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Mukherjee S, Poudyal M, Dave K, Kadu P, Maji SK. Protein misfolding and amyloid nucleation through liquid-liquid phase separation. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:4976-5013. [PMID: 38597222 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs01065a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is an emerging phenomenon in cell physiology and diseases. The weak multivalent interaction prerequisite for LLPS is believed to be facilitated through intrinsically disordered regions, which are prevalent in neurodegenerative disease-associated proteins. These aggregation-prone proteins also exhibit an inherent property for phase separation, resulting in protein-rich liquid-like droplets. The very high local protein concentration in the water-deficient confined microenvironment not only drives the viscoelastic transition from the liquid to solid-like state but also most often nucleate amyloid fibril formation. Indeed, protein misfolding, oligomerization, and amyloid aggregation are observed to be initiated from the LLPS of various neurodegeneration-related proteins. Moreover, in these cases, neurodegeneration-promoting genetic and environmental factors play a direct role in amyloid aggregation preceded by the phase separation. These cumulative recent observations ignite the possibility of LLPS being a prominent nucleation mechanism associated with aberrant protein aggregation. The present review elaborates on the nucleation mechanism of the amyloid aggregation pathway and the possible early molecular events associated with amyloid-related protein phase separation. It also summarizes the recent advancement in understanding the aberrant phase transition of major proteins contributing to neurodegeneration focusing on the common disease-associated factors. Overall, this review proposes a generic LLPS-mediated multistep nucleation mechanism for amyloid aggregation and its implication in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semanti Mukherjee
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India.
| | - Manisha Poudyal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India.
| | - Kritika Dave
- Sunita Sanghi Centre of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Pradeep Kadu
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India.
| | - Samir K Maji
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India.
- Sunita Sanghi Centre of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
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2
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Wang J, Zhu H, Tian R, Zhang Q, Zhang H, Hu J, Wang S. Physiological and pathological effects of phase separation in the central nervous system. J Mol Med (Berl) 2024; 102:599-615. [PMID: 38441598 PMCID: PMC11055734 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-024-02435-7] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Phase separation, also known as biomolecule condensate, participates in physiological processes such as transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, gene expression, and DNA damage repair by creating a membrane-free compartment. Phase separation is primarily caused by the interaction of multivalent non-covalent bonds between proteins and/or nucleic acids. The strength of molecular multivalent interaction can be modified by component concentration, the potential of hydrogen, posttranslational modification, and other factors. Notably, phase separation occurs frequently in the cytoplasm of mitochondria, the nucleus, and synapses. Phase separation in vivo is dynamic or stable in the normal physiological state, while abnormal phase separation will lead to the formation of biomolecule condensates, speeding up the disease progression. To provide candidate suggestions for the clinical treatment of nervous system diseases, this review, based on existing studies, carefully and systematically represents the physiological roles of phase separation in the central nervous system and its pathological mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, People's Republic of China
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongrui Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, People's Republic of China.
- Core Facility Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital), Hefei, China.
| | - Ruijia Tian
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoliang Zhang
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Hu
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, People's Republic of China.
