1
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Balczon R, Lin MT, Voth S, Nelson AR, Schupp JC, Wagener BM, Pittet JF, Stevens T. Lung endothelium, tau, and amyloids in health and disease. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:533-587. [PMID: 37561137 PMCID: PMC11281824 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00006.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung endothelia in the arteries, capillaries, and veins are heterogeneous in structure and function. Lung capillaries in particular represent a unique vascular niche, with a thin yet highly restrictive alveolar-capillary barrier that optimizes gas exchange. Capillary endothelium surveys the blood while simultaneously interpreting cues initiated within the alveolus and communicated via immediately adjacent type I and type II epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and pericytes. This cell-cell communication is necessary to coordinate the immune response to lower respiratory tract infection. Recent discoveries identify an important role for the microtubule-associated protein tau that is expressed in lung capillary endothelia in the host-pathogen interaction. This endothelial tau stabilizes microtubules necessary for barrier integrity, yet infection drives production of cytotoxic tau variants that are released into the airways and circulation, where they contribute to end-organ dysfunction. Similarly, beta-amyloid is produced during infection. Beta-amyloid has antimicrobial activity, but during infection it can acquire cytotoxic activity that is deleterious to the host. The production and function of these cytotoxic tau and amyloid variants are the subject of this review. Lung-derived cytotoxic tau and amyloid variants are a recently discovered mechanism of end-organ dysfunction, including neurocognitive dysfunction, during and in the aftermath of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Balczon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
| | - Mike T Lin
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
| | - Sarah Voth
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Monroe, Louisiana, United States
| | - Amy R Nelson
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
| | - Jonas C Schupp
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Brant M Wagener
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Jean-Francois Pittet
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Troy Stevens
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
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2
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Nutini A. Amyloid oligomers and their membrane toxicity - A perspective study. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 187:9-20. [PMID: 38211711 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Amyloidosis is a condition involving a disparate group of pathologies characterized by the extracellular deposition of insoluble fibrils composed of broken-down proteins. These proteins can accumulate locally, causing peculiar symptoms, or in a widespread way, involving many organs and. causing severe systemic failure. The damage that is created is related not only to the accumulation of. amyloid fibrils but above all to the precursor oligomers of the fibrils that manage to enter the cell in a very particular way. This article analyzes the current state of research related to the entry of these oligomers into the cell membrane and the theories related to their toxicity. The paper proposed here not only aims to review the contents in the literature but also proposes a new vision of amyloid toxicity. that could occur in a multiphase process catalyzed by the cell membrane itself. In this process, the denaturation of the lipid bilayer is followed by the stabilization of a pore through energetically favorable self-assembly processes which are achieved through particular oligomeric structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Nutini
- Biology and Biomechanics Dept - Centro Studi Attività Motorie, Italy.
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3
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Guza M, Dzwolak W. Acetone-induced structural variant of insulin amyloid fibrils. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 257:128680. [PMID: 38071871 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128680] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Self-propagating polymorphism of amyloid fibrils is a distinct manifestation of non-equilibrium conditions under which protein aggregation typically occurs. Structural variants of fibrils can often be accessed through physicochemical perturbations of the de novo aggregation process. On the other hand, tiny changes in the amino acid sequence of the parent protein may also result in structurally distinguishable amyloid fibrils. Here, we show that in the presence of acetone, the low-pH fibrillization pathway of bovine insulin (BI) leads to a new type of amyloid with the infrared features (split amide I' band with the maximum at 1623 cm-1) bearing a striking resemblance to those of the previously reported fibrils from recombinant LysB31-ArgB32 human insulin analog formed in the absence of the co-solvent. Insulin fibrils formed in the presence ([BI-ace]) and absence ([BI]) of acetone cross-seed each other and pass their infrared features to the daughter generations of fibrils. We have used dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) coupled to in situ infrared spectroscopy measurements to probe the stability of fibrils against chemical denaturation. While both types of fibrils eventually undergo DMSO-induced disassembly coupled to a β-sheet→coil transition, in the case of [BI-ace] amyloid, the denaturation is preceded by the fibrils transiently acquiring the [BI]-like infrared characteristics. We argue that this effect is caused by DMSO-induced dehydration of [BI-ace]. In support to this hypothesis, we show that, even in the absence of DMSO, the infrared features of [BI-ace] disappear upon drying. We discuss this very peculiar aspect of [BI-ace] fibrils in the context of recently accessed in silico models of plausible structural variants of insulin protofilaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Guza
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Str., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Str., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
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4
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Ge WY, Deng X, Shi WP, Lin WJ, Chen LL, Liang H, Wang XT, Zhang TD, Zhao FZ, Guo WH, Yin DC. Amyloid Protein Cross-Seeding Provides a New Perspective on Multiple Diseases In Vivo. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1-18. [PMID: 36507729 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid protein cross-seeding is a peculiar phenomenon of cross-spreading among different diseases. Unlike traditional infectious ones, diseases caused by amyloid protein cross-seeding are spread by misfolded proteins instead of pathogens. As a consequence of the interactions among misfolded heterologous proteins or polypeptides, amyloid protein cross-seeding is considered to be the crucial cause of overlapping pathological transmission between various protein misfolding disorders (PMDs) in multiple tissues and cells. Here, we briefly review the phenomenon of cross-seeding among amyloid proteins. As an interesting example worth mentioning, the potential links between the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and some neurodegenerative diseases might be related to the amyloid protein cross-seeding, thus may cause an undesirable trend in the incidence of PMDs around the world. We then summarize the theoretical models as well as the experimental techniques for studying amyloid protein cross-seeding. Finally, we conclude with an outlook on the challenges and opportunities for basic research in this field. Cross-seeding of amyloid opens up a new perspective in our understanding of the process of amyloidogenesis, which is crucial for the development of new treatments for diseases. It is therefore valuable but still challenging to explore the cross-seeding system of amyloid protein as well as to reveal the structural basis and the intricate processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Yi Ge
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Xudong Deng
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Wen-Pu Shi
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Wen-Juan Lin
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Liang-Liang Chen
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Huan Liang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Xue-Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Tuo-Di Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.,Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Feng-Zhu Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.,Non-commissioned Officer School, Army Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050081, China
| | - Wei-Hong Guo
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Da-Chuan Yin
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
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5
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Dubernet A, Toulmonde M, Colombat M, Hartog C, Riviere E. Insulin amyloidosis: A case report. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1064832. [PMID: 37089584 PMCID: PMC10115977 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1064832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin amyloidosis is a rare form of localized amyloidosis due to insulin aggregation into subcutaneous amyloid fibrils. We describe the case of a 55 years old male with insulin-requiring type 1 diabetes presenting with two non-inflammatory intra-dermal nodules associated with local lymph node enlargement. Diagnosis was confirmed by Congo red coloration of the amyloid deposit and insulin protein identification on mass spectrometry. Insulin amyloidosis is a potential complication of repeated subcutaneous insulin injections. The main risk factor is the intrinsic characteristic of the insulin used. Insulin amyloidosis leads to systemic metabolic consequences such as chronic hyperglycemia or unpredictable hypoglycemia, as well as unesthetic cutaneous lumps or abscesses. Standard-of-care is yet to be defined but mainly rely on therapeutical education of insulin injections, while surgical excision is reported to improve glycemic control in some patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Dubernet
- Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Unit, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, University Hospital Center of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Maud Toulmonde
- Oncology Unit, “Groupe Sarcome”, Bergonié Institute, Bordeaux, France
| | - Magali Colombat
- Pathology Department, Cancer University Institute of Toulouse Oncopole, University Hospital Center of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Cécile Hartog
- Pathology Department, Bergonié Institute, Bordeaux, France
| | - Etienne Riviere
- Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Unit, Haut-Lévêque Hospital, University Hospital Center of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, France
- *Correspondence: Etienne Riviere,
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6
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Gibson K, Cooper-Shepherd DA, Pallister E, Inman SE, Jackson SE, Lindo V. Toward Rapid Aspartic Acid Isomer Localization in Therapeutic Peptides Using Cyclic Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2022; 33:1204-1212. [PMID: 35609180 PMCID: PMC9264384 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.2c00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
There is an increasing emphasis on the critical evaluation of interbatch purity and physical stability of therapeutic peptides. This is due to concerns over the impact that product- and process-related impurities may have on safety and efficacy of this class of drug. Aspartic acid isomerization to isoaspartic acid is a common isobaric impurity that can be very difficult to identify without first synthesizing isoAsp peptide standards for comparison by chromatography. As such, analytical tools that can determine if an Asp residue has isomerized, as well as the site of isomerization within the peptide sequence, are highly sought after. Ion mobility-mass spectrometry is a conformation-selective method that has developed rapidly in recent years particularly with the commercialization of traveling wave ion mobility instruments. This study employed a cyclic ion mobility (cIMS) mass spectrometry system to investigate the conformational characteristics of a therapeutic peptide and three synthetic isomeric forms, each with a single Asp residue isomerized to isoAsp. cIMS was able to not only show distinct conformational differences between each peptide but crucially, in conjunction with a simple workflow for comparing ion mobility data, it correctly located which Asp residue in each peptide had isomerized to isoAsp. This work highlights the value of cIMS as a potential screening tool in the analysis of therapeutic peptides prone to the formation of isoAsp impurities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Gibson
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Analytical
Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB21 6GH, U.K.
