1
|
Rejc L, Knez D, Molina-Aguirre G, Espargaró A, Kladnik J, Meden A, Blinc L, Lozinšek M, Jansen-van Vuuren RD, Rogan M, Martek BA, Mlakar J, Dremelj A, Petrič A, Gobec S, Sabaté R, Bresjanac M, Pinter B, Košmrlj J. Probing Alzheimer's pathology: Exploring the next generation of FDDNP analogues for amyloid β detection. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116616. [PMID: 38723516 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Fluorescent probes are a powerful tool for imaging amyloid β (Aβ) plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Herein, we report the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of 21 novel probes as well as their optical properties and binding affinities to Aβ fibrils. One of these dyes, 1Ae, exhibited several improvements over FDDNP, an established biomarker for Aβ- and Tau-aggregates. First, 1Ae had large Stokes shifts (138-213 nm) in various solvents, thereby reducing self-absorption. With a high quantum yield ratio (φ(dichloromethane/methanol) = 104), 1Ae also ensures minimal background emission in aqueous environments and high sensitivity. In addition, compound 1Ae exhibited low micromolar binding affinity to Aβ fibrils in vitro (Kd = 1.603 µM), while increasing fluorescence emission (106-fold) compared to emission in buffer alone. Importantly, the selective binding of 1Ae to Aβ1-42 fibrils was confirmed by an in cellulo assay, supported by ex vivo fluorescence microscopy of 1Ae on postmortem AD brain sections, allowing unequivocal identification of Aβ plaques. The intermolecular interactions of fluorophores with Aβ were elucidated by docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations. Density functional theory calculations revealed the unique photophysics of these rod-shaped fluorophores, with a twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) excited state. These results provide valuable insights into the future application of such probes as potential diagnostic tools for AD in vitro and ex vivo such as determination of Aβ1-42 in cerebrospinal fluid or blood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luka Rejc
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Damijan Knez
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | | | - Alba Espargaró
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Section of Physical-Chemistry, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Jerneja Kladnik
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Anže Meden
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Lana Blinc
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity and Regeneration (LNPR), Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Matic Lozinšek
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Ross D Jansen-van Vuuren
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Matic Rogan
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Bruno Aleksander Martek
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Jernej Mlakar
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Ana Dremelj
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Petrič
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia
| | - Stanislav Gobec
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia.
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Section of Physical-Chemistry, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
| | - Mara Bresjanac
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity and Regeneration (LNPR), Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia.
| | - Balazs Pinter
- The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
| | - Janez Košmrlj
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana SI-1000, Slovenia.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chisholm TS, Hunter CA. A closer look at amyloid ligands, and what they tell us about protein aggregates. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:1354-1374. [PMID: 38116736 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00518f] [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: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of amyloid fibrils is characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease. Detecting these fibrils with fluorescent or radiolabelled ligands is one strategy for diagnosing and better understanding these diseases. A vast number of amyloid-binding ligands have been reported in the literature as a result. To obtain a better understanding of how amyloid ligands bind, we have compiled a database of 3457 experimental dissociation constants for 2076 unique amyloid-binding ligands. These ligands target Aβ, tau, or αSyn fibrils, as well as relevant biological samples including AD brain homogenates. From this database significant variation in the reported dissociation constants of ligands was found, possibly due to differences in the morphology of the fibrils being studied. Ligands were also found to bind to Aβ(1-40) and Aβ(1-42) fibrils with similar affinities, whereas a greater difference was found for binding to Aβ and tau or αSyn fibrils. Next, the binding of ligands to fibrils was shown to be largely limited by the hydrophobic effect. Some Aβ ligands do not fit into this hydrophobicity-limited model, suggesting that polar interactions can play an important role when binding to this target. Finally several binding site models were outlined for amyloid fibrils that describe what ligands target what binding sites. These models provide a foundation for interpreting and designing site-specific binding assays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy S Chisholm
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1 EW, UK.