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3
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da Silva ANR, Pereira GRC, Bonet LFS, Outeiro TF, De Mesquita JF. In silico analysis of alpha-synuclein protein variants and posttranslational modifications related to Parkinson's disease. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30523. [PMID: 38239037 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30523] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is among the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, affecting over 10 million people worldwide. The protein encoded by the SNCA gene, alpha-synuclein (ASYN), is the major component of Lewy body (LB) aggregates, a histopathological hallmark of PD. Mutations and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in ASYN are known to influence protein aggregation and LB formation, possibly playing a crucial role in PD pathogenesis. In this work, we applied computational methods to characterize the effects of missense mutations and PTMs on the structure and function of ASYN. Missense mutations in ASYN were compiled from the literature/databases and underwent a comprehensive predictive analysis. Phosphorylation and SUMOylation sites of ASYN were retrieved from databases and predicted by algorithms. ConSurf was used to estimate the evolutionary conservation of ASYN amino acids. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of ASYN wild-type and variants A30G, A30P, A53T, and G51D were performed using the GROMACS package. Seventy-seven missense mutations in ASYN were compiled. Although most mutations were not predicted to affect ASYN stability, aggregation propensity, amyloid formation, and chaperone binding, the analyzed mutations received relatively high rates of deleterious predictions and predominantly occurred at evolutionarily conserved sites within the protein. Moreover, our predictive analyses suggested that the following mutations may be possibly harmful to ASYN and, consequently, potential targets for future investigation: K6N, T22I, K34E, G36R, G36S, V37F, L38P, G41D, and K102E. The MD analyses pointed to remarkable flexibility and essential dynamics alterations at nearly all domains of the studied variants, which could lead to impaired contact between NAC and the C-terminal domain triggering protein aggregation. These alterations may have functional implications for ASYN and provide important insight into the molecular mechanism of PD, supporting the design of future biomedical research and improvements in existing therapies for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aloma N R da Silva
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel R C Pereira
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiz Felippe Sarmento Bonet
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joelma F De Mesquita
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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4
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Xu B, Fan F, Liu Y, Liu Y, Zhou L, Yu H. Distinct Effects of Familial Parkinson's Disease-Associated Mutations on α-Synuclein Phase Separation and Amyloid Aggregation. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050726. [PMID: 37238596 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites are key pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). Single-point mutations associated with familial PD cause α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation, leading to the formation of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Recent studies suggest α-Syn nucleates through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form amyloid aggregates in a condensate pathway. How PD-associated mutations affect α-Syn LLPS and its correlation with amyloid aggregation remains incompletely understood. Here, we examined the effects of five mutations identified in PD, A30P, E46K, H50Q, A53T, and A53E, on the phase separation of α-Syn. All other α-Syn mutants behave LLPS similarly to wild-type (WT) α-Syn, except that the E46K mutation substantially promotes the formation of α-Syn condensates. The mutant α-Syn droplets fuse to WT α-Syn droplets and recruit α-Syn monomers into their droplets. Our studies showed that α-Syn A30P, E46K, H50Q, and A53T mutations accelerated the formation of amyloid aggregates in the condensates. In contrast, the α-Syn A53E mutant retarded the aggregation during the liquid-to-solid phase transition. Finally, we observed that WT and mutant α-Syn formed condensates in the cells, whereas the E46K mutation apparently promoted the formation of condensates. These findings reveal that familial PD-associated mutations have divergent effects on α-Syn LLPS and amyloid aggregation in the phase-separated condensates, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of PD-associated α-Syn mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingkuan Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fengshuo Fan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yunpeng Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yinghui Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Nanjing Normal University Taizhou College, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Haijia Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
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Dervişoğlu R, Antonschmidt L, Nimerovsky E, Sant V, Kim M, Ryazanov S, Leonov A, Carlos Fuentes-Monteverde J, Wegstroth M, Giller K, Mathies G, Giese A, Becker S, Griesinger C, Andreas LB. Anle138b interaction in α-synuclein aggregates by dynamic nuclear polarization NMR. Methods 2023; 214:18-27. [PMID: 37037308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Small molecules that bind to oligomeric protein species such as membrane proteins and fibrils are of clinical interest for development of therapeutics and diagnostics. Definition of the binding site at atomic resolution via NMR is often challenging due to low binding stoichiometry of the small molecule. For fibrils and aggregation intermediates grown in the presence of lipids, we report atomic-resolution contacts to the small molecule at sub nm distance via solid-state NMR using dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) and orthogonally labelled samples of the protein and the small molecule. We apply this approach to α-synuclein (αS) aggregates in complex with the small molecule anle138b, which is a clinical drug candidate for disease modifying therapy. The small central pyrazole moiety of anle138b is detected in close proximity to the protein backbone and differences in the contacts between fibrils and early intermediates are observed. For intermediate species, the 100 K condition for DNP helps to preserve the aggregation state, while for both fibrils and oligomers, the DNP enhancement is essential to obtain sufficient sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rıza Dervişoğlu
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Leif Antonschmidt
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Evgeny Nimerovsky
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vrinda Sant
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Myeongkyu Kim
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sergey Ryazanov
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrei Leonov
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Melanie Wegstroth
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Karin Giller
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Armin Giese
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Becker
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Griesinger
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: From Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Loren B Andreas
- Department of NMR based structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.
