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Ali NH, Al-Kuraishy HM, Al-Gareeb AI, Hadi NR, Assiri AA, Alrouji M, Welson NN, Alexiou A, Papadakis M, Batiha GES. Hypoglycemia and Alzheimer Disease Risk: The Possible Role of Dasiglucagon. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2024; 44:55. [PMID: 38977507 PMCID: PMC11230952 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-024-01489-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory impairment and cognitive dysfunctions. It has been shown that hypoglycemia can adversely affect AD neuropathology. It is well-known that chronic hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is regarded as a potential risk factor for the development and progression of AD. However, the effect of recurrent hypoglycemia on the pathogenesis of AD was not deeply discussed, and how recurrent hypoglycemia affects AD at cellular and molecular levels was not intensely interpreted by the previous studies. The underlying mechanisms for hypoglycaemia-induced AD are diverse such as endothelial dysfunction, thrombosis, and neuronal injury that causing tau protein hyperphosphorylation and the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain neurons. Of note, the glucagon hormone, which controls blood glucose, can also regulate the cognitive functions. Glucagon increases blood glucose by antagonizing the metabolic effect of insulin. Therefore, glucagon, through attenuation of hypoglycemia, may prevent AD neuropathology. Glucagon/GLP-1 has been shown to promote synaptogenesis, hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and learning and memory, while attenuating amyloid and tau pathologies. Therefore, activation of glucagon receptors in the brain may reduce AD neuropathology. A recent glucagon receptor agonist dasiglucagon which used in the management of hypoglycemia may be effective in preventing hypoglycemia and AD neuropathology. This review aims to discuss the potential role of dasiglucagon in treating hypoglycemia in AD, and how this drug reduce AD neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naif H Ali
- Assistant Professor of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College, Najran University, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Hayder M Al-Kuraishy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of Medicine, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali I Al-Gareeb
- Head of Jabir Ibn, Hayyan Medical University, Al-Ameer Qu./Najaf-Iraq, PO.Box13, Kufa, Iraq
| | - Najah R Hadi
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
| | - Abdullah A Assiri
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alrouji
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Shaqra, 11961, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Nermeen N Welson
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, 62511, Egypt
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW, 2770, Australia
- AFNP Med, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Punjab, India
- Department of Research & Development, Funogen, Athens, Greece
| | - Marios Papadakis
- Department of Surgery II, University Hospital Witten-Herdecke, Heusnerstrasse 40, University of Witten-Herdecke, 42283, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, AlBeheira, 22511, Egypt
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2
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Chatterjee A, Goswami S, Kumar R, Laha J, Das D. Emergence of a short peptide based reductase via activation of the model hydride rich cofactor. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4515. [PMID: 38802430 PMCID: PMC11130128 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48930-w] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
In extant biology, large and complex enzymes employ low molecular weight cofactors such as dihydronicotinamides as efficient hydride transfer agents and electron carriers for the regulation of critical metabolic processes. In absence of complex contemporary enzymes, these molecular cofactors are generally inefficient to facilitate any reactions on their own. Herein, we report short peptide-based amyloid nanotubes featuring exposed arrays of cationic and hydrophobic residues that can bind small molecular weak hydride transfer agents (NaBH4) to facilitate efficient reduction of ester substrates in water. In addition, the paracrystalline amyloid phases loaded with borohydrides demonstrate recyclability, substrate selectivity and controlled reduction and surpass the capabilities of standard reducing agent such as LiAlH4. The amyloid microphases and their collaboration with small molecular cofactors foreshadow the important roles that short peptide-based assemblies might have played in the emergence of protometabolism and biopolymer evolution in prebiotic earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayan Chatterjee
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Surashree Goswami
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Raushan Kumar
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Janmejay Laha
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Dibyendu Das
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India.