| | | | - Edward Pallister
- Analytical
Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB21 6GH, U.K.
| | - Sophie E. Inman
- Analytical
Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB21 6GH, U.K.
| | - Sophie E. Jackson
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Viv Lindo
- Analytical
Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB21 6GH, U.K.
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7
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Ami D, Mereghetti P, Natalello A. Contribution of Infrared Spectroscopy to the Understanding of Amyloid Protein Aggregation in Complex Systems. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:822852. [PMID: 35463965 PMCID: PMC9023755 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.822852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a label-free and non-invasive technique that probes the vibrational modes of molecules, thus providing a structure-specific spectrum. The development of infrared spectroscopic approaches that enable the collection of the IR spectrum from a selected sample area, from micro- to nano-scale lateral resolutions, allowed to extend their application to more complex biological systems, such as intact cells and tissues, thus exerting an enormous attraction in biology and medicine. Here, we will present recent works that illustrate in particular the applications of IR spectroscopy to the in situ characterization of the conformational properties of protein aggregates and to the investigation of the other biomolecules surrounding the amyloids. Moreover, we will discuss the potential of IR spectroscopy to the monitoring of cell perturbations induced by protein aggregates. The essential support of multivariate analyses to objectively pull out the significant and non-redundant information from the spectra of highly complex systems will be also outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diletta Ami
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
- *Correspondence: Diletta Ami, ; Antonino Natalello,
| | | | - Antonino Natalello
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
- *Correspondence: Diletta Ami, ; Antonino Natalello,
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8
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Ziaunys M, Mikalauskaite K, Sakalauskas A, Smirnovas V. Interplay between epigallocatechin-3-gallate and ionic strength during amyloid aggregation. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12381. [PMID: 34733592 PMCID: PMC8544251 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation and accumulation of protein amyloid aggregates is linked with multiple amyloidoses, including neurodegenerative Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. The mechanism of such fibril formation is impacted by various environmental conditions, which greatly complicates the search for potential anti-amyloid compounds. One of these factors is solution ionic strength, which varies between different aggregation protocols during in vitro drug screenings. In this work, we examine the interplay between ionic strength and a well-known protein aggregation inhibitor-epigallocatechin-3-gallate. We show that changes in solution ionic strength have a major impact on the compound's inhibitory effect, reflected in both aggregation times and final fibril structure. We also observe that this effect is unique to different amyloid-forming proteins, such as insulin, alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Kamile Mikalauskaite
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Andrius Sakalauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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9
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Dec R, Dzwolak W. A tale of two tails: Self-assembling properties of A- and B-chain parts of insulin's highly amyloidogenic H-fragment. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 186:510-518. [PMID: 34271044 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.07.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Due to the spontaneous transition of native insulin into therapeutically inactive amyloid, prolonged storage decreases effectiveness of the hormone in treatment of diabetes. Various regions of the amino acid sequence have been implicated in insulin aggregation. Here, we focus on smaller fragments of the highly amyloidogenic H-peptide comprising disulfide-bonded N-terminal sections of insulin's A-chain (13 residues) and B-chain (11 residues). Aggregation patterns of N-terminal fragments of A-chain (ACC1-13, ACC1-11, ACC6-13, ACC6-11, all retaining Cys6A-Cys11A disulfide bond) and B-chain (B1-11(7A)) are examined at acidic and neutral pH. ACC1-11 is the smallest fragment found to be amyloidogenic at either pH; removal of the N-terminal GIVEQ section renders this fragment entirely non-amyloidogenic. The self-assembling properties of ACC1-11 contrast with aggregation-resistant behavior of B1-11(7A) and its disulfide-linked homodimer, (B1-11)2 aggregating only at neutral pH. Fibrillar ACC1-11 is similar to insulin amyloid in terms of morphology and infrared features. Secondary nucleation is likely to account for the detected shortening of insulin aggregation lag phase at neutral pH upon cross-seeding with pre-formed fibrils of ACC1-11 or (B1-11)2. An aggregation-enhancing effect of monomeric ACC1-11 on co-dissolved native insulin is also observed. Our findings are discussed in the context of mechanisms of insulin aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Dec
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Str., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Str., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
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10
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Temperature-Dependent Structural Variability of Prion Protein Amyloid Fibrils. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105075. [PMID: 34064883 PMCID: PMC8151363 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils is associated with the onset and progression of prion diseases—a group of neurodegenerative amyloidoses. The process of such aggregate formation is still not fully understood, especially regarding their polymorphism, an event where the same type of protein forms multiple, conformationally and morphologically distinct structures. Considering that such structural variations can greatly complicate the search for potential antiamyloid compounds, either by having specific propagation properties or stability, it is important to better understand this aggregation event. We have recently reported the ability of prion protein fibrils to obtain at least two distinct conformations under identical conditions, which raised the question if this occurrence is tied to only certain environmental conditions. In this work, we examined a large sample size of prion protein aggregation reactions under a range of temperatures and analyzed the resulting fibril dye-binding, secondary structure and morphological properties. We show that all temperature conditions lead to the formation of more than one fibril type and that this variability may depend on the state of the initial prion protein molecules.