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Sun C, Zhou K, DePaola P, Shin WS, Hillyer T, Sawaya MR, Zhu R, Peng C, Zhou ZH, Jiang L. Cryo-EM structure of amyloid fibril formed by α-synuclein hereditary A53E mutation reveals a distinct protofilament interface. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104566. [PMID: 36871760 PMCID: PMC10124909 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104566] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Synucleinopathies like Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple systems atrophy (MSA), have the same pathologic feature of misfolded α-synuclein protein (α-syn) accumulation in the brain. PD patients who carry α-syn hereditary mutations tend to have earlier onset and more severe clinical symptoms than sporadic PD patients. Therefore, revealing the effect of hereditary mutations to the α-syn fibril structure can help us understand these synucleinopathies' structural basis. Here, we present a 3.38 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure of α-synuclein fibrils containing the hereditary A53E mutation. The A53E fibril is symmetrically composed of two protofilaments, similar to other fibril structures of WT and mutant α-synuclein. The new structure is distinct from all other synuclein fibrils, not only at the interface between proto-filaments, but also between residues packed within the same proto-filament. A53E has the smallest interface with the least buried surface area among all α-syn fibrils, consisting of only two contacting residues. Within the same protofilament, A53E reveals distinct residue re-arrangement and structural variation at a cavity near its fibril core. Moreover, the A53E fibrils exhibit slower fibril formation and lower stability compared to WT and other mutants like A53T and H50Q, while also demonstrate strong cellular seeding in α-synuclein biosensor cells and primary neurons. In summary, our study aims to highlight structural differences - both within and between the protofilaments of A53E fibrils - and interpret fibril formation and cellular seeding of α-synuclein pathology in disease, which could further our understanding of the structure-activity relationship of α-synuclein mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanqi Sun
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kang Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, California Nano Systems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peter DePaola
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Departments of Biological Chemistry and Chemistry and Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA-DOE Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Woo Shik Shin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - Trae Hillyer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - Michael R Sawaya
- Departments of Biological Chemistry and Chemistry and Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UCLA-DOE Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ruowei Zhu
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chao Peng
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Z Hong Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, California Nano Systems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lin Jiang
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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7
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Interfacial properties of α-synuclein's Parkinsonian variants. Biophys Chem 2023; 297:107006. [PMID: 37019052 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Human alpha-synuclein (αS) is associated with the occurrence of Parkinson's disease. In the past decade, six autosomally dominant mutations have been identified in αS (SNCA) gene that translate into A30P, E46K, H50Q, G51D, A53E, and A53T mutations in the protein. These mutations alter the electrostatics and hydrophobicity of a cardinal region of the protein. A comprehensive comparison of interfacial properties of these Parkinsonian αS variants is crucial to understand their membrane dynamics. Here, we investigated the interfacial activity of these αS variants at air-aqueous interface. All the αS variants were found to possess comparable surface activity of ∼20-22 mN/m. Compression/expansion isotherms reveal a very distinct behaviour of the A30P variant compared to others. The Blodgett-deposited films were analysed using CD and LD spectroscopy as well as the atomic force microscopy. All the variants adopted predominantly α-helical conformation in these films. Atomic force microscopy of the Langmuir-Blodgett films revealed self-assembly at the interface. The lipid-penetration activity was also investigated using zwitterionic and negatively charged lipid monolayers.
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Liquid-liquid Phase Separation of α-Synuclein: A New Mechanistic Insight for α-Synuclein Aggregation Associated with Parkinson's Disease Pathogenesis. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167713. [PMID: 35787838 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant aggregation of the misfolded presynaptic protein, α-Synuclein (α-Syn) into Lewy body (LB) and Lewy neuritis (LN) is a major pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. Numerous studies have suggested that prefibrillar and fibrillar species of the misfolded α-Syn aggregates are responsible for cell death in PD pathogenesis. However, the precise molecular events during α-Syn aggregation, especially in the early stages, remain elusive. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of α-Syn occurs in the nucleation step of α-Syn aggregation, which offers an alternate non-canonical aggregation pathway in the crowded microenvironment. The liquid-like α-Syn droplets gradually undergo an irreversible liquid-to-solid phase transition into amyloid-like hydrogel entrapping oligomers and fibrils. This new mechanism of α-Syn LLPS and gel formation might represent the molecular basis of cellular toxicity associated with PD. This review aims to demonstrate the recent development of α-Syn LLPS, the underlying mechanism along with the microscopic events of aberrant phase transition. This review further discusses how several intrinsic and extrinsic factors regulate the thermodynamics and kinetics of α-Syn LLPS and co-LLPS with other proteins, which might explain the pathophysiology of α-Syn in various neurodegenerative diseases.