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3
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Peña-Díaz S, Olsen WP, Wang H, Otzen DE. Functional Amyloids: The Biomaterials of Tomorrow? ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2312823. [PMID: 38308110 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Functional amyloid (FAs), particularly the bacterial proteins CsgA and FapC, have many useful properties as biomaterials: high stability, efficient, and controllable formation of a single type of amyloid, easy availability as extracellular material in bacterial biofilm and flexible engineering to introduce new properties. CsgA in particular has already demonstrated its worth in hydrogels for stable gastrointestinal colonization and regenerative tissue engineering, cell-specific drug release, water-purification filters, and different biosensors. It also holds promise as catalytic amyloid; existing weak and unspecific activity can undoubtedly be improved by targeted engineering and benefit from the repetitive display of active sites on a surface. Unfortunately, FapC remains largely unexplored and no application is described so far. Since FapC shares many common features with CsgA, this opens the window to its development as a functional scaffold. The multiple imperfect repeats in CsgA and FapC form a platform to introduce novel properties, e.g., in connecting linkers of variable lengths. While exploitation of this potential is still at an early stage, particularly for FapC, a thorough understanding of their molecular properties will pave the way for multifunctional fibrils which can contribute toward solving many different societal challenges, ranging from CO2 fixation to hydrolysis of plastic nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Peña-Díaz
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus C, DK - 8000, Denmark
| | - William Pallisgaard Olsen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus C, DK - 8000, Denmark
| | - Huabing Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Clinical Laboratory Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Shuangyong Road 6, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Daniel E Otzen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, Aarhus C, DK - 8000, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Universitetsbyen 81, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark
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4
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Peña-Díaz S, Ferreira P, Ramos MJ, Otzen DE. Mining and engineering activity in catalytic amyloids. Methods Enzymol 2024; 697:345-422. [PMID: 38816129 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
This chapter describes how to test different amyloid preparations for catalytic properties. We describe how to express, purify, prepare and test two types of pathological amyloid (tau and α-synuclein) and two functional amyloid proteins, namely CsgA from Escherichia coli and FapC from Pseudomonas. We therefore preface the methods section with an introduction to these two examples of functional amyloid and their remarkable structural and kinetic properties and high physical stability, which renders them very attractive for a range of nanotechnological designs, both for structural, medical and catalytic purposes. The simplicity and high surface exposure of the CsgA amyloid is particularly useful for the introduction of new functional properties and we therefore provide a computational protocol to graft active sites from an enzyme of interest into the amyloid structure. We hope that the methods described will inspire other researchers to explore the remarkable opportunities provided by bacterial functional amyloid in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Peña-Díaz
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Pedro Ferreira
- Faculdade de Ciencias, Universidad do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Daniel E Otzen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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5
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Nabi Afjadi M, Aziziyan F, Farzam F, Dabirmanesh B. Biotechnological applications of amyloid fibrils. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 206:435-472. [PMID: 38811087 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Protein aggregates and amyloid fibrils have special qualities and are used in a variety of biotechnological applications. They are extensively employed in bioremediation, biomaterials, and biocatalysis. Because of their capacity to encapsulate and release pharmaceuticals and their sensitivity to certain molecules, respectively, they are also used in drug delivery and biosensor applications. They have also demonstrated potential in the domains of food and bioremediation. Additionally, amyloid peptides have drawn interest in biological applications, especially in the investigation of illnesses like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The unique characteristics of amyloid fibrils, namely their mechanical strength and β-sheet structure, make them adaptable to a wide range of biotechnological uses. Even with their promise, one important factor to keep in mind before widely using modified amyloid materials is their potential toxicity. Thus, current research aims to overcome safety concerns while maximizing their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Nabi Afjadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aziziyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farnoosh Farzam
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahareh Dabirmanesh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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6