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11
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Konstantoulea K, Louros N, Rousseau F, Schymkowitz J. Heterotypic interactions in amyloid function and disease. FEBS J 2021; 289:2025-2046. [PMID: 33460517 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid aggregation results from the self-assembly of identical aggregation-prone sequences into cross-beta-sheet structures. The process is best known for its association with a wide range of human pathologies but also as a functional mechanism in all kingdoms of life. Less well elucidated is the role of heterotypic interactions between amyloids and other proteins and macromolecules and how this contributes to disease. We here review current data with a focus on neurodegenerative amyloid-associated diseases. Evidence indicates that heterotypic interactions occur in a wide range of amyloid processes and that these interactions modify fundamental aspects of amyloid aggregation including seeding, aggregation rates and toxicity. More work is required to understand the mechanistic origin of these interactions, but current understanding suggests that both supersaturation and sequence-specific binding can contribute to heterotypic amyloid interactions. Further unravelling these mechanisms may help to answer outstanding questions in the field including the selective vulnerability of cells types and tissues and the stereotypical spreading patterns of amyloids in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Konstantoulea
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nikolaos Louros
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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12
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Yuzu K, Yamamoto N, Noji M, So M, Goto Y, Iwasaki T, Tsubaki M, Chatani E. Multistep Changes in Amyloid Structure Induced by Cross-Seeding on a Rugged Energy Landscape. Biophys J 2020; 120:284-295. [PMID: 33340544 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are aberrant protein aggregates associated with various amyloidoses and neurodegenerative diseases. It is recently indicated that structural diversity of amyloid fibrils often results in different pathological phenotypes, including cytotoxicity and infectivity. The diverse structures are predicted to propagate by seed-dependent growth, which is one of the characteristic properties of amyloid fibrils. However, much remains unknown regarding how exactly the amyloid structures are inherited to subsequent generations by seeding reaction. Here, we investigated the behaviors of self- and cross-seeding of amyloid fibrils of human and bovine insulin in terms of thioflavin T fluorescence, morphology, secondary structure, and iodine staining. Insulin amyloid fibrils exhibited different structures, depending on species, each of which replicated in self-seeding. In contrast, gradual structural changes were observed in cross-seeding, and a new type of amyloid structure with distinct morphology and cytotoxicity was formed when human insulin was seeded with bovine insulin seeds. Remarkably, iodine staining tracked changes in amyloid structure sensitively, and singular value decomposition analysis of the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra of the fibril-bound iodine has revealed the presence of one or more intermediate metastable states during the structural changes. From these findings, we propose a propagation scheme with multistep structural changes in cross-seeding between two heterologous proteins, which is accounted for as a consequence of the rugged energy landscape of amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Yuzu
- Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Naoki Yamamoto
- School of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Masahiro Noji
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka Japan; Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshidanihonmatsu, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masatomo So
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka Japan
| | - Yuji Goto
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka Japan; Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Iwasaki
- Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Biosignal Research Center, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | | | - Eri Chatani
- Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
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13
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Ziaunys M, Sakalauskas A, Smirnovas V. Identifying Insulin Fibril Conformational Differences by Thioflavin-T Binding Characteristics. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:4989-4997. [PMID: 33201685 PMCID: PMC7739267 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Amyloidogenic
protein aggregation into highly structured fibrils
is linked to more than 30 amyloidoses, including several neurodegenerative
disorders. Despite significant progress in trying to understand the
process of amyloid formation, there is still no cure or effective
treatment available. A number of studies involving potential anti-amyloid
compounds rely on the use of a fluorescent probe—thioflavin-T—to
track the appearance, growth, or disassembly of these cytotoxic aggregates.
Despite the wide application of this dye molecule, its interaction
with amyloid fibrils is still poorly understood. Recent reports have
shown it may possess distinct binding modes and fluorescence intensities
based on the conformation of the examined fibrils. In this work, we
generate insulin fibrils under four different conditions and attempt
to identify distinct conformations using both classic methods, such
as atomic force microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,
as well as their ThT binding ability and fluorescence quantum yield.
We show that there is a significant variance of ThT fluorescence quantum
yields, excitation/emission maxima positions, and binding modes between
distinct insulin fibril conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio al. 7, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Andrius Sakalauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio al. 7, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio al. 7, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
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14
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Rahimi Araghi L, Dee DR. Cross-Species and Cross-Polymorph Seeding of Lysozyme Amyloid Reveals a Dominant Polymorph. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:206. [PMID: 32923456 PMCID: PMC7456942 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to self-propagate is one of the most intriguing characteristics of amyloid fibrils, and is a feature of great interest both to stopping unwanted pathological amyloid, and for engineering functional amyloid as a useful nanomaterial. The sequence and structural tolerances for amyloid seeding are not well understood, particularly concerning the propagation of distinct fibril morphologies (polymorphs) across species. This study examined the seeding and cross-seeding reactions between two unique fibril polymorphs, one long and flexible (formed at pH 2) and the other short and rigid (formed at pH 6.3), of human lysozyme and hen egg-white lysozyme. Both polymorphs could cross-seed aggregation across species, but this reaction was markedly reduced under physiological conditions. For both species, the pH 6.3 fibril polymorph was dominant, seeding fibril growth with a faster growth rate constant at pH 2 than the pH 2 polymorph. Based on fibrillation kinetics and fibril morphology, we found that the pH 2 polymorph was not able to faithfully replicate itself at pH 6.3. These results show that two distinct amyloid polymorphs are both capable of heterologous seeding across two species (human and hen) of lysozyme, but that the pH 6.3 polymorph is favored, regardless of the species, likely due to a lower energy barrier, or faster configurational diffusion, to accessing this particular misfolded form. These findings contribute to our better understanding of amyloid strain propagation across species barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lida Rahimi Araghi
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Derek R Dee
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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15
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Ghosh P, De P. Modulation of Amyloid Protein Fibrillation by Synthetic Polymers: Recent Advances in the Context of Neurodegenerative Diseases. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:6598-6625. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c01021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Ghosh
- Polymer Research Centre and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246 Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Priyadarsi De
- Polymer Research Centre and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246 Nadia, West Bengal, India
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16
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Docking interactions determine early cleavage events in insulin proteolysis by pepsin: Experiment and simulation. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 149:1151-1160. [PMID: 32001282 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.01.253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In silico modelling of cascade enzymatic proteolysis is an exceedingly complex and challenging task. Here, we study partial proteolysis of insulin by pepsin: a process leading to the release of a highly amyloidogenic two chain 'H-fragment'. The H-fragment retains several cleavage sites for pepsin. However, under favorable conditions H-monomers rapidly self-assemble into proteolysis-resistant amyloid fibrils whose composition provides snapshots of early and intermediate stages of the proteolysis. In this work, we report a remarkable agreement of experimentally determined and simulation-predicted cleavage sites on different stages of the proteolysis. Prediction of cleavage sites was based on the comprehensive analysis of the docking interactions from direct simulation of coupled folding and binding of insulin (or its cleaved derivatives) to pepsin. The most frequent interactions were found to be between the pepsin's active site, or its direct vicinity, and the experimentally determined insulin cleavage sites, which suggest that the docking interactions govern the proteolytic process.
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17
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Akbarian M, Yousefi R, Farjadian F, Uversky VN. Insulin fibrillation: toward strategies for attenuating the process. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:11354-11373. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cc05171c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The environmental factors affecting the rate of insulin fibrillation. The factors are representative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Akbarian
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center
- Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
- Shiraz
- Iran
| | - Reza Yousefi
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory
- Department of Biology
- College of Sciences
- Shiraz University
- Shiraz
| | - Fatemeh Farjadian
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center
- Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
- Shiraz
- Iran
| | - Vladimir N. Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute
- Morsani College of Medicine
- University of South Florida
- Tampa
- USA
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18
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Siposova K, Kozar T, Huntosova V, Tomkova S, Musatov A. Inhibition of amyloid fibril formation and disassembly of pre-formed fibrils by natural polyphenol rottlerin. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2019; 1867:259-274. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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19
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Siposova K, Sedlak E, Kozar T, Nemergut M, Musatov A. Dual effect of non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 on insulin amyloid formation. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2018; 173:709-718. [PMID: 30384267 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy, Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay, circular dichroism spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and molecular modeling techniques have been employed to investigate the amyloid aggregation of insulin in the presence of non-ionic detergent, Triton X-100 (TX-100). In contrast to recently described inhibition of lysozyme amyloid formation by non-ionic detergents (Siposova, 2017), the amyloid aggregation of insulin in the presence of sub-micellar TX-100 concentration exhibits two dissimilar phases. The first, inhibition phase, is observed at the protein to detergent molar ratio of 1:0.1 to 1:1. During this phase, the insulin amyloid fibril formation is inhibited by TX-100 up to ∼60%. The second, "morphological" phase, is observed at increasing detergent concentration, corresponding to protein:detergent molar ratio of ∼1:1 - 1:10. Under these conditions a significant increase of the steady-state ThT fluorescence intensities and a dramatically changed morphology of the insulin fibrils were observed. Increasing of the detergent concentration above the CMC led to complete inhibition of amyloidogenesis. Analysis of the experimental and molecular modeling results suggests an existence of up to six TX-100 binding sites within dimer of insulin with different binding energy. The physiological relevance of the results is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Siposova
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 47, 040 01, Kosice, Slovakia.
