1
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Heo C, Kwak HJ, Ngo LH, Woo RS, Lee SJ. Implementation of the neuro-glia-vascular unit through co-culture of adult neural stem cells and vascular cells and transcriptomic analysis of diverse Aβ assembly types. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 402:110029. [PMID: 38042304 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.110029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized layer between blood vessels and tissue in the brain, which is comprised of a neuro-glia-vascular (NGV) unit, thus play a vital role in various brain diseases. NEW METHOD We developed the in vitro NGV units by co-culturing brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs; bEnd.3) and primary neural stem cells extracted from subventricular zone of adult mice. This approach was designed to mimic the RNA profile conditions found in the microvessels of a mouse brain and confirmed through various comparative transcriptome analyses. RESULTS Optimal NGV unit development was achieved by adjusting cell density-dependent co-culture ratios. Specifically, the morphogenic development and neuronal association of astrocyte endfeet were well observed in the contact region with BMECs in the NGV unit. Through transcriptome analysis, we compared co-cultured bEnd.3/NSCs with monocultured bEnd.3 or NSCs and additionally compared them with previously reported mouse brain vascular tissue to show that this NGV unit model is a suitable in vitro model for neurological disease such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) This in vitro NGV unit was formed from neural stem cells and vascular cells in the brain of adult mice, not embryos. It is very useful for studying brain disease mechanisms by identifying proteins and genes associated with diseases progress. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that this simple in vitro NGV model is appropriate to investigate the relationship between BBB changes and pathological factors in the fields of neurovascular biology and cerebrovascular diseases including AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaejeong Heo
- Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics (CINAP), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, South Korea; Institute for Quantum Biophysics (IQB), Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Hee-Jin Kwak
- Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics (CINAP), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Long Hoang Ngo
- Department of Bioactive Material Sciences and Research Center of Bioactive Materials, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do 54896, South Korea
| | - Ran-Sook Woo
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon 34824, South Korea.
| | - Sook-Jeong Lee
- Department of Bioactive Material Sciences and Research Center of Bioactive Materials, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do 54896, South Korea.
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2
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Jasiecki J, Targońska M, Janaszak-Jasiecka A, Kalinowski L, Waleron K, Wasąg B. Butyrylcholinesterase signal sequence self-aggregates and enhances amyloid fibril formation in vitro. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 386:110783. [PMID: 37884182 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110783] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis has been attributed to extracellular aggregates of amyloid β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the human brain. It has been reported that butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) also accumulates in the brain Aβ plaques in AD. We have previously found that the BChE substitution in 5'UTR caused an in-frame N-terminal extension of 41 amino acids of the BChE signal peptide. The resultant variant with a 69 amino acid signal peptide, designated N-BChE, could play a role in AD development. Here, we report that the signal sequence of the BChE, if produced in an extended 69 aa version, can self-aggregate and could form seeds that enhance amyloid fibril formation in vitro in a dose-dependent manner and create larger co-aggregates. Similar phenomena could have been observed in the human brain if such an extended form of the signal sequence had been, in some circumstances, translated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Jasiecki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Monika Targońska
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Janaszak-Jasiecka
- Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics-Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Leszek Kalinowski
- Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics-Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland; BioTechMed Centre, Department of Mechanics of Materials and Structures, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Waleron
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Bartosz Wasąg
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland; Laboratory of Clinical Genetics, University Clinical Centre, 80-952, Gdańsk, Poland
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3
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Maiuolo J, Costanzo P, Masullo M, D’Errico A, Nasso R, Bonacci S, Mollace V, Oliverio M, Arcone R. Hydroxytyrosol-Donepezil Hybrids Play a Protective Role in an In Vitro Induced Alzheimer's Disease Model and in Neuronal Differentiated Human SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13461. [PMID: 37686262 PMCID: PMC10488223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative pathology among progressive dementias, and it is characterized by the accumulation in the brain of extracellular aggregates of beta-amyloid proteins and neurofibrillary intracellular tangles consisting of τ-hyperphosphorylated proteins. Under normal conditions, beta-amyloid peptides exert important trophic and antioxidant roles, while their massive presence leads to a cascade of events culminating in the onset of AD. The fibrils of beta-amyloid proteins are formed by the process of fibrillogenesis that, starting from individual monomers of beta-amyloid, can generate polymers of this protein, constituting the hypothesis of the "amyloid cascade". To date, due to the lack of pharmacological treatment for AD without toxic side effects, chemical research is directed