic conductance, although the contribution of this interaction to the molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration process is still controversial. We previously showed that the human PrP fragment 90-231 (hPrP₉₀₋₂₃₁) increases ionic conductance across artificial lipid bilayer, in a calcium-dependent manner, producing an alteration similar to that observed for PrP(Sc). In the present study we demonstrate that hPrP₉₀₋₂₃₁, pre-incubated with 10 mM Ca⁺⁺ and then re-suspended in physiological external solution increases not only membrane conductance but neurotoxicity as well. Furthermore we show the existence of a direct link between these two effects as demonstrated by a highly statistically significant correlation in several experimental conditions. A similar correlation between increased membrane conductance and cell degeneration has been observed assaying hPrP₉₀₋₂₃₁ bearing pathogenic mutations (D202N and E200K). We also report that Ca⁺⁺ binding to hPrP₉₀₋₂₃₁ induces a conformational change based on an alteration of secondary structure characterized by loss of alpha-helix content causing hydrophobic amino acid exposure and proteinase K resistance. These features, either acquired after controlled thermal denaturation or induced by D202N and E200K mutations were previously identified as responsible for hPrP₉₀₋₂₃₁ cytotoxicity. Finally, by in silico structural analysis, we propose that Ca⁺⁺ binding to hPrP₉₀₋₂₃₁ modifies amino acid orientation, in the same way induced by E200K mutation, thus suggesting a pathway for the structural alterations responsible of PrP neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tonino Bucciarelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università “G. d’Annunzio” di Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Alessandro Corsaro
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna and Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Alessio Tosatto
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Thellung
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna and Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Valentina Villa
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna and Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - M. Eugenia Schininà
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Maras
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Luca Scotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università “G. d’Annunzio” di Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Creati
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università “G. d’Annunzio” di Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marrone
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università “G. d’Annunzio” di Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Nazzareno Re
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università “G. d’Annunzio” di Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Antonio Aceto
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università “G. d’Annunzio” di Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Tullio Florio
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna and Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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28
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Vrentas CE, Onstot S, Nicholson EM. A comparative analysis of rapid methods for purification and refolding of recombinant bovine prion protein. Protein Expr Purif 2012; 82:380-8. [PMID: 22381461 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2012.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2011] [Revised: 02/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bacterially-produced recombinant prion protein (rPrP) is a frequently used model system for the study of the properties of wild-type and mutant prion proteins by biochemical and biophysical approaches. A range of approaches have been developed for the purification and refolding of untagged rPrP expressed as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli, including refolding by dialysis and simultaneous on-column purification and refolding. In order to perform a higher-throughput analysis of different rPrP proteins, an approach that produces highly pure rPrP with a minimum of purification steps and a high yield per liter of induced bacterial culture is desired. Here, we directly compare purification approaches for untagged bovine rPrP as adapted to rapid, small-scale formats useful for higher-throughput studies. An analysis of protein yield, purity, oxidation, and refolding revealed significant differences between preparative methods as adapted to the small-scale format, and based on these findings we provide recommendations for future purifications. We also describe the utility of a sensitive commercial kit for thiol analysis of these preparations, the pH dependence of dimer formation during refolding of bovine rPrP, and bovine rPrP binding to cobalt affinity resin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Vrentas
- Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1920 Dayton Ave., Ames, IA 50010, USA
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29
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Johanssen V, Barnham K, Masters C, Hill A, Collins S. Generating recombinant C-terminal prion protein fragments of exact native sequence. Neurochem Int 2012; 60:318-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2011.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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30
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Abstract
Misfolding and aggregation of prion protein (PrP) is related to several neurodegenerative diseases in humans such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, fatal familial insomnia, and Gerstmann-Straussler-Sheinker disease. Certain applications in prion area require recombinant PrP of high purity and quality. Here, we report an experimental procedure for expression and purification of full-length mammalian PrP. This protocol has been proved to yield PrP of extremely high purity that lacks PrP adducts, which are normally generated as a result of spontaneous oxidation or degradation. We also describe methods for the preparation of amyloid fibrils from recombinant PrP in vitro. Recombinant PrP fibrils can be used as a noninfectious synthetic surrogate of PrP(Sc) for development of prion diagnostics including the generation of PrP(Sc)-specific antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