| | - Erik Sedlak
- Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences, TIP - P.J. Safarik University, Jesenna 5, 041 54, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Tibor Kozar
- Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences, TIP - P.J. Safarik University, Jesenna 5, 041 54, Kosice, Slovakia; Laboratory of Information Technologies, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, 141980, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Michal Nemergut
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, P.J. Safarik University, Jesenna 5, 041 54, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Andrey Musatov
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 47, 040 01, Kosice, Slovakia
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20
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Villar-Piqué A, Schmitz M, Candelise N, Ventura S, Llorens F, Zerr I. Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Protein Aggregation Assays in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:7588-7605. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0926-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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21
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Ziaunys M, Sneideris T, Smirnovas V. Self-inhibition of insulin amyloid-like aggregation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:27638-27645. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp04838j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
NaCl induces formation of insulin tetramers leading to inhibition of amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Life Sciences Center
- Vilnius University
- LT-10257 Vilnius
- Lithuania
| | - Tomas Sneideris
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Life Sciences Center
- Vilnius University
- LT-10257 Vilnius
- Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Life Sciences Center
- Vilnius University
- LT-10257 Vilnius
- Lithuania
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22
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Nizynski B, Dzwolak W, Nieznanski K. Amyloidogenesis of Tau protein. Protein Sci 2017; 26:2126-2150. [PMID: 28833749 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The role of microtubule-associated protein Tau in neurodegeneration has been extensively investigated since the discovery of Tau amyloid aggregates in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The process of formation of amyloid fibrils is known as amyloidogenesis and attracts much attention as a potential target in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative conditions linked to protein aggregation. Cerebral deposition of amyloid aggregates of Tau is observed not only in AD but also in numerous other tauopathies and prion diseases. Amyloidogenesis of intrinsically unstructured monomers of Tau can be triggered by mutations in the Tau gene, post-translational modifications, or interactions with polyanionic molecules and aggregation-prone proteins/peptides. The self-assembly of amyloid fibrils of Tau shares a number of characteristic features with amyloidogenesis of other proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases. For example, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that the nucleation phase, which is the rate-limiting stage of Tau amyloidogenesis, is shortened in the presence of fragmented preformed Tau fibrils acting as aggregation templates ("seeds"). Accordingly, Tau aggregates released by tauopathy-affected neurons can spread the neurodegenerative process in the brain through a prion-like mechanism, originally described for the pathogenic form of prion protein. Moreover, Tau has been shown to form amyloid strains-structurally diverse self-propagating aggregates of potentially various pathological effects, resembling in this respect prion strains. Here, we review the current literature on Tau aggregation and discuss mechanisms of propagation of Tau amyloid in the light of the prion-like paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Nizynski
- College of Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Warsaw, 2C Banacha Str, Warsaw, 02-097, Poland.,Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Str, Warsaw, 02-093, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Str, Warsaw, 02-093, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Nieznanski
- Department of Biochemistry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Str, Warsaw, 02-093, Poland
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23
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Chiti F, Dobson CM. Protein Misfolding, Amyloid Formation, and Human Disease: A Summary of Progress Over the Last Decade. Annu Rev Biochem 2017; 86:27-68. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-061516-045115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1669] [Impact Index Per Article: 238.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
Abstract
Peptides and proteins have been found to possess an inherent tendency to convert from their native functional states into intractable amyloid aggregates. This phenomenon is associated with a range of increasingly common human disorders, including Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases, type II diabetes, and a number of systemic amyloidoses. In this review, we describe this field of science with particular reference to the advances that have been made over the last decade in our understanding of its fundamental nature and consequences. We list the proteins that are known to be deposited as amyloid or other types of aggregates in human tissues and the disorders with which they are associated, as well as the proteins that exploit the amyloid motif to play specific functional roles in humans. In addition, we summarize the genetic factors that have provided insight into the mechanisms of disease onset. We describe recent advances in our knowledge of the structures of amyloid fibrils and their oligomeric precursors and of the mechanisms by which they are formed and proliferate to generate cellular dysfunction. We show evidence that a complex proteostasis network actively combats protein aggregation and that such an efficient system can fail in some circumstances and give rise to disease. Finally, we anticipate the development of novel therapeutic strategies with which to prevent or treat these highly debilitating and currently incurable conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Chiti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio,” Section of Biochemistry, Università di Firenze, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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24
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Abstract
Most age-related neurodegenerative diseases are associated with the misfolding and aberrant accumulation of specific proteins in the nervous system. The proteins self-assemble and spread by a prion-like process of corruptive molecular templating, whereby abnormally folded proteins induce the misfolding and aggregation of like proteins into characteristic lesions. Despite the apparent simplicity of this process at the molecular level, diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, and others display remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity, both clinically and pathologically. Evidence is growing that this variability is mediated, at least in part, by the acquisition of diverse molecular architectures by the misfolded proteins, variants referred to as proteopathic strains. The structural and functional diversity of the assemblies is influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and local contextual factors. Insights into proteopathic strains gleaned from the classical prion diseases can be profitably incorporated into research on other neurodegenerative diseases. Their potentially wide-ranging influence on disease phenotype also suggests that proteopathic strains should be considered in the design and interpretation of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lary C Walker
- Department of Neurology and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322;
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25
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Pradhan N, Shekhar S, Jana NR, Jana NR. Sugar-Terminated Nanoparticle Chaperones Are 10 2-10 5 Times Better Than Molecular Sugars in Inhibiting Protein Aggregation and Reducing Amyloidogenic Cytotoxicity. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2017; 9:10554-10566. [PMID: 28272865 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b01886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Sugar-based osmolyte molecules are known to stabilize proteins under stress, but usually they have poor chaperone performance in inhibiting protein aggregation. Here, we show that the nanoparticle form of sugars molecule can enhance their chaperone performance typically by 102-105 times, compared to molecular sugar. Sugar-based plate-like nanoparticles of 20-40 nm hydrodynamic size have been synthesized by simple heating of acidic aqueous solution of glucose/sucrose/maltose/trehalose. These nanoparticles have excitation-dependent green/yellow/orange emission and surface chemistry identical to the respective sugar molecule. Fibrillation of lysozyme/insulin/amyloid beta in extracellular space, aggregation of mutant huntingtin protein inside model neuronal cell, and cytotoxic effect of fibrils are investigated in the presence of these sugar nanoparticles. We found that sugar nanoparticles are 102-105 times efficient than respective sugar molecules in inhibiting protein fibrillation and preventing cytotoxicity arising of fibrils. We propose that better performance of the nanoparticle form is linked to its stronger binding with fibril structure and enhanced cell uptake. This result suggests that nanoparticle form of osmolyte can be an attractive option in prevention and curing of protein aggregation-derived diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nibedita Pradhan
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Kolkata-700032, India
| | - Shashi Shekhar
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre , Manesar, Gurgaon-122051, India
| | - Nihar R Jana
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Laboratory, National Brain Research Centre , Manesar, Gurgaon-122051, India
| | - Nikhil R Jana
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Kolkata-700032, India
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26
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Zhang M, Hu R, Ren B, Chen H, Jiang B, Ma J, Zheng J. Molecular Understanding of Aβ-hIAPP Cross-Seeding Assemblies on Lipid Membranes. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:524-537. [PMID: 27936589 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.6b00247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) and human islet polypeptide (hIAPP) are the causative agents responsible for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type II diabetes (T2D), respectively. While numerous studies have reported the cross-seeding behavior of Aβ and hIAPP in solution, little effort has been made to examine the cross-seeding of Aβ and hIAPP in the presence of cell membranes, which is more biologically relevant to the pathological link between AD and T2D. In this work, we computationally study the cross-seeding and adsorption behaviors of Aβ and hIAPP on zwitterionic POPC and anionic 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)/1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG) mixed bilayers using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, particularly aiming to the effects of the initial orientation of the Aβ-hIAPP assembly and the lipid composition of cell membranes on mutual structural and interaction changes in both Aβ-hIAPP assembly and lipid bilayers at the atomic level. Aβ-hIAPP cross-seeding assembly always preferred to adopt a specific orientation and interface to associate with both lipid bilayers strongly via the N-terminal strands of Aβ. Such membrane-bound orientation explains experimental observation that hybrid Aβ-hIAPP fibrils on cell membranes showed similar morphologies to pure hIAPP fibrils. Moreover, Aβ-hIAPP assembly, regardless of its initial orientations, interacted more strongly with POPC/POPG bilayer than POPC bilayer, indicating that electrostatic interactions are the major forces governing peptide-lipid interactions. Strong electrostatic interactions were also attributed to the formation of Ca2+ bridges connecting both negatively charged Glu of Aβ and PO4 head groups of lipids, which facilitate the association of Aβ-hIAPP with the POPC/POPG bilayer. It was also found that the strong peptide-lipid binding reduced lipid fluidity. Both facts imply that Aβ-hIAPP assembly may induce cell damage by altering calcium homeostasis and cell membrane phase. This work provides a better fundamental understanding of cross-seeding of Aβ and hIAPP on cell membranes and a potential pathological link between AD and T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhen Zhang