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Nandi A, Zhang A, Arad E, Jelinek R, Warshel A. Assessing the Catalytic Role of Native Glucagon Amyloid Fibrils. ACS Catal 2024; 14:4656-4664. [PMID: 39070231 PMCID: PMC11270920 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.4c00452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Glucagon stands out as a pivotal peptide hormone, instrumental in controlling blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism. While the formation of glucagon amyloid fibrils has been documented, their biological functions remain enigmatic. Recently, we demonstrated experimentally that glucagon amyloid fibrils can act as catalysts in several biological reactions including esterolysis, lipid hydrolysis, and dephosphorylation. Herein, we present a multiscale quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulation of the acylation step in the esterolysis of para-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA), catalyzed by native glucagon amyloid fibrils, serving as a model system to elucidate their catalytic function. This step entails a concerted mechanism, involving proton transfer from serine to histidine, followed by the nucleophilic attack of the serine oxy anion on the carbonyl carbon of p-NPA. We computed the binding energy and free-energy profiles of this reaction using the protein-dipole Langevin-dipole (PDLD) within the linear response approximation (LRA) framework (PDLD/S-LRA-2000) and the empirical valence bond (EVB) methods. This included simulations of the reaction in an aqueous environment and in the fibril, enabling us to estimate the catalytic effect of the fibril. Our EVB calculations obtained a barrier of 23.4 kcal mol-1 for the enzyme-catalyzed reaction compared to the experimental value of 21.9 kcal mol-1 (and a calculated catalytic effect of 3.2 kcal mol-1 compared to the observed effect of 4.7 kcal mol-1). This close agreement together with the barrier reduction when transitioning from the reference solution reaction to the amyloid fibril provides supporting evidence to the catalytic role of glucagon amyloid fibrils. Moreover, employing the PDLD/S-LRA-2000 approach further reinforced exclusively the enzyme's catalytic role. The results presented in this study contribute significantly to our understanding of the catalytic role of glucagon amyloid fibrils, marking, to the best of our knowledge, the first-principles mechanistic investigation of fibrils using QM/MM methods. Therefore, our findings offer fruitful insights for future research into the mechanisms of related amyloid catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashim Nandi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1062, United States
| | - Aoxuan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1062, United States
| | - Elad Arad
- Ilse Katz Institute (IKI) for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Raz Jelinek
- Ilse Katz Institute (IKI) for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Arieh Warshel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1062, United States
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7
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Arad E, Jelinek R. Catalytic physiological amyloids. Methods Enzymol 2024; 697:77-112. [PMID: 38816136 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils have been identified in many protein systems, mostly linked to progression and cytotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases and other pathologies, but have also been observed in normal physiological systems. A growing body of work has shown that amyloid fibrils can catalyze chemical reactions. Most studies have focused on catalysis by de-novo synthetic amyloid-like peptides; however, recent studies reveal that physiological, native amyloids are catalytic as well. Here, we discuss methodologies and major experimental aspects pertaining to physiological catalytic amyloids. We highlight analyzes of kinetic parameters related to the catalytic activities of amyloid fibrils, structure-function considerations, characterization of the catalytic active sites, and deciphering of catalytic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elad Arad
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel; Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Raz Jelinek
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
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8
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Arad E, Pedersen KB, Malka O, Mambram Kunnath S, Golan N, Aibinder P, Schiøtt B, Rapaport H, Landau M, Jelinek R. Staphylococcus aureus functional amyloids catalyze degradation of β-lactam antibiotics. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8198. [PMID: 38081813 PMCID: PMC10713593 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43624-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance of bacteria is considered one of the most alarming developments in modern medicine. While varied pathways for bacteria acquiring antibiotic resistance have been identified, there still are open questions concerning the mechanisms underlying resistance. Here, we show that alpha phenol-soluble modulins (PSMαs), functional bacterial amyloids secreted by Staphylococcus aureus, catalyze hydrolysis of β-lactams, a prominent class of antibiotic compounds. Specifically, we show that PSMα2 and, particularly, PSMα3 catalyze hydrolysis of the amide-like bond of the four membered β-lactam ring of nitrocefin, an antibiotic β-lactam surrogate. Examination of the catalytic activities of several PSMα3 variants allowed mapping of the active sites on the amyloid fibrils' surface, specifically underscoring the key roles of the cross-α fibril organization, and the combined electrostatic and nucleophilic functions of the lysine arrays. Molecular dynamics simulations further illuminate the structural features of β-lactam association upon the fibril surface. Complementary experimental data underscore the generality of the functional amyloid-mediated catalytic phenomenon, demonstrating hydrolysis of clinically employed β-lactams by PSMα3 fibrils, and illustrating antibiotic degradation in actual S. aureus biofilms and live bacteria environments. Overall, this study unveils functional amyloids as catalytic agents inducing degradation of β-lactam antibiotics, underlying possible antibiotic resistance mechanisms associated with bacterial biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elad Arad
- Ilse Katz Institute (IKI) for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel
- Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Kasper B Pedersen
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Orit Malka
- Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Sisira Mambram Kunnath
- Ilse Katz Institute (IKI) for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel
- Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Nimrod Golan
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
| | - Polina Aibinder
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Birgit Schiøtt
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Langelandsgade 140, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Hanna Rapaport
- Ilse Katz Institute (IKI) for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Meytal Landau
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg, 22607, Germany
| | - Raz Jelinek
- Ilse Katz Institute (IKI) for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel.