| | - Christopher A Hunter
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1 EW, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Confinement fluorescence effect (CFE): Lighting up life by enhancing the absorbed photon energy utilization efficiency of fluorophores. Coord Chem Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2021.213979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
|
4
|
An J, Jangili P, Lim S, Kim YK, Verwilst P, Kim JS. Multichromatic fluorescence towards aberrant proteinaceous aggregates utilizing benzimidazole-based ICT fluorophores. J INCL PHENOM MACRO 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10847-021-01085-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
5
|
Zhou K, Yang F, Li Y, Chen Y, Zhang X, Zhang J, Wang J, Dai J, Cai L, Cui M. Synthesis and Evaluation of Fluorine-18 Labeled 2-Phenylquinoxaline Derivatives as Potential Tau Imaging Agents. Mol Pharm 2021; 18:1176-1195. [PMID: 33475377 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c01078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In this study, three pairs of optically pure 18F-labeled 2-phenylquinoxaline derivatives were evaluated as Tau imaging agents for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The chiral 2-fluoromethyl-1,2-ethylenediol side chain was attached to the 2-phenylquinoxaline backbone to increase hydrophilicity, thereby improving the binding affinity of the probe to tangles and their selectivity toward Tau tangles over β-amyloid plaques (Aβ). These probes displayed excellent fluorescent properties and high selectivity for tangles on brain sections from transgenic mice (rTg4510) and AD patients. Quantitative binding assays with AD homogenates showed that the probes (R)-5 and (S)-16 have a high affinity (Ki = 4.1 and 10.3 nM, respectively) and high selectivity (30.5-fold and 34.6-fold, respectively) for tangles over Aβ. The high affinity and selectivity of (R)-[18F]5 and (S)-[18F]16 for tangles were further confirmed with autoradiography on AD brain tissue in vitro. In addition, they displayed sufficient blood-brain barrier penetration (7.06% and 10.95% ID/g, respectively) and suitable brain kinetics (brain2 min/brain60 min = 10.1, 6.5 respectively) in normal mice. Ex vivo metabolism studies and micro-positron emission computed tomography (PET) revealed high brain biostability, good brain kinetic properties, and low nonspecific binding for (S)-[18F]16. Together, these results demonstrate that (R)-[18F]5 and (S)-[18F]16 are promising PET probes for Tau tangles imaging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kaixiang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yuying Li
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yimin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaojun Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jinming Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown 02129, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Jiapei Dai
- Wuhan Institute for Neuroscience and Neuroengineering, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Lisheng Cai
- Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda 20892, Maryland, United States
| | - Mengchao Cui
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhou J, Jangili P, Son S, Ji MS, Won M, Kim JS. Fluorescent Diagnostic Probes in Neurodegenerative Diseases. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2001945. [PMID: 32902000 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202001945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating disorders that feature progressive and selective loss of function or structure of anatomically or physiologically associated neuronal systems. Both chronic and acute neurodegenerative diseases are associated with high morbidity and mortality along with the death of neurons in different areas of the brain; moreover, there are few or no effective curative therapy options for treating these disorders. There is an urgent need to diagnose neurodegenerative disease as early as possible, and to distinguish between different disorders with overlapping symptoms that will help to decide the best clinical treatment. Recently, in neurodegenerative disease research, fluorescent-probe-mediated biomarker visualization techniques have been gaining increasing attention for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. A survey of fluorescent probes for sensing and imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases is provided. These imaging probes are categorized based on the different potential biomarkers of various neurodegenerative diseases, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Guides to develop new sensing strategies, recognition mechanisms, as well as the ideal features to further improve neurodegenerative disease fluorescence imaging are also explored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhou
- College of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, China
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Paramesh Jangili
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Subin Son
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Myung Sun Ji
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Miae Won
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Jong Seung Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Arora H, Ramesh M, Rajasekhar K, Govindaraju T. Molecular Tools to Detect Alloforms of Aβ and Tau: Implications for Multiplexing and Multimodal Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 2020. [DOI: 10.1246/bcsj.20190356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Harshit Arora
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Madhu Ramesh
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Kolla Rajasekhar
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Thimmaiah Govindaraju
- Bioorganic Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
- VNIR Biotechnologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore Bioinnovation Center, Helix Biotech Park, Electronic City Phase I, Bengaluru 560100, Karnataka, India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mouchlis VD, Melagraki G, Zacharia LC, Afantitis A. Computer-Aided Drug Design of β-Secretase, γ-Secretase and Anti-Tau Inhibitors for the Discovery of Novel Alzheimer's Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E703. [PMID: 31973122 PMCID: PMC7038192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases, which are characterized by progressive neuronal death and synapses loss in human brain, are rapidly growing affecting millions of people globally. Alzheimer's is the most common neurodegenerative disease and it can be caused by genetic and environmental risk factors. This review describes the amyloid-β and Tau hypotheses leading to amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, respectively which are the predominant pathways for the development of anti-Alzheimer's small molecule inhibitors. The function and structure of the druggable targets of these two pathways including β-secretase, γ-secretase, and Tau are discussed in this review article. Computer-Aided Drug Design including computational structure-based design and ligand-based design have been employed successfully to develop inhibitors for biomolecular targets involved in Alzheimer's. The application of computational molecular modeling for the discovery of small molecule inhibitors and modulators for β-secretase and γ-secretase is summarized. Examples of computational approaches employed for the development of anti-amyloid aggregation and anti-Tau phosphorylation, proteolysis and aggregation inhibitors are also reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Georgia Melagraki
- Division of Physical Sciences & Applications, Hellenic Military Academy, Vari 16672, Greece;
| | - Lefteris C. Zacharia
- Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 1700, Cyprus;
| | - Antreas Afantitis
- Department of ChemoInformatics, NovaMechanics Ltd., Nicosia 1046, Cyprus
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Verwilst P, Kim HS, Kim S, Kang C, Kim JS. Shedding light on tau protein aggregation: the progress in developing highly selective fluorophores. Chem Soc Rev 2018; 47:2249-2265. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cs00706j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The development of highly selective fluorophores for tau protein aggregates, a key feature of Alzheimer's disease, is highlighted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Soobin Kim
- Department of Chemistry
- Korea University
- Seoul 02841
- Korea
| | - Chulhun Kang
- The School of East-West Medical Science
- Kyung Hee University
- Yongin 17104
- Korea
| | | |
Collapse
|