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9
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Phase separation and other forms of α-Synuclein self-assemblies. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:987-1000. [DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is a natively unstructured protein, which self-assembles into higher-order aggregates possessing serious pathophysiological implications. α-Syn aberrantly self-assembles into protein aggregates, which have been widely implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis and other synucleinopathies. The self-assembly of α-Syn involves the structural conversion of soluble monomeric protein into oligomeric intermediates and eventually fibrillar aggregates of amyloids with cross-β-sheet rich conformation. These aggregated α-Syn species majorly constitute the intraneuronal inclusions, which is a hallmark of PD neuropathology. Self-assembly/aggregation of α-Syn is not a single-state conversion process as unfolded protein can access multiple conformational states through the formation of metastable, transient pre-fibrillar intermediate species. Recent studies have indicated that soluble oligomers are the potential neurotoxic species responsible for cell death in PD pathogenesis. The heterogeneous and transient nature of oligomers formed during the early stage of aggregation pathway limit their detailed study in understanding the structure–toxicity relationship. Moreover, the precise molecular events occurring in the early stage of α-Syn aggregation process majorly remain unsolved. Recently, liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of α-Syn has been designated as an alternate nucleation mechanism, which occurs in the early lag phase of the aggregation pathway leading to the formation of dynamic supramolecular assemblies. The stronger self-association among the protein molecules triggers the irreversible liquid-to-solid transition of these supramolecular assemblies into the amyloid-like hydrogel, which may serve as a reservoir entrapping toxic oligomeric intermediates and fibrils. This review strives to provide insights into different modes of α-Syn self-assemblies including LLPS-mediated self-assembly and its recent advancements.
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Kim S, Choi JG, Kim SW, Park SC, Kang YR, Park DS, Son M, Lee CH. Inhibition of α-synuclein aggregation by MT101-5 is neuroprotective in mouse models of Parkinson's disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 154:113637. [PMID: 36058149 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, after Alzheimer's disease, and becomes increasingly prevalent with age. α-Synuclein (α-syn) forms the major filamentous component of Lewy bodies, which are pathological hallmarks of α-synucleinopathies such as PD. We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of MT101-5, a standardized herbal formula that consists of an ethanolic extract of Genkwae Flos, Clematidis Radix, and Gastrodiae Rhizoma, against α-synuclein-induced cytotoxicity in vivo. MT101-5 protected against behavioral deficits and loss of dopaminergic neurons in human α-syn-overexpressing transgenic mice after treatment with 30 mg/kg/day for 5 months. We investigated transcriptomic changes within MT101-5 mechanisms of action (MOA) suppressing α-syn aggregation in an α-synuclein preformed fibril (α-syn PFF) mouse model of sporadic PD. We found that inhibition of α-syn fibril formation was associated with changes in transcripts in mitochondrial biogenesis, electron transport, chaperones, and proteasomes following treatment with MT101-5. These results suggest that the mixed herbal formula MT101-5 may be used as a pharmaceutical agent for preventing or improving PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinyeon Kim
- MtheraPharma Co., Ltd., 38, Magokjungang 8-ro 1-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Gyu Choi
- MtheraPharma Co., Ltd., 38, Magokjungang 8-ro 1-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea
| | - Se Woong Kim
- MtheraPharma Co., Ltd., 38, Magokjungang 8-ro 1-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Cheol Park
- MtheraPharma Co., Ltd., 38, Magokjungang 8-ro 1-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Ra Kang
- MtheraPharma Co., Ltd., 38, Magokjungang 8-ro 1-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Seok Park
- MtheraPharma Co., Ltd., 38, Magokjungang 8-ro 1-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea
| | - Miwon Son
- MtheraPharma Co., Ltd., 38, Magokjungang 8-ro 1-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
| | - Choong Hwan Lee
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, the Republic of Korea.