- Department of Chemistry, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel.
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9
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Wittung-Stafshede P. Chemical catalysis by biological amyloids. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:1967-1974. [PMID: 37743793 PMCID: PMC10657172 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Toxic aggregation of proteins and peptides into amyloid fibers is the basis of several human diseases. In each disease, a particular peptide noncovalently assembles into long thin structures with an overall cross-β fold. Amyloids are not only related to disease: functional amyloids are found in many biological systems and artificial peptide amyloids are developed into novel nanomaterials. Amyloid fibers can act as template for the generation of more amyloids but are considered nonreactive in chemical catalysis. The perception of amyloids as chemically inert species was recently challenged by in vitro work on three human amyloid systems. With the use of model substrates, amyloid-β, α-synuclein and glucagon amyloids were found to catalyze biologically relevant chemical reactions. The detected catalytic activity was much less than that of 'real' enzymes, but like that of designed (synthetic) catalytic amyloids. I here describe the current knowledge around this new activity of natural amyloids and the putative connection to metabolic changes in amyloid diseases. These pioneering studies imply that catalytic activity is an unexplored gain-of-function activity of disease amyloids. In fact, all biological amyloids may harbor intrinsic catalytic activity, tuned by each amyloid's particular fold, that await discovery.
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Horvath I, Mohamed KA, Kumar R, Wittung-Stafshede P. Amyloids of α-Synuclein Promote Chemical Transformations of Neuronal Cell Metabolites. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12849. [PMID: 37629028 PMCID: PMC10454467 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The assembly of α-synuclein into cross-β structured amyloid fibers results in Lewy body deposits and neuronal degeneration in Parkinson's disease patients. As the cell environment is highly crowded, interactions between the formed amyloid fibers and a range of biomolecules can occur in cells. Although amyloid fibers are considered chemically inert species, recent in vitro work using model substrates has shown α-synuclein amyloids, but not monomers, to catalyze the hydrolysis of ester and phosphoester bonds. To search for putative catalytic activity of α-synuclein amyloids on biologically relevant metabolites, we here incubated α-synuclein amyloids with neuronal SH-SY5Y cell lysates devoid of proteins. LC-MS-based metabolomic (principal component and univariate) analysis unraveled distinct changes in several metabolite levels upon amyloid (but not monomer) incubation. Of 63 metabolites identified, the amounts of four increased (3-hydroxycapric acid, 2-pyrocatechuic acid, adenosine, and NAD), and the amounts of seventeen decreased (including aromatic and apolar amino acids, metabolites in the TCA cycle, keto acids) in the presence of α-synuclein amyloids. Many of these metabolite changes match what has been reported previously in Parkinson's disease patients and animal-model metabolomics studies. Chemical reactivity of α-synuclein amyloids may be a new gain-of-function that alters the metabolite composition in cells and, thereby, modulates disease progression.
