Structures and micelle locations of the nonlipidated and lipidated C-terminal membrane anchor of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphodiesterase

Nanobodies against the myelin enzyme CNPase as tools for structural and functional studies

2',3'-Cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) is an abundant constituent of central nervous system non-compact myelin, and its loss in mice and humans causes neurodegeneration. Additionally, CNPase is frequently used as a marker antigen for myelinating cells. The catalytic activity of CNPase, the 3'-hydrolysis of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotides, is well characterised in vitro, but the in vivo function of CNPase remains unclear. CNPase interacts with the actin cytoskeleton to counteract the developmental closure of cytoplasmic channels that travel through compact myelin; its enzymatic activity may be involved in adenosine metabolism and RNA degradation. We developed a set of high-affinity nanobodies recognising the phosphodiesterase domain of CNPase, and the crystal structures of each complex show that the five nanobodies have distinct epitopes. One of the nanobodies bound deep into the CNPase active site and acted as an inhibitor. Moreover, the nanobodies were characterised in imaging applications and as intrabodies, expressed in mammalian cells, such as primary oligodendrocytes. Fluorescently labelled nanobodies functioned in imaging of teased nerve fibres and whole brain tissue sections, as well as super-resolution microscopy. These anti-CNPase nanobodies provide new tools for structural and functional studies on myelin formation, dynamics, and disease, including high-resolution imaging of nerve tissue.

Nanobodies against the myelin enzyme CNPase as tools for structural and functional studies

2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) is an abundant constituent of central nervous system non-compact myelin, frequently used as a marker antigen for myelinating cells. The catalytic activity of CNPase, the 3'-hydrolysis of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotides, is well characterised in vitro, but the in vivo function of CNPase remains unclear. CNPase interacts with the actin cytoskeleton to counteract the developmental closure of cytoplasmic channels that travel through compact myelin; its enzymatic activity may be involved in adenosine metabolism and RNA degradation. We developed a set of high-affinity nanobodies recognizing the phosphodiesterase domain of CNPase, and the crystal structures of each complex show that the five nanobodies have distinct epitopes. One of the nanobodies bound deep into the CNPase active site and acted as an inhibitor. Moreover, the nanobodies were characterised in imaging applications and as intrabodies, expressed in mammalian cells, such as primary oligodendrocytes. Fluorescently labelled nanobodies functioned in imaging of teased nerve fibers and whole brain tissue sections, as well as super-resolution microscopy. These anti-CNPase nanobodies provide new tools for structural and functional biology of myelination, including high-resolution imaging of nerve tissue.

Lysosomal storage disease associated with a CNP sequence variant in Dalmatian dogs

A progressive neurological disorder was identified in purebred Dalmatian dogs. The disease is characterized by anxiety, pacing and circling, hypersensitivity, cognitive decline, sleep disturbance, loss of coordination, loss of control over urination and defecation, and visual impairment. Neurological signs first became apparent when the dogs were approximately 18 months of age and progressed slowly. Two affected littermates were euthanized at approximately 7 years, 5 months and 8 years, 2 months of age due to the severity of neurological impairment. The mother of the affected dogs and four other relatives exhibited milder, later-onset neurological signs. Pronounced accumulations of autofluorescent intracellular inclusions were found in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, optic nerve, and cardiac muscle of the affected dogs. These inclusions co-localized with immunolabeling of the lysosomal marker protein LAMP2 and bound antibodies to mitochondrial ATPase subunit c, indicating that the dogs suffered from a lysosomal storage disease with similarities to the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. Ultrastructural analysis indicated that the storage bodies were surrounded by a single-layer membrane, but the storage granules were distinct from those reported for other lysosomal storage diseases. Whole genome sequences, generated with DNA from the two euthanized Dalmatians, both contained a rare, homozygous single-base deletion and reading-frame shift in CNP which encodes the enzyme CNPase (EC 3.1.4.37). The late-onset disease was exhibited by five of seven related Dalmatians that were heterozygous for the deletion allele and over 8 years of age, whereas none of 16 age-matched reference-allele homozygotes developed neurologic signs. No CNPase antigen could be detected with immunohistochemical labeling in tissues from the dogs with the earlier-onset disorder. Similar to the later-onset Dalmatians, autofluorescent storage granules were apparent in brain and cardiac tissue from transgenic mice that were nullizygous for Cnp. Based on the clinical signs, the histopathological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular-genetic findings, and the finding that nullizygous Cnp mice accumulate autofluorescent storage granules, we propose that the earlier-onset Dalmatian disorder is a novel lysosomal storage disease that results from a loss-of-function mutation in CNP and that shares features characteristic of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. That the later-onset disorder occurred only in dogs heterozygous for the CNP deletion variant suggests that this disorder is a result of the variant allele's presence.