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31
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Avbelj M, Hafner-Bratkovič I, Jerala R. Introduction of glutamines into the B2-H2 loop promotes prion protein conversion. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 413:521-6. [PMID: 21910969 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.08.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Accepted: 08/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In prion diseases cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) undergoes conformational transition into the β-sheet-rich form (PrP(Sc)). PrP(C) consists of the disordered N-terminal part and a C-terminal globular domain containing three α-helices (H1, H2, H3) and an antiparallel beta sheet (B1, B2). B2-H2 loop, which has a focal role in the species barrier, contains the highest density of asparagine (N) and glutamine (Q) residues in the whole sequence. Q/N-rich domains are essential for the conversion of yeast prions. We investigated the role of Q/N residues in the B2-H2 loop in PrP conversion. We prepared mouse PrP mutants with increasing number of consecutive Q/N residues in the B2-H2 loop. Stability of the mutants decreased with the increasing number of inserted glutamines. In vitro conversion of mutants yielded fibrils of similar morphology as the wild-type PrP. Q/N mutants accelerated fibrillization in comparison to the wild-type PrP, with mutant containing the most glutamines having the shortest lag phase. The effect of Q/N residues was specific for the B2-H2 loop and was not due to simple increase in flexibility as the introduction of Gly-Ser or Ala residues slowed the conversion despite their decreased stability. Our results thus suggest that Q/N residues in the B2-H2 loop of PrP promote protein conversion and may represent a link to conversion of Q/N-rich prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matevž Avbelj
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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32
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Misfolded PrP impairs the UPS by interaction with the 20S proteasome and inhibition of substrate entry. EMBO J 2011; 30:3065-77. [PMID: 21743439 DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2011.224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2010] [Accepted: 06/16/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are associated with the conversion of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) to toxic β-sheet isoforms (PrP(Sc)), which are reported to inhibit the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Accordingly, UPS substrates accumulate in prion-infected mouse brains, suggesting impairment of the 26S proteasome. A direct interaction between its 20S core particle and PrP isoforms was demonstrated by immunoprecipitation. β-PrP aggregates associated with the 20S particle, but did not impede binding of the PA26 complex, suggesting that the aggregates do not bind to its ends. Aggregated β-PrP reduced the 20S proteasome's basal peptidase activity, and the enhanced activity induced by C-terminal peptides from the 19S ATPases or by the 19S regulator itself, including when stimulated by polyubiquitin conjugates. However, the 20S proteasome was not inhibited when the gate in the α-ring was open due to a truncation mutation or by association with PA26/PA28. These PrP aggregates inhibit by stabilising the closed conformation of the substrate entry channel. A similar inhibition of substrate entry into the proteasome may occur in other neurodegenerative diseases where misfolded β-sheet-rich proteins accumulate.
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33
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Santo KP, Berjanskii M, Wishart DS, Stepanova M. Comparative analysis of essential collective dynamics and NMR-derived flexibility profiles in evolutionarily diverse prion proteins. Prion 2011; 5:188-200. [PMID: 21869604 DOI: 10.4161/pri.5.3.16097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Collective motions on ns-μs time scales are known to have a major impact on protein folding, stability, binding and enzymatic efficiency. It is also believed that these motions may have an important role in the early stages of prion protein misfolding and prion disease. In an effort to accurately characterize these motions and their potential influence on the misfolding and prion disease transmissibility we have conducted a combined analysis of molecular dynamic simulations and NMR-derived flexibility measurements over a diverse range of prion proteins. Using a recently developed numerical formalism, we have analyzed the essential collective dynamics (ECD) for prion proteins from 8 different species including human, cow, elk, cat, hamster, chicken, turtle and frog. We also compared the numerical results with flexibility profiles generated by the random coil index (RCI) from NMR chemical shifts. Prion protein backbone flexibility derived from experimental NMR data and from theoretical computations show strong agreement with each other, demonstrating that it is possible to predict the observed RCI profiles employing the numerical ECD formalism. Interestingly, flexibility differences in the loop between second beta strand (S2) and the second alpha helix (HB) appear to distinguish prion proteins from species that are susceptible to prion disease and those that are resistant. Our results show that the different levels of flexibility in the S2-HB loop in various species are predictable via the ECD method, indicating that ECD may be used to identify disease resistant variants of prion proteins, as well as the influence of prion proteins mutations on disease susceptibility or misfolding propensity.