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Mehra S, Gadhe L, Bera R, Sawner AS, Maji SK. Structural and Functional Insights into α-Synuclein Fibril Polymorphism. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1419. [PMID: 34680054 PMCID: PMC8533119 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein (α-Syn) is seen in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), dementia with Lewy body (DLB), Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), and even subsets of Alzheimer's disease (AD) showing Lewy-body-like pathology. These synucleinopathies exhibit differences in their clinical and pathological representations, reminiscent of prion disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that α-Syn self-assembles and polymerizes into conformationally diverse polymorphs in vitro and in vivo, similar to prions. These α-Syn polymorphs arising from the same precursor protein may exhibit strain-specific biochemical properties and the ability to induce distinct pathological phenotypes upon their inoculation in animal models. In this review, we discuss clinical and pathological variability in synucleinopathies and several aspects of α-Syn fibril polymorphism, including the existence of high-resolution molecular structures and brain-derived strains. The current review sheds light on the recent advances in delineating the structure-pathogenic relationship of α-Syn and how diverse α-Syn molecular polymorphs contribute to the existing clinical heterogeneity in synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Mehra
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India; (L.G.); (R.B.); (A.S.S.)
| | | | | | | | - Samir K. Maji
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India; (L.G.); (R.B.); (A.S.S.)
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P P, Justin A, Ananda Kumar TD, Chinaswamy M, Kumar BRP. Glitazones Activate PGC-1α Signaling via PPAR-γ: A Promising Strategy for Antiparkinsonism Therapeutics. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2261-2272. [PMID: 34125534 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding various aspects of Parkinson's disease (PD) by researchers could lead to a better understanding of the disease and provide treatment alternatives that could significantly improve the quality of life of patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders. Significant progress has been made in recent years toward this goal, but there is yet no available treatment with confirmed neuroprotective effects. Recent studies have shown the potential of PPARγ agonists, which are the ligand activated transcriptional factor of the nuclear hormone superfamily, as therapeutic targets for various neurodegenerative disorders. The activation of central PGC-1α mediates the potential role against neurogenerative diseases like PD, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Further understanding the mechanism of neurodegeneration and the role of glitazones in the activation of PGC-1α signaling could lead to a novel therapeutic interventions against PD. Keeping this aspect in focus, the present review highlights the pathogenic mechanism of PD and the role of glitazones in the activation of PGC-1α via PPARγ for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabitha P
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka 570 015, India
| | - Antony Justin
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty, Nilgiris, Tamilnadu 643 001, India
| | - T. Durai Ananda Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka 570 015, India
| | - Mithuna Chinaswamy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka 570 015, India
| | - B. R. Prashantha Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka 570 015, India
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Zgórzyńska E, Krawczyk K, Bełdzińska P, Walczewska A. Molecular basis of proteinopathies: Etiopathology
of dementia and motor disorders. POSTEP HIG MED DOSW 2021. [DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0014.9513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the most important medical and social problems affecting
elderly people, the percentage of which is significantly increasing in the total world population.
The cause of these diseases is the destruction of neurons by protein aggregates that form pathological
deposits in neurons, glial cells and in the intercellular space. Proteins whose molecules
are easily destabilized by point mutations or endogenous processes are alpha-synuclein (ASN),
tau and TDP-43. Pathological forms of these proteins form characteristic aggregates, which accumulate
in the neurons and are the cause of various forms of dementia and motor disorders.