Flexible Players within the Sheaths: The Intrinsically Disordered Proteins of Myelin in Health and Disease

Myelin ensheathes selected axonal segments within the nervous system, resulting primarily in nerve impulse acceleration, as well as mechanical and trophic support for neurons. In the central and peripheral nervous systems, various proteins that contribute to the formation and stability of myelin are present, which also harbor pathophysiological roles in myelin disease. Many myelin proteins have common attributes, including small size, hydrophobic segments, multifunctionality, longevity, and regions of intrinsic disorder. With recent advances in protein biophysical characterization and bioinformatics, it has become evident that intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are abundant in myelin, and their flexible nature enables multifunctionality. Here, we review known myelin IDPs, their conservation, molecular characteristics and functions, and their disease relevance, along with open questions and speculations. We place emphasis on classifying the molecular details of IDPs in myelin, and we correlate these with their various functions, including susceptibility to post-translational modifications, function in protein–protein and protein–membrane interactions, as well as their role as extended entropic chains. We discuss how myelin pathology can relate to IDPs and which molecular factors are potentially involved.

Simultaneous alterations of oligodendrocyte-specific CNP, astrocyte-specific AQP4 and neuronal NF-L demarcate ischemic tissue after experimental stroke in mice

Ischemic stroke not only affects neurons, but also glial and vascular elements. The development of novel neuroprotective strategies thus requires an improved pathophysiological understanding of ischemia-affected cell types that comprise the 'neurovascular unit' (NVU). To explore spatiotemporal alterations of oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and neurons after experimental ischemic stroke, we applied a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion model in mice for 4 and 24 h. Using fluorescence microscopy, the oligodendrocyte marker 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CNP), the neuronal neurofilament light chain (NF-L) and the astroglial aquaporin-4 (AQP4) were analyzed in regional relation to one another. Immunofluorescence intensities of CNP and NF-L were simultaneously increased in the ischemic neocortex and striatum. AQP4 immunoreactivity was decreased in the ischemic striatum, which represents the initial and potentially strongest affected site of infarction. The more distant ischemic neocortex and infarct border zones exhibited areas with alternately increased or decreased AQP4 immunoreactivity, leading to an increase of fluorescence intensity in total. Further, deformed CNP-immunopositive processes were found around axonal spheroids, indicating a combined affection of oligodendrocytes and neurons due to ischemia. Importantly, altered AQP4 immunosignals were not limited to the ischemic core, but were also detectable in penumbral areas. This applies for CNP and NF-L also, since altered immunosignals of all three markers coincided regionally at both time points. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence for a simultaneous affection of oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and neurons after experimental focal cerebral ischemia. Consequently, CNP, AQP4 and NF-L immunofluorescence alterations can be utilized to identify ischemia-affected tissue. The simultaneity of the described alterations further strengthens the concept of interdependent NVU components and distinguishes NF-L, CNP and AQP4 as highly ischemia-sensitive elements. Consequently, future therapeutic approaches might influence stroke evolution via strategies simultaneously addressing both neuronal and glial functions.