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Interaction between prion protein and toxic amyloid β assemblies can be therapeutically targeted at multiple sites. Nat Commun 2011; 2:336. [PMID: 21654636 PMCID: PMC3156817 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 237] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 05/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
A role for PrP in the toxic effect of oligomeric forms of Aβ, implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), has been suggested but remains controversial. Here we show that PrP is required for the plasticity-impairing effects of ex vivo material from human AD brain and that standardized Aβ-derived diffusible ligand (ADDL) preparations disrupt hippocampal synaptic plasticity in a PrP-dependent manner. We screened a panel of anti-PrP antibodies for their ability to disrupt the ADDL–PrP interaction. Antibodies directed to the principal PrP/Aβ-binding site and to PrP helix-1, were able to block Aβ binding to PrP suggesting that the toxic Aβ species are of relatively high molecular mass and/or may bind multiple PrP molecules. Two representative and extensively characterized monoclonal antibodies directed to these regions, ICSM-35 and ICSM-18, were shown to block the Aβ-mediated disruption of synaptic plasticity validating these antibodies as candidate therapeutics for AD either individually or in combination. The ability of synthetic amyloid β-protein to bind to prion proteins and alter synaptic plasticity has been previously reported. Here the relevance of this binding is investigated in brains of Alzheimer's disease patients and the interaction is shown to be blocked by antibodies to two distinct regions of prion proteins.
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Hafner-Bratkovic I, Bester R, Pristovsek P, Gaedtke L, Veranic P, Gaspersic J, Mancek-Keber M, Avbelj M, Polymenidou M, Julius C, Aguzzi A, Vorberg I, Jerala R. Globular domain of the prion protein needs to be unlocked by domain swapping to support prion protein conversion. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:12149-56. [PMID: 21324909 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.213926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal transmissible neurodegenerative diseases affecting many mammalian species. The normal prion protein (PrP) converts into a pathological aggregated form, PrPSc, which is enriched in the β-sheet structure. Although the high resolution structure of the normal PrP was determined, the structure of the converted form of PrP remains inaccessible to high resolution techniques. To map the PrP conversion process we introduced disulfide bridges into different positions within the globular domain of PrP, tethering selected secondary structure elements. The majority of tethered PrP mutants exhibited increased thermodynamic stability, nevertheless, they converted efficiently. Only the disulfides that tether subdomain B1-H1-B2 to subdomain H2-H3 prevented PrP conversion in vitro and in prion-infected cell cultures. Reduction of disulfides recovered the ability of these mutants to convert, demonstrating that the separation of subdomains is an essential step in conversion. Formation of disulfide-linked proteinase K-resistant dimers in fibrils composed of a pair of single cysteine mutants supports the model based on domain-swapped dimers as the building blocks of prion fibrils. In contrast to previously proposed structural models of PrPSc suggesting conversion of large secondary structural segments, we provide evidence for the conservation of secondary structural elements of the globular domain upon PrP conversion. Previous studies already showed that dimerization is the rate-limiting step in PrP conversion. We show that separation and swapping of subdomains of the globular domain is necessary for conversion. Therefore, we propose that the domain-swapped dimer of PrP precedes amyloid formation and represents a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Hafner-Bratkovic
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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van der Kamp MW, Daggett V. Influence of pH on the human prion protein: insights into the early steps of misfolding. Biophys J 2011; 99:2289-98. [PMID: 20923664 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.07.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Revised: 07/22/2010] [Accepted: 07/27/2010] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or prion diseases, are caused by misfolding and aggregation of the prion protein PrP. Conversion from the normal cellular form (PrP(C)) or recombinant PrP (recPrP) to a misfolded form is pH-sensitive, in that misfolding and aggregation occur more readily at lower pH. To gain more insight into the influence of pH on the dynamics of PrP and its potential to misfold, we performed extensive molecular-dynamics simulations of the recombinant PrP protein (residues 90-230) in water at three different pH regimes: neutral (or cytoplasmic) pH (∼7.4), middle (or endosomal) pH (∼5), and low pH (<4). We present five different simulations of 50 ns each for each pH regime, amounting to a total of 750 ns of simulation time. A detailed analysis and comparison with experiment validate the simulations and lead to new insights into the mechanism of pH-induced misfolding. The mobility of the globular domain increases with decreasing pH, through displacement of the first helix and instability of the hydrophobic core. At middle pH, conversion to a misfolded (PrP(Sc)-like) conformation is observed. The observed changes in conformation and stability are consistent with experimental data and thus provide a molecular basis for the initial steps in the misfolding process.