The most common causes of dementia are tauopathies. In primary tauopathies, which include
progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), Pick’s disease (PiD), and
frontotemporal dementia (FTD), modified tau molecules disrupt axonal transport and protein
distribution in neurons. Ultimately, the helical filaments and neurofibrillary tangles of tau lead to
neuron death in various structures of the brain. In Alzheimer’s disease hyperphosphorylated tau tangles along with β amyloid plaques are responsible for the degeneration of the hippocampus,
entorhinal cortex and amygdala. The most prevalent synucleinopathies are Parkinson’s disease,
multiple system atrophy (MSA) and dementia with Lewy bodies, where there is a degeneration of
neurons in the extrapyramidal tracts or, as in MSA, autonomic nerves. TDP-43 inclusions in the
cytoplasm cause the degeneration of motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and
in one of the frontotemporal dementia variant (FTLD-TDP). In this work ASN, tau and TDP-43
structures are described, as well as the genetic and sporadic factors that lead to the destabilization
of molecules, their aggregation and incorrect distribution in neurons, which are the causes
of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Klaudia Krawczyk
- Zakład Interakcji Międzykomórkowych, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi
| | | | - Anna Walczewska
- Zakład Interakcji Międzykomórkowych, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi
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He S, Wang F, Yung KKL, Zhang S, Qu S. Effects of α-Synuclein-Associated Post-Translational Modifications in Parkinson's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:1061-1071. [PMID: 33769791 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn), a small highly conserved presynaptic protein containing 140 amino acids, is thought to be the main pathological hallmark in related neurodegenerative disorders. Although the normal function of α-syn is closely involved in the regulation of vesicular neurotransmission in these diseases, the underlying mechanisms of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of α-syn in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) have not been fully characterized. The pathological accumulation of misfolded α-syn has a critical role in PD pathogenesis. Recent studies of factors contributing to α-syn-associated aggregation and misfolding have expanded our understanding of the PD disease process. In this Review, we summarize the structure and physiological function of α-syn, and we further highlight the major PTMs (namely phosphorylation, ubiquitination, nitration, acetylation, truncation, SUMOylation, and O-GlcNAcylation) of α-syn and the effects of these modifications on α-syn aggregation, which may elucidate mechanisms for PD pathogenesis and lay a theoretical foundation for clinical treatment of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songzhe He
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Fushun Wang
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610066, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York, 14643, United States
| | - Ken Kin Lam Yung
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Shiqing Zhang
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Shaogang Qu
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
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He S, Zhong S, Liu G, Yang J. Alpha-Synuclein: The Interplay of Pathology, Neuroinflammation, and Environmental Factors in Parkinson's Disease. NEURODEGENER DIS 2021; 20:55-64. [PMID: 33465773 DOI: 10.1159/000511083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial, chronic, and progressive neurodegenerative disease. α-Synuclein (α-syn), which is the main protein component of Lewy bodies, plays an important role in the pathological hallmarks of PD. However, the pathological function of α-syn and the molecular mechanisms responsible for the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons are still elusive. SUMMARY Cumulative evidence implicates that abnormal processing of α-syn will be predicted to lead to pathological changes in PD. Key Messages: In this review, we summarize the structure and physiological function of α-syn, and further discuss the interplay of pathology, neuroinflammation, and environmental factors in PD. Additionally, we suggest future directions for understanding the toxicity of α-syn to neurons, which may ultimately encourage us to better design disease-modifying therapeutic strategies for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songzhe He
- Clinic Laboratory Department, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China.,Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shan Zhong
- Department of Acupuncture, Guilin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guilin, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Acupuncture, Guilin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guilin, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Clinic Laboratory Department, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China,
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α-Synuclein misfolding and aggregation: Implications in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2019; 1867:890-908. [PMID: 30853581 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) has been extensively studied for its structural and biophysical properties owing to its pathophysiological role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites are the pathological hallmarks of PD and contain α-Syn aggregates as their major component. It was therefore hypothesized that α-Syn aggregation is actively associated with PD pathogenesis. The central role of α-Syn aggregation in PD is further supported by the identification of point mutations in α-Syn protein associated with rare familial forms of PD. However, the correlation between aggregation propensities of α-Syn mutants and their association with PD phenotype is not straightforward. Recent evidence suggested that oligomers, formed during the initial stages of aggregation, are the potent neurotoxic species causing cell death in PD. However, the heterogeneous and unstable nature of these oligomers limit their detailed characterization. α-Syn fibrils, on the contrary, are shown to be the infectious agents and propagate in a prion-like manner. Although α-Syn is an intrinsically disordered protein, it exhibits remarkable conformational plasticity by adopting a range of structural conformations under different environmental conditions. In this review, we focus on the structural and functional aspects of α-Syn and role of potential factors that may contribute to the underlying mechanism of synucleinopathies. This information will help to identify novel targets and develop specific therapeutic strategies to combat Parkinson's and other protein aggregation related neurodegenerative diseases.
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