Immunosignals of Oligodendrocyte Markers and Myelin-Associated Proteins Are Critically Affected after Experimental Stroke in Wild-Type and Alzheimer Modeling Mice of Different Ages

Because stroke therapies are still limited and patients are often concerned by long-term sequelae with significant impairment of daily living, elaborated neuroprotective strategies are needed. During the last decades, research substantially improved the knowledge on cellular pathologies responsible for stroke-related tissue damage. In this context, the neurovascular unit (NVU) concept has been established, summarizing the affections of neurons, associated astrocytes and the vasculature. Although oligodendrocytes were already identified to play a major role in other brain pathologies, their role during stroke evolution and long-lasting tissue damage is poorly understood. This study aims to explore oligodendrocyte structures, i.e., oligodendrocytes and their myelin-associated proteins, after experimental focal cerebral ischemia. For translational issues, different ages and genotypes including an Alzheimer-like background were considered to mimic potential co-morbidities. Three- and 12-month-old wild-type and triple-transgenic mice were subjected to unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion. Immunofluorescence labeling was performed on forebrain tissues affected by 24 h of ischemia to visualize the oligodendrocyte-specific protein (OSP), the myelin basic protein (MBP), and the neuron-glia antigen 2 (NG2) with reference to the ischemic lesion. Subsequent analyses concomitantly detected the vasculature and the 2′, 3′-cyclic nucleotide-3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) to consider the NVU concept and to explore the functional relevance of histochemical data on applied oligodendrocyte markers. While the immunosignal of NG2 was found to be nearly absent 24 h after ischemia onset, enhanced immunoreactivities for OSP and especially MBP were observed in close regional association to the vasculature. Added quantitative analyses based on inter-hemispheric differences of MBP-immunoreactivity revealed a shell-like pattern with a significant increase directly in the ischemic core, followed by a gradual decline toward the striatum, the ischemic border zone and the lateral neocortex. This observation was consistent in subsequent analyses on the potential impact of age and genetic background. Furthermore, immunoreactivities for CNPase, MBP, and OSP were found to be simultaneously enhanced. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for a critical role of oligodendrocyte structures in the early phase after experimental stroke, strengthening their involvement in the ischemia-affected NVU. Consequently, oligodendrocytes and their myelin-associated proteins may qualify as potential targets for neuroprotective and regenerative approaches in stroke.

The effect of palmitoylation on the conformation and physical stability of a model peptide hormone

Peptides are ideal drug candidates due to their potency and specificity, but suffer from a short half-life and low membrane permeability. Acylation can overcome these limitations but the consequences to stability under different formulation conditions and stresses are largely unreported. Using synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD), we show that palmitoylation of a 28 amino acid peptide hormone (pI 9.82) induced a structural transition from 310-helix to α-helix, irrespective of buffer type and pH investigated (5.5-8.0) when compared to the non acylated analogues. These conformational preferences were retained in the presence of non-ionic micelles but not anionic micelles, which induced an α-helical structure for all peptides. Palmitoylation promoted an irreversible peptide denaturation under thermal stress at pH ≥ 6.5 and increased the propensity for loss of helical structure under high photon flux (here used as a novel accelerated photostability test). The presence of either ionic or non-ionic micelles did not recover these conformational changes over the same irradiation period. These results demonstrate that acylation can change peptide conformation and decrease thermal-/photo-stability, with important consequences for drug-development strategies.

The myelin membrane-associated enzyme 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase: on a highway to structure and function

The membrane-anchored myelin enzyme 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) was discovered in the early 1960s and has since then troubled scientists with its peculiar catalytic activity and high expression levels in the central nervous system. Despite decades of research, the actual physiological relevance of CNPase has only recently begun to unravel. In addition to a role in myelination, CNPase is also involved in local adenosine production in traumatic brain injury and possibly has a regulatory function in mitochondrial membrane permeabilization. Although research focusing on the CNPase phosphodiesterase activity has been helpful, several open questions concerning the protein function in vivo remain unanswered. This review is focused on past research on CNPase, especially in the fields of structural biology and enzymology, and outlines the current understanding regarding the biochemical and physiological significance of CNPase, providing ideas and directions for future research.