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van der Kamp MW, Daggett V. Molecular dynamics as an approach to study prion protein misfolding and the effect of pathogenic mutations. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2011; 305:169-97. [PMID: 21526434 DOI: 10.1007/128_2011_158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Computer simulation of protein dynamics offers unique high-resolution information that complements experiment. Using experimentally derived structures of the natively folded prion protein (PrP), physically realistic dynamics and conformational changes can be simulated, including the initial steps of misfolding. By introducing mutations in silico, the effect of pathogenic mutations on PrP conformation and dynamics can be assessed. Here, we briefly introduce molecular dynamics methods and review the application of molecular dynamics simulations to obtain insight into various aspects of the PrP, including the mechanism of misfolding, the response to changes in the environment, and the influence of disease-related mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc W van der Kamp
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5013, USA
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38
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Corsaro A, Thellung S, Bucciarelli T, Scotti L, Chiovitti K, Villa V, D'Arrigo C, Aceto A, Florio T. High hydrophobic amino acid exposure is responsible of the neurotoxic effects induced by E200K or D202N disease-related mutations of the human prion protein. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2010; 43:372-82. [PMID: 21094273 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2010.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2010] [Revised: 10/19/2010] [Accepted: 11/11/2010] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in prion protein are thought to be causative of inherited prion diseases favoring the spontaneous conversion of the normal prion protein into the scrapie-like pathological prion protein. We previously reported that, by controlled thermal denaturation, human prion protein fragment 90-231 acquires neurotoxic properties when transformed in a β-rich conformation, resembling the scrapie-like conformation. In this study we generated prion protein fragment 90-231 bearing mutations identified in familial prion diseases (D202N and E200K), to analyze their role in the induction of a neurotoxic conformation. Prion protein fragment 90-231(wild type) and the D202N mutant were not toxic in native conformation but induced cell death only after thermal denaturation. Conversely, prion protein fragment 90-231(E200K) was highly toxic in its native structure, suggesting that E200K mutation per se favors the acquisition of a peptide neurotoxic conformation. To identify the structural determinants of prion protein fragment 90-231 toxicity, we show that while the wild type peptide is structured in α-helix, hPrP90-231 E200K is spontaneously refolded in a β-structured conformer characterized by increased proteinase K resistance and propensity to generate fibrils. However, the most significant difference induced by E200K mutation in prion protein fragment 90-231 structure in native conformation we observed, was an increase in the exposure of hydrophobic amino-acids on protein surface that was detected in wild type and D202N proteins only after thermal denaturation. In conclusion, we propose that increased hydrophobicity is one of the main determinants of toxicity induced by different mutations in prion protein-derived peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Corsaro
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Dept. Oncology, Biology and Genetics, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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39
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Nicoll AJ, Trevitt CR, Tattum MH, Risse E, Quarterman E, Ibarra AA, Wright C, Jackson GS, Sessions RB, Farrow M, Waltho JP, Clarke AR, Collinge J. Pharmacological chaperone for the structured domain of human prion protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:17610-5. [PMID: 20876144 PMCID: PMC2955083 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1009062107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In prion diseases, the misfolded protein aggregates are derived from cellular prion protein (PrP(C)). Numerous ligands have been reported to bind to human PrP(C) (huPrP), but none to the structured region with the affinity required for a pharmacological chaperone. Using equilibrium dialysis, we screened molecules previously suggested to interact with PrP to discriminate between those which did not interact with PrP, behaved as nonspecific polyionic aggregates or formed a genuine interaction. Those that bind could potentially act as pharmacological chaperones. Here we report that a cationic tetrapyrrole [Fe(III)-TMPyP], which displays potent antiprion activity, binds to the structured region of huPrP. Using a battery of biophysical techniques, we demonstrate that Fe(III)-TMPyP forms a 11 complex via the structured C terminus of huPrP with a K(d) of 4.5 ± 2 μM, which is in the range of its IC(50) for curing prion-infected cells of 1.6 ± 0.4 μM and the concentration required to inhibit protein-misfolding cyclic amplification. Therefore, this molecule tests the hypothesis that stabilization of huPrP(C), as a principle, could be used in the treatment of human prion disease. The identification of a binding site with a defined 3D structure opens up the possibility of designing small molecules that stabilize huPrP and prevent its conversion into the disease-associated form.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Clare R. Trevitt