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Rundong Hu
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Baiping Ren
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Binbo Jiang
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
- College
of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
- State
Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse School of Environmental
Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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27
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Schwaighofer A, Alcaráz MR, Araman C, Goicoechea H, Lendl B. External cavity-quantum cascade laser infrared spectroscopy for secondary structure analysis of proteins at low concentrations. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33556. [PMID: 27633337 PMCID: PMC5025714 DOI: 10.1038/srep33556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy are analytical techniques employed for the analysis of protein secondary structure. The use of CD spectroscopy is limited to low protein concentrations (<2 mg ml(-1)), while FTIR spectroscopy is commonly used in a higher concentration range (>5 mg ml(-1)). Here we introduce a quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based IR transmission setup for analysis of protein and polypeptide secondary structure at concentrations as low as 0.25 mg ml(-1) in deuterated buffer solution. We present dynamic QCL-IR spectra of the temperature-induced α-helix to β-sheet transition of poly-L-lysine. The concentration dependence of the α-β transition temperature between 0.25 and 10 mg ml(-1) was investigated by QCL-IR, FTIR and CD spectroscopy. By using QCL-IR spectroscopy it is possible to perform IR spectroscopic analysis in the same concentration range as CD spectroscopy, thus enabling a combined analysis of biomolecules secondary structure by CD and IR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Schwaighofer
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirta R. Alcaráz
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Analítico y Quimiometría, FBCB, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Can Araman
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Héctor Goicoechea
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Analítico y Quimiometría, FBCB, Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Bernhard Lendl
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/164-UPA, 1060 Vienna, Austria
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28
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Abstract
The formation of insulin amyloid can dramatically impact glycemic control in patients with diabetes, making it an important therapeutic consideration. In addition, the cost associated with the excess insulin required by patients with amyloid is estimated to be $3K per patient per year, which adds to the growing financial burden of this disease. Insulin amyloid has been observed with every mode of therapeutic insulin administration (infusion, injection and inhalation), and the number of reported cases has increased significantly since 2002. The new cases represent a much broader demographic, and include many patients who have used exclusively human insulin and human insulin analogs. The reason for the increase in case reports is unknown, but this review explores the possibility that changes in patient care, improved differential diagnosis and/or changes in insulin type and insulin delivery systems may be important factors. The goal of this review is to raise key questions that will inspire proactive measures to prevent, identify and treat insulin amyloid. Furthermore, this comprehensive examination of insulin amyloid can provide insight into important considerations for other injectable drugs that are prone to form amyloid deposits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R Nilsson
- a Department of Chemistry , McDaniel College , Westminster , MD , USA
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29
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Surmacz-Chwedoruk W, Babenko V, Dec R, Szymczak P, Dzwolak W. The emergence of superstructural order in insulin amyloid fibrils upon multiple rounds of self-seeding. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32022. [PMID: 27558445 PMCID: PMC4997315 DOI: 10.1038/srep32022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Typically, elongation of an amyloid fibril entails passing conformational details of the mother seed to daughter generations of fibrils with high fidelity. There are, however, several factors that can potentially prevent such transgenerational structural imprinting from perpetuating, for example heterogeneity of mother seeds or so-called conformational switching. Here, we examine phenotypic persistence of bovine insulin amyloid ([BI]) upon multiple rounds of self-seeding under quiescent conditions. According to infrared spectroscopy, with the following passages of homologous seeding, daughter fibrils gradually depart from the mother seed’s spectral characteristics. We note that this transgenerational structural drift in [BI] amyloid leads toward fibrils with infrared, chiroptical, and morphological traits similar to those of the superstructural variant of fibrils which normally forms upon strong agitation of insulin solutions. However, in contrast to agitation-induced insulin amyloid, the superstructural assemblies of daughter fibrils isolated through self-seeding are sonication-resistant. Our results suggest that formation of single amyloid fibrils is not a dead-end of the amyloidogenic self-assembly. Instead, the process appears to continue toward the self-assembly of higher-order structures although on longer time-scales. From this perspective, the fast agitation-induced aggregation of insulin appears to be a shortcut to amyloid superstructures whose formation under quiescent conditions is slow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Surmacz-Chwedoruk
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska 29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland.,Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Staroscinska 5, 02-516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Viktoria Babenko
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert Dec
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Szymczak
- Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska 29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
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30
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Yoshihara H, Saito J, Tanabe A, Amada T, Asakura T, Kitagawa K, Asada S. Characterization of Novel Insulin Fibrils That Show Strong Cytotoxicity Under Physiological pH. J Pharm Sci 2016; 105:1419-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2016.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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31
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Jordal PL, Dyrlund TF, Winge K, Larsen MR, Danielsen EH, Wells JA, Otzen DE, Enghild JJ. Detection of proteolytic signatures for Parkinson's disease. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.2217/fnl.16.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Aim: To investigate if idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is associated with distinct proteolytic signatures relative to non-neurodegenerative controls (NND) and patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Materials & methods: A subtiligase-based N-terminomics screening method was exploited for semiquantitative comparison of protein N-termini in cerebrospinal fluid for pooled samples of IPD (n = 6) and NND (n = 8) individuals. Subsequently, targeted selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry measured the relative concentration of the proteolytic signature peptides in individual IPD (n = 22), NND (n = 11) and MSA (n = 18) samples. Results: The discovery screen detected 300 N-termini for 156 proteins. Selected reaction monitoring analysis revealed that two of these peptides differentiate IPD from NND while three peptides differentiate IPD from MSA. Conclusion: IPD is associated with distinct proteolytic signatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lüttge Jordal
- Section for Medical Biotechnology, Danish Technological Institute, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- iNANO, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Thomas F Dyrlund
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Kristian Winge
- Bispebjerg Movement Disorders Biobank, Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg University Hospital, 2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark
| | - Martin R Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Erik H Danielsen
- Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - James A Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Daniel E Otzen
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- iNANO, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jan J Enghild
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- iNANO, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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32
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Pradhan N, Jana D, Ghorai BK, Jana NR. Detection and Monitoring of Amyloid Fibrillation Using a Fluorescence "Switch-On" Probe. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:25813-25820. [PMID: 26540091 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b07751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid protein fibrillation is associated with a variety of neurodegenerative and other diseases, and their efficient detection and monitoring can greatly advance early diagnosis and therapy. Herein, we report a fluorescent "switch-on" probe for the reliable detection and monitoring of amyloid fibrils. The probe consists of a peptide component for binding with amyloid structure and a color component with an aggregation-induced green emission property. This probe is nonfluorescent in the presence of amyloid forming monomer protein/peptide, but fluorescence "switch-on" occurs after binding with amyloid fibrils. Compared to conventionally used thioflavin T, this probe offers a high signal-to-noise ratio, which is unaffected by the quencher ion/nanoparticle. The proposed new probe has been used for the detection and monitoring of amyloid fibrils produced by a wide variety of amyloid protein/peptides and can be extended for in vitro diagnostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nibedita Pradhan
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Debabrata Jana
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology , Shibpur, Howrah 711 103, India
| | - Binay K Ghorai
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology , Shibpur, Howrah 711 103, India
| | - Nikhil R Jana
- Centre for Advanced Materials, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Kolkata 700 032, India
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Early aggregation preceding the nucleation of insulin amyloid fibrils as monitored by small angle X-ray scattering. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15485. [PMID: 26503463 PMCID: PMC4621412 DOI: 10.1038/srep15485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleation event of amyloid fibrils is one of the most crucial processes that dictate the timing and rate of the pathology of diseases; however, information regarding how protein molecules associate to produce fibril nuclei is currently limited. In order to explore this issue in more detail, we performed time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements on insulin fibrillation, in combination with additional multidirectional analyses of thioflavin T fluorescence, FTIR spectroscopy, light scattering, and light transmittance, during the fibrillation process of bovine insulin. SAXS monitoring revealed that insulin molecules associated into rod-like prefibrillar aggregates in the very early stage of the reaction. After the formation of these early aggregates, they appeared to further coalesce mutually to form larger clusters, and the SAXS profiles subsequently showed the further time evolution of conformational development towards mature amyloid fibrils. Distinct types of structural units in terms of shape in a nano-scale order, cross-β content, and thioflavin T fluorescence intensity were observed in a manner that was dependent on the fibrillation pathways. These results suggest the presence of diverse substructures that characterize various fibrillation pathways, and eventually, manifest polymorphisms in mature amyloid fibrils.