2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterases inhibit hepatitis B virus replication

2’,3’-cyclic nucleotide 3’-phosphodiesterase (CNP) is a member of the interferon-stimulated genes, which includes isoforms CNP1 and CNP2. CNP1 is locally expressed in the myelin sheath but CNP2 is additionally expressed at low levels outside the nervous system. CNPs regulate multiple cellular functions and suppress protein production by association with polyadenylation of mRNA. Polyadenylation of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNAs is crucial for HBV replication. Whether CNPs interact with polyadenylation signal of HBV RNAs and interfere HBV replication is unknown. In this study, we evaluated expressions of CNP isoforms in hepatoma cell lines and their effects on HBV replication. We found that CNP2 is moderately expressed and gently responded to interferon treatment in HepG2, but not in Huh7 cells. The CNP1 and CNP2 potently inhibited HBV production by blocking viral proteins synthesis and reducing viral RNAs, respectively. In chronic hepatitis B patients, CNP was expressed in most of HBV-infected hepatocytes of liver specimens. Knockdown of CNP expression moderately improved viral production in the HepG2.2.15 cells treated with IFN-α. In conclusion, CNP might be a mediator of interferon-induced response against HBV.

Nfasc155H and MAG are specifically susceptible to detergent extraction in the absence of the myelin sphingolipid sulfatide

Mice incapable of synthesizing the myelin lipid sulfatide form paranodes that deteriorate with age. Similar instability also occurs in mice that lack contactin, contactin-associated protein or neurofascin155 (Nfasc155), the proteins that cluster in the paranode and form the junctional complex that mediates myelin-axon adhesion. In contrast to these proteins, sulfatide has not been shown to be enriched in the paranode nor has a sulfatide paranodal binding partner been identified; thus, it remains unclear how the absence of sulfatide results in compromised paranode integrity. Using an in situ extraction procedure, it has been reported that the absence of the myelin sphingolipids, galactocerebroside and sulfatide, increased the susceptibility of Nfasc155 to detergent extraction. Here, employing a similar approach, we demonstrate that in the presence of galactocerebroside but in the absence of sulfatide Nfasc155 is susceptible to detergent extraction. Furthermore, we use this in situ approach to show that stable association of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) with the myelin membrane is sulfatide dependent while the membrane associations of myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, myelin basic protein and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase are sulfatide independent. These findings indicate that myelin proteins maintain their membrane associations by different mechanisms. Moreover, the myelin proteins that cluster in the paranode and require sulfatide mediate myelin-axon adhesion. Additionally, the apparent dependency on sulfatide for maintaining Nfasc155 and MAG associations is intriguing since the fatty acid composition of sulfatide is altered and paranodal ultrastructure is compromised in multiple sclerosis. Thus, our findings present a potential link between sulfatide perturbation and myelin deterioration in multiple sclerosis.

Differential expression of 2',3'-cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase and neural lineage markers correlate with glioblastoma xenograft infiltration and patient survival

PURPOSE

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a poorly treated human brain cancer with few established clinically useful molecular prognostic markers. We characterized glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSC) according to developmental neural lineage markers and correlated their expression with patient survival.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Immunoblot array of neural lineage markers classified five independently isolated human GSC lines into three classes exhibiting differential expression of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC), astrocyte progenitor cells (APC), and neural progenitor cells (NPC) markers. Immunodeficient mice were orthotopically implanted with each cell line to evaluate tumor infiltration and recipient survival. 2',3'-Cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) antigenic expression was used to evaluate a clinically annotated GBM tissue microarray with 115 specimens.