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit, University College of London Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WCN1 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - M. Howard Tattum
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit, University College of London Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WCN1 3BG, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Amaurys Avila Ibarra
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom; and
| | | | - Graham S. Jackson
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit, University College of London Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WCN1 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Richard B. Sessions
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom; and
| | | | - Jonathan P. Waltho
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony R. Clarke
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit, University College of London Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WCN1 3BG, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom; and
| | - John Collinge
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit, University College of London Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WCN1 3BG, United Kingdom
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40
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Tayebi M, Taylor WA, Jones DR, Bate C, David M. PrP-specific camel antibodies with the ability to immunodetect intracellular prion protein. J Gen Virol 2010; 91:2121-2131. [DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.018754-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Although there is currently no effective treatment for prion diseases, significant advances have been made in suppressing its progress, using antibodies that block the conversion of PrPC into PrPSc. In order to be effective in treating individuals that have prion diseases, antibodies must be capable of arresting disease in its late stages. This requires the development of antibodies with higher affinity for PrPSc and systems for effective translocation of antibodies across the blood–brain barrier in order to achieve high concentrations of inhibitor at the site of protein replication. An additional advantage is the ability of these antibodies to access the cytosol of affected cells. To this end, we have generated PrP-specific antibodies (known as PrioV) by immunization of camels with murine scrapie material adsorbed to immunomagnetic beads. The PrioV antibodies display a range of specificities with some recognizing the PrP27–30 proteinase K-resistant fragment, others specific for PrPC and a number with dual binding specificity. Independent of their PrP conformation specificity, one of the PrioV antibodies (PrioV3) was shown to bind PrPC in the cytosol of neuroblastoma cells. In marked contrast, conventional anti-PrP antibodies produced in mouse against similar target antigen were unable to cross the neuronal plasma membrane and instead formed a ring around the cells. The PrioV anti-PrP antibodies could prove to be a valuable tool for the neutralization/clearance of PrPSc in intracellular compartments of affected neurons and could potentially have wider applicability for the treatment of so-called protein-misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mourad Tayebi
- Department of Pathology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - William Alexander Taylor
- Department of Pathology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Daryl Rhys Jones
- Department of Pathology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Clive Bate
- Department of Pathology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Monique David
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, Inc., 521 West 57th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019, USA
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41
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The Unfolded State of the Murine Prion Protein and Properties of Single-point Mutants Related to Human Prion Diseases. J Mol Biol 2010; 401:7-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2010.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2010] [Revised: 05/12/2010] [Accepted: 06/03/2010] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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42
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Hosszu LLP, Trevitt CR, Jones S, Batchelor M, Scott DJ, Jackson GS, Collinge J, Waltho JP, Clarke AR. Conformational properties of beta-PrP. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:21981-21990. [PMID: 19369250 PMCID: PMC2755922 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m809173200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2008] [Revised: 03/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion propagation involves a conformational transition of the cellular form of prion protein (PrPC) to a disease-specific isomer (PrPSc), shifting from a predominantly alpha-helical conformation to one dominated by beta-sheet structure. This conformational transition is of critical importance in understanding the molecular basis for prion disease. Here, we elucidate the conformational properties of a disulfide-reduced fragment of human PrP spanning residues 91-231 under acidic conditions, using a combination of heteronuclear NMR, analytical ultracentrifugation, and circular dichroism. We find that this form of the protein, which similarly to PrPSc, is a potent inhibitor of the 26 S proteasome, assembles into soluble oligomers that have significant beta-sheet content. The monomeric precursor to these oligomers exhibits many of the characteristics of a molten globule intermediate with some helical character in regions that form helices I and III in the PrPC conformation, whereas helix II exhibits little evidence for adopting a helical conformation, suggesting that this region is a likely source of interaction within the initial phases of the transformation to a beta-rich conformation. This precursor state is almost as compact as the folded PrPC structure and, as it assembles, only residues 126-227 are immobilized within the oligomeric structure, leaving the remainder in a mobile, random-coil state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laszlo L. P. Hosszu