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34
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Hernik A, Puławski W, Fedorczyk B, Tymecka D, Misicka A, Filipek S, Dzwolak W. Amyloidogenic Properties of Short α-L-Glutamic Acid Oligomers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2015; 31:10500-10507. [PMID: 26362583 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b02915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Poly-L-glutamic acid (PLGA) forms amyloid-like β2-fibrils with the main spectral component of vibrational amide I' band unusually shifted below 1600 cm(-1). This distinct infrared feature has been attributed to the presence of bifurcated hydrogen bonds coupling C═O and N-D (N-H) groups of the main chains to glutamate side chains. Here, we investigate how decreasing the chain length of PLGA affects its capacity to form β2-fibrils. A series of acidified aqueous solutions of synthetic (l-Glu)n peptides (n ≈ 200, 10, 6, 5, 4, and 3) were incubated at high temperature. We observed that n = 4 is the critical chain length for which formation of aggregates with the β2-like infrared features is still observed under such conditions. Interestingly, according to atomic force microscopy (AFM), the self-assembly of (L-Glu)n chains varying vastly in length produces fibrils with rather uniform diameters of approximately 4-6 nm. Kinetic experiments on (L-Glu)5 and (L-Glu)200 peptides indicate that the fibrillation is significantly accelerated not only in the presence of homologous seeds but also upon cross-seeding, suggesting thereby a common self-assembly theme for (L-Glu)n chains of various lengths. Our results are discussed in the context of mechanisms of amyloidogenic fibrillation of homopolypeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Hernik
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw , 00-927 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Puławski
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw , 00-927 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej Fedorczyk
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw , 00-927 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dagmara Tymecka
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw , 00-927 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Misicka
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw , 00-927 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sławomir Filipek
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw , 00-927 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw , 00-927 Warsaw, Poland
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35
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So M, Ishii A, Hata Y, Yagi H, Naiki H, Goto Y. Supersaturation-Limited and Unlimited Phase Spaces Compete to Produce Maximal Amyloid Fibrillation near the Critical Micelle Concentration of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2015; 31:9973-9982. [PMID: 26291985 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b02186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Although various natural and synthetic compounds have been shown to accelerate or inhibit the formation of amyloid fibrils, the mechanisms by which they achieve these adverse effects in a concentration-dependent manner currently remain unclear. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), one of the compounds that has adverse effects on fibrillation, is the most intensively studied. Here we examined the effects of a series of detergents including SDS on the amyloid fibrillation of β2-microglobulin at pH 7.0, a protein responsible for dialysis-related amyloidosis. In all the detergents examined (i.e., SDS, sodium decyl sulfate, sodium octyl sulfate, and sodium deoxycholate), amyloid fibrillation was accelerated and inhibited at concentrations near the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and higher than CMC, respectively. The most stable conformation changed from monomers with a β-structure to amyloid fibrils with a β-structure and then to α-helical complexes with micelles with an increase in detergent concentrations. These results suggest that competition between supersaturation-limited fibrillation and unlimited mixed micelle formation between proteins and micelles underlies the detergent concentration-dependent complexity of amyloid fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatomo So
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University , Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Akira Ishii
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University , Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yasuko Hata
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University , Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hisashi Yagi
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University , Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hironobu Naiki
- Faculty of Medical Science, University of Fukui , Fukui 910-1193, Japan
| | - Yuji Goto
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University , Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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36
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Abstract
Prions are infective proteins, which can self-assemble into different strain conformations, leading to different disease phenotypes. An increasing number of studies suggest that prion-like self-propagation may be a common feature of amyloid-like structures. Thus it is important to unravel every possible factor leading to the formation of different amyloid strains. Here we report on the formation of two types of insulin amyloid-like fibrils with distinct infrared spectroscopic features grown under slightly different pH conditions. Similar to prion strains, both insulin fibril types are able to self-propagate their conformational template under conditions, favoring spontaneous formation of different type fibrils. The low-pH-induced insulin amyloid strain is structurally very similar to previously reported strains formed either in the presence of 20% ethanol, or by modification of the amino acid sequence of insulin. A deeper analysis of literature data in the context of our current findings suggests a shift of the monomer-dimer equilibrium of insulin as a possible factor controlling the formation of different strains.
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37
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Smaoui MR, Waldispühl J. Computational re-engineering of Amylin sequence with reduced amyloidogenic potential. BMC STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2015; 15:7. [PMID: 25903685 PMCID: PMC4428086 DOI: 10.1186/s12900-015-0034-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aggregation of amyloid proteins into fibrils is associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Type II Diabetes. Different methods have explored ways to impede and inhibit amyloid aggregation. Most attempts in the literature involve applying stress to the environment around amyloids. Varying pH levels, modifying temperature, applying pressure through protein crowding and ligand docking are classical examples of these methods. However, environmental stress usually affects molecular pathways and protein functions in the cell and is challenging to construct in vivo. In this paper, we explore destabilizing amyloid proteins through the manipulation of genetic code to create beneficial substitute molecules for patients with certain deficiencies. RESULTS To unravel sequence mutations that destabilize amyloid fibrils yet simultaneously conserve native fold, we analyze the structural landscape of amyloid proteins and search for potential areas that could be exploited to weaken aggregation. Our tool, FibrilMutant, analyzes these regions and studies the effect of amino acid point mutations on nucleation and aggregation. This multiple objective approach impedes aggregation without stressing the cellular environment. We identified six main regions in amyloid proteins that contribute to structural stability and generated amino acid mutations to destabilize those regions. Full length fibrils were built from the mutated amyloid monomers and a dipolar-solvent model capturing the effect of dipole-dipole interactions between water and very large molecular systems to assess their aqueous stability was used to generate energy plots. CONCLUSION Our results are in agreement with experimental studies and suggest novel targeted single point mutations in the Amylin protein, potentially creating a better therapeutic agent than the currently administered Pramlintide drug for diabetes patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed R Smaoui
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, H3A OC6, Canada. .,McGill Center for Bioinformatics, McGill University, Montreal, H3A OC6, Canada.
| | - Jérôme Waldispühl
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, H3A OC6, Canada. .,McGill Center for Bioinformatics, McGill University, Montreal, H3A OC6, Canada.