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Kell DB, Pretorius E. Are fibrinaloid microclots a cause of autoimmunity in Long Covid and other post-infection diseases? Biochem J 2023; 480:1217-1240. [PMID: 37584410 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
It is now well established that the blood-clotting protein fibrinogen can polymerise into an anomalous form of fibrin that is amyloid in character; the resultant clots and microclots entrap many other molecules, stain with fluorogenic amyloid stains, are rather resistant to fibrinolysis, can block up microcapillaries, are implicated in a variety of diseases including Long COVID, and have been referred to as fibrinaloids. A necessary corollary of this anomalous polymerisation is the generation of novel epitopes in proteins that would normally be seen as 'self', and otherwise immunologically silent. The precise conformation of the resulting fibrinaloid clots (that, as with prions and classical amyloid proteins, can adopt multiple, stable conformations) must depend on the existing small molecules and metal ions that the fibrinogen may (and is some cases is known to) have bound before polymerisation. Any such novel epitopes, however, are likely to lead to the generation of autoantibodies. A convergent phenomenology, including distinct conformations and seeding of the anomalous form for initiation and propagation, is emerging to link knowledge in prions, prionoids, amyloids and now fibrinaloids. We here summarise the evidence for the above reasoning, which has substantial implications for our understanding of the genesis of autoimmunity (and the possible prevention thereof) based on the primary process of fibrinaloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B Kell
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 200, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1 Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - Etheresia Pretorius
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1 Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
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12
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Li Z, Joshi SY, Wang Y, Deshmukh SA, Matson JB. Supramolecular Peptide Nanostructures Regulate Catalytic Efficiency and Selectivity. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202303755. [PMID: 37194941 PMCID: PMC10330506 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202303755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
We report three constitutionally isomeric tetrapeptides, each comprising one glutamic acid (E) residue, one histidine (H) residue, and two lysine (KS ) residues functionalized with side-chain hydrophobic S-aroylthiooxime (SATO) groups. Depending on the order of amino acids, these amphiphilic peptides self-assembled in aqueous solution into different nanostructures:nanoribbons, a mixture of nanotoroids and nanoribbons, or nanocoils. Each nanostructure catalyzed hydrolysis of a model substrate, with the nanocoils exhibiting the greatest rate enhancement and the highest enzymatic efficiency. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, analyzed with unsupervised machine learning, revealed clusters of H residues in hydrophobic pockets along the outer edge of the nanocoils, providing insight for the observed catalytic rate enhancement. Finally, all three supramolecular nanostructures catalyzed hydrolysis of the l-substrate only when a pair of enantiomeric Boc-l/d-Phe-ONp substrates were tested. This study highlights how subtle molecular-level changes can influence supramolecular nanostructures, and ultimately affect catalytic efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Li
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061, USA
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061, USA
| | - Soumil Y Joshi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061, USA
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061, USA
| | - Yin Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Sanket A Deshmukh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061, USA
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061, USA
| | - John B Matson
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061, USA
- Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-24061, USA
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Abstract
Amyloid fibers of the protein α-synuclein, found in Lewy body deposits, are hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. We here show that α-synuclein amyloids catalyze biologically relevant chemical reactions in vitro. Amyloid fibers, but not monomers, of α-synuclein catalyzed hydrolysis of the model ester para-nitrophenyl acetate and dephosphorylation of the model phosphoester para-nitrophenyl-orthophosphate. When His50 was replaced with Ala in α-synuclein, dephosphorylation but not esterase activity of amyloids was diminished. Truncation of the protein's C-terminus had no effect on fiber catalytic efficiency. Catalytic activity of α-synuclein fibers may be a new gain-of-function that plays a role in Parkinson's disease.
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Diaz-Espinoza R. Catalytically Active Amyloids as Future Bionanomaterials. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:3802. [PMID: 36364578 PMCID: PMC9656882 DOI: 10.3390/nano12213802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Peptides and proteins can aggregate into highly ordered and structured conformations called amyloids. These supramolecular structures generally have convergent features, such as the formation of intermolecular beta sheets, that lead to fibrillary architectures. The resulting fibrils have unique mechanical properties that can be exploited to develop novel nanomaterials. In recent years, sequences of small peptides have been rationally designed to self-assemble into amyloids that catalyze several chemical reactions. These amyloids exhibit reactive surfaces that can mimic the active sites of enzymes. In this review, I provide a state-of-the-art summary of the development of catalytically active amyloids. I will focus especially on catalytic activities mediated by hydrolysis, which are the most studied examples to date, as well as novel types of recently reported activities that promise to expand the possible repertoires. The combination of mechanical properties with catalytic activity in an amyloid scaffold has great potential for the development of future bionanomaterials aimed at specific applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Diaz-Espinoza
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 3363, Chile
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