- From the MRC Prion Unit, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
- the Krebs Institute for Biomolecular Research, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, and
| | - Clare R. Trevitt
- From the MRC Prion Unit, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Samantha Jones
- From the MRC Prion Unit, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Mark Batchelor
- From the MRC Prion Unit, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - David J. Scott
- the National Centre for Macromolecular Hydrodynamics, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - Graham S. Jackson
- From the MRC Prion Unit, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - John Collinge
- From the MRC Prion Unit, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
| | - Jonathan P. Waltho
- the Krebs Institute for Biomolecular Research, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, and
| | - Anthony R. Clarke
- From the MRC Prion Unit, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG
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43
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van der Kamp MW, Daggett V. The consequences of pathogenic mutations to the human prion protein. Protein Eng Des Sel 2009; 22:461-8. [PMID: 19602567 PMCID: PMC2719504 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzp039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2009] [Revised: 06/12/2009] [Accepted: 06/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases, in which the conformational transition of the native prion protein (PrP) to a misfolded form causes aggregation and subsequent neurodegeneration, have fascinated the scientific community as this transmissible disease appears to be purely protein-based. Disease can arise due to genetic factors only. At least 30 single point mutations have been indicated to cause disease in humans. Somehow, these mutations must influence the stability, processing and/or cellular interactions of PrP, such that aggregation can occur and disease develops. In this review, the current evidence for such effects of single point mutations is discussed, indicating that PrP can be affected in many different ways, although questions remain about the mechanism by which mutations cause disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valerie Daggett
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195-5013 WA, USA
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44
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Jenkins DC, Pearson DS, Harvey A, Sylvester ID, Geeves MA, Pinheiro TJT. Rapid folding of the prion protein captured by pressure-jump. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL : EBJ 2009; 38:625-635. [PMID: 19255752 PMCID: PMC4509520 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-009-0420-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2008] [Revised: 01/16/2009] [Accepted: 01/29/2009] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The conversion of the cellular form of the prion protein (PrP(C)) to an altered disease state, generally denoted as scrapie isoform (PrP(Sc)), appears to be a crucial molecular event in prion diseases. The details of this conformational transition are not fully understood, but it is perceived that they are associated with misfolding of PrP or its incapacity to maintain the native fold during its cell cycle. Here we present a tryptophan mutant of PrP (F198W), which has enhanced fluorescence sensitivity to unfolding/refolding transitions. Equilibrium folding was studied by circular dichroism and fluorescence. Pressure-jump experiments were successfully applied to reveal rapid submillisecond folding events of PrP at temperatures not accessed before.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Jenkins
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - David S Pearson
- Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Andrew Harvey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Ian D Sylvester
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Michael A Geeves
- Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, UK
| | - Teresa J T Pinheiro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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45
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DeMarco ML, Daggett V. Characterization of cell-surface prion protein relative to its recombinant analogue: insights from molecular dynamics simulations of diglycosylated, membrane-bound human prion protein. J Neurochem 2009; 109:60-73. [PMID: 19226372 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.05892.