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38
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Piejko M, Dec R, Babenko V, Hoang A, Szewczyk M, Mak P, Dzwolak W. Highly amyloidogenic two-chain peptide fragments are released upon partial digestion of insulin with pepsin. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:5947-58. [PMID: 25586185 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.608844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteases play a well recognized role in the emergence of highly aggregation-prone protein fragments in vivo, whereas in vitro limited proteolysis is often employed to probe different phases of amyloidogenic pathways. Here, we show that addition of moderate amounts of pepsin to acidified bovine insulin at close to physiological temperature results in an abrupt self-assembly of amyloid-like fibrils from partially digested insulin fragments. Biochemical analysis of the pepsin-induced fibrils implicates peptide fragments (named H) consisting of the 13 or 15 N-terminal residues of the A-chain and 11 or 13 N-terminal residues of the B-chain linked by the disulfide bond between Cys-7A-Cys-7B as the main constituents. There are up to eight pepsin-cleavage sites remaining within the double chain peptide, which become protected upon fast fibrillation unless concentration of the enzyme is increased resulting in complete digestion of insulin. Controlled re-association of H-peptides leads to "explosive" fibrillation only under nonreducing conditions implying the key role of the disulfide bond in their amyloidogenicity. Such re-assembled amyloid is similar in terms of morphology and infrared features to typical bovine insulin fibrils, although it lacks the ability to seed the intact protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Piejko
- From the Protein Biophysics Group, Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 01-142 Warsaw, the Department of Analytical Biochemistry
| | - Robert Dec
- the Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Viktoria Babenko
- From the Protein Biophysics Group, Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 01-142 Warsaw, the Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Hoang
- From the Protein Biophysics Group, Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 01-142 Warsaw, Division of Cell Biophysics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology
| | - Monika Szewczyk
- the Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Mak
- the Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, and
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- From the Protein Biophysics Group, Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 01-142 Warsaw, the Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
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39
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Kitagawa K, Misumi Y, Ueda M, Hayashi Y, Tasaki M, Obayashi K, Yamashita T, Jono H, Arima H, Ando Y. Inhibition of insulin amyloid fibril formation by cyclodextrins. Amyloid 2015. [PMID: 26204452 DOI: 10.3109/13506129.2015.1064818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Localized insulin-derived amyloid masses occasionally form at the site of repeated insulin injections in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes and cause subcutaneous insulin resistance. Various kinds of insulin including porcine insulin, human insulin, and insulin analogues reportedly formed amyloid fibrils in vitro and in vivo, but the impact of the amino acid replacement in insulin molecules on amyloidogenicity is largely unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated the difference in amyloid fibril formation kinetics of human insulin and insulin analogues, which suggests an important role of the C-terminal domain of the insulin B chain in nuclear formation of amyloid fibrils. Furthermore, we determined that cyclodextrins, which are widely used as drug carriers in the pharmaceutical field, had an inhibitory effect on the nuclear formation of insulin amyloid fibrils. These findings have significant implications for the mechanism underlying insulin amyloid fibril formation and for developing optimal additives to prevent this subcutaneous adverse effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Kitagawa
- a Department of Neurology , Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University , Kumamoto , Japan
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40
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Jayamani J, Shanmugam G, Azhagiya Singam ER. Inhibition of insulin amyloid fibril formation by ferulic acid, a natural compound found in many vegetables and fruits. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra11291a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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41
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Surmacz-Chwedoruk W, Babenko V, Dzwolak W. Master and Slave Relationship Between Two Types of Self-Propagating Insulin Amyloid Fibrils. J Phys Chem B 2014; 118:13582-9. [DOI: 10.1021/jp510980b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Surmacz-Chwedoruk
- Institute
of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska
29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Staroscinska 5, 02-516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Viktoria Babenko
- Institute
of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska
29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland
- Department
of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Institute
of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska
29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland
- Department
of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
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42
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Hu R, Zhang M, Patel K, Wang Q, Chang Y, Gong X, Zhang G, Zheng J. Cross-sequence interactions between human and rat islet amyloid polypeptides. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2014; 30:5193-5201. [PMID: 24754490 DOI: 10.1021/la500632d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) can assemble into toxic oligomers and fibrils, which are associated with cell degeneration and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Cross-interaction of hIAPP with rat IAPP (rIAPP)--a non-amyloidogenic peptide with high sequence similarity to hIAPP--might influence the aggregation and toxicity of hIAPP. However, the exact role of rIAPP in hIAPP aggregation and toxicity still remains unclear. In this work, we investigated the effect of cross-sequence interactions between full-length hIAPP(1-37) and rIAPP(1-37) on hybrid amyloid structures, aggregation kinetics, and cell toxicity using combined computational and experimental approaches. Experimental results indicate a contrasting role of rIAPP in hIAPP aggregation, in which rIAPP initially inhibits the early aggregation and nuclei formation of hIAPP, but hIAPP seeds can also recruit both hIAPP and rIAPP to form more hybrid fibrils, thus promoting amyloid fibrillation ultimately. The coincubation of hIAPP and rIAPP also decreases cell viability, presumably due to the formation of more toxic hybrid oligomers at the prolonged lag phase. Comparative MD simulations confirm that the cross-sequence interactions between hIAPP and rIAPP stabilize β-sheet structure and thus likely promote their fibrillization. This work provides valuable insights into a critical role of cross-amyloid interactions in protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rundong Hu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron , Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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43
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Abstract
Amyloid fibrils with cross-β spine basic architectures are prevalent and stable forms of peptides and proteins. Recent research has provided significant contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of fibril formation and to the surprising diversity and persistence of structural polymorphism in amyloid fibrils. There have also been successful demonstrations of how molecules can be engineered to inhibit unwanted amyloid formation by different mechanisms. Future research in these areas will include investigations of mechanisms for primary nucleation and the structure of oligomeric intermediates, the general role of secondary nucleation events (autocatalysis), elucidation of the mechanisms and implications of preservation of structural morphology in amyloid propagation, and research into the largely unexplored phenomenon of cross-seeding, by which amyloid fibrils of one species induce the formation of amyloid by another species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torleif Härd
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Box 7015, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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44
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Surmacz-Chwedoruk W, Malka I, Bożycki Ł, Nieznańska H, Dzwolak W. On the heat stability of amyloid-based biological activity: insights from thermal degradation of insulin fibrils. PLoS One 2014; 9:e86320. [PMID: 24466022 PMCID: PMC3897677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of amyloid fibrils in vivo has been linked to disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and prion-associated transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. One of the characteristic features of amyloid fibrils is the high thermodynamic stability relative both to native and disordered states which is also thought to underlie the perplexingly remarkable heat resistance of prion infectivity. Here, we are comparing high-temperature degradation of native and fibrillar forms of human insulin. Decomposition of insulin amyloid has been studied under helium atmosphere and in the temperature range from ambient conditions to 750°C using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry coupled to mass spectrometry. While converting native insulin into amyloid does upshift onset of thermal decomposition by ca. 75°C, fibrils remain vulnerable to covalent degradation at temperatures below 300°C, as reflected by mass spectra of gases released upon heating of amyloid samples, as well as morphology and infrared spectra of fibrils subjected to incubation at 250°C. Mass spectra profiles of released gases indicate that degradation of fibrils is much more cooperative than degradation of native insulin. The data show no evidence of water of crystallization trapped within insulin fibrils. We have also compared untreated and heated amyloid samples in terms of capacity to seed daughter fibrils. Kinetic traces of seed-induced insulin fibrillation have shown that the seeding potency of amyloid samples decreases significantly already after exposure to 200°C, even though corresponding electron micrographs indicated persisting fibrillar morphology. Our results suggest that amyloid-based biological activity may not survive extremely high temperature treatments, at least in the absence of other stabilizing factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Surmacz-Chwedoruk
- Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Warsaw, Poland
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iwona Malka
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Łukasz Bożycki
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hanna Nieznańska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- * E-mail:
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45
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Relini A, Marano N, Gliozzi A. Misfolding of amyloidogenic proteins and their interactions with membranes. Biomolecules 2013; 4:20-55. [PMID: 24970204 PMCID: PMC4030986 DOI: 10.3390/biom4010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we discuss amyloidogenic proteins, their misfolding, resulting structures, and interactions with membranes, which lead to membrane damage and subsequent cell death. Many of these proteins are implicated in serious illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Misfolding of amyloidogenic proteins leads to the formation of polymorphic oligomers and fibrils. Oligomeric aggregates are widely thought to be the toxic species, however, fibrils also play a role in membrane damage. We focus on the structure of these aggregates and their interactions with model membranes. Study of interactions of amlyoidogenic proteins with model and natural membranes has shown the importance of the lipid bilayer in protein misfolding and aggregation and has led to the development of several models for membrane permeabilization by the resulting amyloid aggregates. We discuss several of these models: formation of structured pores by misfolded amyloidogenic proteins, extraction of lipids, interactions with receptors in biological membranes, and membrane destabilization by amyloid aggregates perhaps analogous to that caused by antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Relini
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa 16146, Italy.
| | - Nadia Marano
- Department of Physics, University of Genoa, Genoa 16146, Italy.