RESULTS

We report that molecular classification of patient-derived GSCs using neural lineage markers show association with differential xenograft invasiveness, and also show significant correlation to survival in both the mouse model and human patients. Orthotopic implantation into immunodeficient mice showed Ki-67 proliferative index independent xenograft infiltration: class I GSCs (OPC and NPC positive) established focal lesions, class II GSCs (NPC positive) formed minimally invasive lesions, and class III GSCs (APC positive) established highly infiltrative lesions. The OPC marker, CNP also exhibited high expression in focal xenografts versus low expression in invasive xenografts. Differential CNP expression correlated with mouse model survival, and CNP immunoassay of a large GBM tissue microarray also showed significant differential patient survival.

CONCLUSIONS

GSC classification with developmental neural lineage markers revealed CNP as a novel and potentially useful clinical prognosis marker, and suggests clinical importance for patient-specific GSC analysis.

Myelin 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase: active-site ligand binding and molecular conformation

The 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) is a highly abundant membrane-associated enzyme in the myelin sheath of the vertebrate nervous system. CNPase is a member of the 2H phosphoesterase family and catalyzes the formation of 2'-nucleotide products from 2',3'-cyclic substrates; however, its physiological substrate and function remain unknown. It is likely that CNPase participates in RNA metabolism in the myelinating cell. We solved crystal structures of the phosphodiesterase domain of mouse CNPase, showing the binding mode of nucleotide ligands in the active site. The binding mode of the product 2'-AMP provides a detailed view of the reaction mechanism. Comparisons of CNPase crystal structures highlight flexible loops, which could play roles in substrate recognition; large differences in the active-site vicinity are observed when comparing more distant members of the 2H family. We also studied the full-length CNPase, showing its N-terminal domain is involved in RNA binding and dimerization. Our results provide a detailed picture of the CNPase active site during its catalytic cycle, and suggest a specific function for the previously uncharacterized N-terminal domain.

Conformations of peptides derived from myelin-specific proteins in membrane-mimetic conditions probed by synchrotron radiation CD spectroscopy

Myelin is a tightly packed membrane multilayer in the nervous system, which harbours a specific set of quantitatively major proteins. All these proteins interact with the lipid bilayer, being either peripheral or integral membrane proteins. In this study, we examined the conformational properties of peptides from the myelin proteins P0, CNPase, MOBP, P2 and MOG, using trifluoroethanol and micelles of different detergents as membrane-like mimics. The peptides showed significant differences in their folding under the employed conditions, as evidenced by synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy. Our experiments provide new structural information on the interactions between myelin proteins and membranes, using a simplified model system of synthetic peptides and micelles.

Early ultrastructural defects of axons and axon-glia junctions in mice lacking expression of Cnp1

Most axons in the central nervous system (CNS) are surrounded by a multilayered myelin sheath that promotes fast, saltatory conduction of electrical impulses. By insulating the axon, myelin also shields the axoplasm from the extracellular milieu. In the CNS, oligodendrocytes provide support for the long-term maintenance of myelinated axons, independent of the myelin sheath. Here, we use electron microscopy and morphometric analyses to examine the evolution of axonal and oligodendroglial changes in mice deficient in 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) and in mice deficient in both CNP and proteolipid protein (PLP/DM20). We show that CNP is necessary for the formation of a normal inner tongue process of oligodendrocytes that myelinate small diameter axons. We also show that axonal degeneration in Cnp1 null mice is present very early in postnatal life. Importantly, compact myelin formed by transplanted Cnp1 null oligodendrocytes induces the same degenerative changes in shiverer axons that normally are dysmyelinated but structurally intact. Mice deficient in both CNP and PLP develop a more severe axonal phenotype than either single mutant, indicating that the two oligodendroglial proteins serve distinct functions in supporting the myelinated axon. These observations support a model in which the trophic functions of oligodendrocytes serve to offset the physical shielding of axons by myelin membranes.