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The prion protein (PrP) is responsible for several fatal neurodegenerative diseases via conversion from its normal to disease-related isoform. The recombinant form of the protein is typically studied to investigate the conversion process. This constructs lacks the co- and post-translational modifications present in vivo, there the protein has two N-linked glycans and is bound to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. The inherent flexibility and heterogeneity of the glycans, the plasticity of the GPI anchor, and the localization of the protein in a membrane make experimental structural characterization of biological constructs of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) challenging. Yet this characterization is central in determining not only the suitability of recombinant (rec)-PrP(C) as a model for biological forms of the protein but also the potential role of co- and post-translational modifications on the disease process. Here, we present molecular dynamics simulations of three human prion protein constructs: (i) a protein-only construct modeling the recombinant form, (ii) a diglycosylated and soluble construct, and (iii) a diglycosylated and GPI-anchored construct bound to a lipid bilayer. We found that glycosylation and membrane anchoring do not significantly alter the structure or dynamics of PrP(C), but they do appreciably modify the accessibility of the polypeptide surface PrP(C). In addition, the simulations of membrane-bound PrP(C) revealed likely recognition domains for the disease-initiating PrP(C):PrP(Sc) (infectious and/or misfolded form of the prion protein) binding event and a potential mechanism for the observed inefficiency of conversion associated with differentially glycosylated PrP species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari L DeMarco
- Biomolecular Structure and Design Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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46
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Crystal structure of human prion protein bound to a therapeutic antibody. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:2554-8. [PMID: 19204296 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0809170106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion infection is characterized by the conversion of host cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into disease-related conformers (PrP(Sc)) and can be arrested in vivo by passive immunization with anti-PrP monoclonal antibodies. Here, we show that the ability of an antibody to cure prion-infected cells correlates with its binding affinity for PrP(C) rather than PrP(Sc). We have visualized this interaction at the molecular level by determining the crystal structure of human PrP bound to the Fab fragment of monoclonal antibody ICSM 18, which has the highest affinity for PrP(C) and the highest therapeutic potency in vitro and in vivo. In this crystal structure, human PrP is observed in its native PrP(C) conformation. Interactions between neighboring PrP molecules in the crystal structure are mediated by close homotypic contacts between residues at position 129 that lead to the formation of a 4-strand intermolecular beta-sheet. The importance of this residue in mediating protein-protein contact could explain the genetic susceptibility and prion strain selection determined by polymorphic residue 129 in human prion disease, one of the strongest common susceptibility polymorphisms known in any human disease.
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47
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Shi S, Dong CF, Tian C, Zhou RM, Xu K, Zhang BY, Gao C, Han J, Dong XP. The propagation of hamster-adapted scrapie PrPSc can be enhanced by reduced pyridine nucleotide in vitro. FEBS J 2009; 276:1536-45. [PMID: 19220459 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.06871.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by an infectious agent termed a prion, which can convert normal cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into a pathologically misfolded isoform (PrP(Sc)). Taking advantage of protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), a series of experiments was conducted to investigate the possible influences of pyridine nucleotides on the propagation activities of hamster-adapted scrapie agents 263K and 139A in vitro using normal hamster brain homogenates and recombinant hamster PrP as the substrates. The results showed that PrP(Sc) from both scrapie agent 263K- and 139A-infected brains propagated more efficiently in PMCA with the addition of reduced NADPH, showing an obvious dose-dependent enhancement. Reduced NADH also prompted PrP(Sc) propagation, whereas NADP, NAD and vitamin C failed. Moreover, following incubation with NADPH, recombinant hamster PrP could be efficiently converted into the proteinase K-resistant form when exposed to the trace of PrP(Sc) from infected hamsters. Our data provide evidence that the reduced pyridine nucleotide plays an important role in the propagation of prion and this process seems to target PrP(C) molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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48
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Chiang YW, Otoshima Y, Watanabe Y, Inanami O, Shimoyama Y. Dynamics and Local Ordering of Spin-Labeled Prion Protein: An ESR Simulation Study of a Highly PH-Sensitive Site. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2008; 26:355-66. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2008.10507250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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49
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Heindl P, Garcia AF, Butz P, Trierweiler B, Voigt H, Pfaff E, Tauscher B. High pressure/temperature treatments to inactivate highly infectious prion subpopulations. INNOV FOOD SCI EMERG 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ifset.2007.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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50
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Jenkins DC, Sylvester ID, Pinheiro TJT. The elusive intermediate on the folding pathway of the prion protein. FEBS J 2008; 275:1323-35. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06293.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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