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46
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Mishra NK, Joshi KB, Verma S. Inhibition of human and bovine insulin fibril formation by designed peptide conjugates. Mol Pharm 2013; 10:3903-12. [PMID: 24070716 DOI: 10.1021/mp400364w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of insulin, to afford amyloidogenic fibers, is a well-studied phenomenon, which has interesting biological ramifications and pharmaceutical implications. These fibers have been ascribed an intriguing role in certain disease states and stability of pharmaceutical formulations of this hormone. The present study describes the design and inhibitory effects of novel peptide conjugates toward fibrillation of insulin as investigated by thioflavin T assay, circular dichroism (CD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Possible interaction of insulin with peptide-based fibrillation inhibitors is also probed by other solution phase studies, which reveal an important role of aromatic π-π interactions in the inhibition process. CD studies suggest that a freshly prepared solution of insulin, rich in α-helices, transforms into a β-sheet structure upon aggregation, which gets perturbed in the presence of synthesized inhibitors. Therefore, these newly designed peptides could serve as potential leads as inhibitors of insulin aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narendra Kumar Mishra
- Department of Chemistry, DST Thematic Unit of Excellence on Soft Nanofabrication, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur , Kanpur-208016 (UP), India
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47
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Welch WRW, Kubelka J, Keiderling TA. Infrared, vibrational circular dichroism, and Raman spectral simulations for β-sheet structures with various isotopic labels, interstrand, and stacking arrangements using density functional theory. J Phys Chem B 2013; 117:10343-58. [PMID: 23924300 DOI: 10.1021/jp4056126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Infrared (IR), Raman, and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectral variations for different β-sheet structures were studied using simulations based on density functional theory (DFT) force field and intensity computations. The DFT vibrational parameters were obtained for β-sheet fragments containing nine-amides and constrained to a variety of conformations and strand arrangements. These were subsequently transferred onto corresponding larger β-sheet models, normally consisting of five strands with ten amides each, for spectral simulations. Further extension to fibril models composed of multiple stacked β-sheets was achieved by combining the transfer of DFT parameters for each sheet with dipole coupling methods for interactions between sheets. IR spectra of the amide I show different splitting patterns for parallel and antiparallel β-sheets, and their VCD, in the absence of intersheet stacking, have distinct sign variations. Isotopic labeling by (13)C of selected residues yields spectral shifts and intensity changes uniquely sensitive to relative alignment of strands (registry) for antiparallel sheets. Stacking of multiple planar sheets maintains the qualitative spectral character of the single sheet but evidences some reduction in the exciton splitting of the amide I mode. Rotating sheets with respect to each other leads to a significant VCD enhancement, whose sign pattern and intensity is dependent on the handedness and degree of rotation. For twisted β-sheets, a significant VCD enhancement is computed even for sheets stacked with either the same or opposite alignments and the inter-sheet rotation, depending on the sense, can either further increase or weaken the enhanced VCD intensity. In twisted, stacked structures (without rotation), similar VCD amide I patterns (positive couplets) are predicted for both parallel and antiparallel sheets, but different IR intensity distributions still enable their differentiation. Our simulation results prove useful for interpreting experimental vibrational spectra in terms of β-sheet and fibril structure, as illustrated in the accompanying paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R W Welch
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wyoming , Laramie, Wyoming 82071, United States
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Vetri V, Leone M, Morozova-Roche LA, Vestergaard B, Foderà V. Unlocked concanavalin A forms amyloid-like fibrils from coagulation of long-lived "crinkled" intermediates. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68912. [PMID: 23874809 PMCID: PMC3712988 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the early events during amyloid aggregation processes is crucial to single out the involved molecular mechanisms and for designing ad hoc strategies to prevent and reverse amyloidogenic disorders. Here, we show that, in conditions in which the protein is positively charged and its conformational flexibility is enhanced, Concanavalin A leads to fibril formation via a non-conventional aggregation pathway. Using a combination of light scattering, circular dichroism, small angle X-ray scattering, intrinsic (Tryptophan) and extrinsic (ANS) fluorescence and confocal and 2-photon fluorescence microscopy we characterize the aggregation process as a function of the temperature. We highlight a multi-step pathway with the formation of an on-pathway long-lived intermediate and a subsequent coagulation of such “crinkled” precursors into amyloid-like fibrils. The process results in a temperature-dependent aggregation-coagulation pathway, with the late phase of coagulation determined by the interplay between hydrophobic and electrostatic forces. Our data provide evidence for the complex aggregation pathway for a protein with a highly flexible native conformation. We demonstrate the possibility to generate a long-lived intermediate whose proportion and occurrence are easily tunable by experimental parameters (i.e. temperature). As a consequence, in the case of aggregation processes developing through well-defined energy barriers, our results can open the way to new strategies to induce more stable in vitro on-pathway intermediate species through a minute change in the initial conformational flexibility of the protein. This will allow isolating and experimentally studying such transient species, often indicated as relevant in neurodegenerative diseases, both in terms of structural and cytotoxic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Vetri
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- * E-mail: (VV); (VF)
| | - Maurizio Leone
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Bente Vestergaard
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vito Foderà
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Sector of Biological and Soft Systems, Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (VV); (VF)
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Babenko V, Piejko M, Wójcik S, Mak P, Dzwolak W. Vortex-induced amyloid superstructures of insulin and its component A and B chains. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2013; 29:5271-5278. [PMID: 23590193 DOI: 10.1021/la400612w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Insulin is an amyloid-forming polypeptide built of two disulfide-linked chains (A and B), both themselves amyloidogenic. An interesting property of insulin is that agitation strongly influences the course of its aggregation, resulting in characteristic chiral superstructures of amyloid fibrils. Here, we investigate the self-assembly of these superstructures by comparing the quiescent and vortex-assisted aggregation of insulin and its individual A and B chains in the presence or absence of reducing agent tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP). Our study shows that only the B chain in the presence of TCEP is converted into aggregates with morphology (according to atomic force microscopy) and optical activity (manifested as an extrinsic Cotton effect induced in bound thioflavin T) characteristic of amyloid superstructures that are normally formed by insulin in the absence of TCEP. In contrast to more rigid B-peptide fibrils, elongated aggregates of the A peptide become amorphous upon agitation. Moreover, the aggregation of equimolar mixture of both peptides does not produce highly ordered entities. Our results suggest that the dynamics of the B chain are the driving force for the assembly of superstructures, with the A chain being complicit as long as its own dynamics are controlled by the firm attachment to the B chain provided by the intact covalent structure of insulin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Babenko
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
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Sarell CJ, Woods LA, Su Y, Debelouchina GT, Ashcroft AE, Griffin RG, Stockley PG, Radford SE. Expanding the repertoire of amyloid polymorphs by co-polymerization of related protein precursors. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:7327-37. [PMID: 23329840 PMCID: PMC3591641 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.447524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils can be generated from proteins with diverse sequences and folds. Although amyloid fibrils assembled in vitro commonly involve a single protein precursor, fibrils formed in vivo can contain more than one protein sequence. How fibril structure and stability differ in fibrils composed of single proteins (homopolymeric fibrils) from those generated by co-polymerization of more than one protein sequence (heteropolymeric fibrils) is poorly understood. Here we compare the structure and stability of homo and heteropolymeric fibrils formed from human β2-microglobulin and its truncated variant ΔN6. We use an array of approaches (limited proteolysis, magic angle spinning NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and fluorescence) combined with measurements of thermodynamic stability to characterize the different fibril types. The results reveal fibrils with different structural properties, different side-chain packing, and strikingly different stabilities. These findings demonstrate how co-polymerization of related precursor sequences can expand the repertoire of structural and thermodynamic polymorphism in amyloid fibrils to an extent that is greater than that obtained by polymerization of a single precursor alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J Sarell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology and School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
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