towards the realization of hybrid compounds that can act as an adjuvant in the treatment of this neurodegenerative pathology. The hybrid compounds used in this work include moieties of a hydroxytyrosol, a nitrohydroxytyrosol, a tyrosol, and a homovanillyl alcohol bound to the N-benzylpiperidine moiety of donepezil, the main drug used in AD. Previous experiments have shown different properties of these hybrids, including low toxicity and antioxidant and chelating activities. The purpose of this work was to test the effects of hybrid compounds mixed with Aβ1-40 to induce fibrillogenesis and mimic AD pathogenesis. This condition has been studied both in test tubes and by an in vitro model of neuronal differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The results obtained from test tube experiments showed that some hybrids inhibit the activity of the enzymes AChE, BuChE, and BACE-1. Cell experiments suggested that hybrids could inhibit fibrillogenesis, negatively modulating caspase-3. They were also shown to exert antioxidant effects, and the acetylated hybrids were found to be more functional and efficient than nonacetylated forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Maiuolo
- Department of Health Science, Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health (IRC-FSH), University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Paola Costanzo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, Cubo 12C, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Mariorosario Masullo
- Department of Movement Science and Well-Being, University “Parthenope” of Naples, Via Medina, 40, 80133 Napoli, Italy; (M.M.); (R.A.)
| | - Antonio D’Errico
- Department of Movement Science and Well-Being, University “Parthenope” of Naples, Via Medina, 40, 80133 Napoli, Italy; (M.M.); (R.A.)
| | - Rosarita Nasso
- Department of Movement Science and Well-Being, University “Parthenope” of Naples, Via Medina, 40, 80133 Napoli, Italy; (M.M.); (R.A.)
| | - Sonia Bonacci
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy (M.O.)
| | - Vincenzo Mollace
- Department of Health Science, Institute of Research for Food Safety & Health (IRC-FSH), University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Manuela Oliverio
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy (M.O.)
| | - Rosaria Arcone
- Department of Movement Science and Well-Being, University “Parthenope” of Naples, Via Medina, 40, 80133 Napoli, Italy; (M.M.); (R.A.)
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4
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Zhang W, Wang R, Liu M, Li S, Vokoun AE, Deng W, Dupont RL, Zhang F, Li S, Wang Y, Liu Z, Zheng Y, Liu S, Yang Y, Wang C, Yu L, Yao Y, Wang X, Wang C. Single-molecule visualization determines conformational substate ensembles in β-sheet-rich peptide fibrils. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg7943. [PMID: 37406110 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg7943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
An understanding of protein conformational ensembles is essential for revealing the underlying mechanisms of interpeptide recognition and association. However, experimentally resolving multiple simultaneously existing conformational substates remains challenging. Here, we report the use of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to analyze the conformational substate ensembles of β sheet peptides with a submolecular resolution (in-plane <2.6 Å). We observed ensembles of more than 10 conformational substates (with free energy fluctuations between several kBTs) in peptide homoassemblies of keratin (KRT) and amyloidal peptides (-5Aβ42 and TDP-43 341-357). Furthermore, STM reveals a change in the conformational ensemble of peptide mutants, which is correlated with the macroscopic properties of peptide assemblies. Our results demonstrate that the STM-based single-molecule imaging can capture a thorough picture of the conformational substates with which to build an energetic landscape of interconformational interactions and can rapidly screen conformational ensembles, which can complement conventional characterization techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Ruonan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Mingwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Shucong Li
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Asher E Vokoun
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Weichen Deng
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Robert L Dupont
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Feiyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
- Institute for Advanced Materials, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, P. R. China
| | - Shuyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS and State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Yongfang Zheng
- Engineering Research Center of Industrial Biocatalysis, Fujian Province Universities, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, P.R. China
| | - Shuli Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University Civil Aviation School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100123, P. R. China
| | - Yanlian Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Chen Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Biological Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Nanoscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Lanlan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
| | - Yuxing Yao
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Xiaoguang Wang
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Sustainability Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Chenxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, P. R. China
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5
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Ghosh S, Ali R, Verma S. Aβ-oligomers: A potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 239:124231. [PMID: 36996958 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The cascade of amyloid formation relates to multiple complex events at the molecular level. Previous research has established amyloid plaque deposition as the leading cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, detected mainly in aged population. The primary components of the plaques are two alloforms of amyloid-beta (Aβ), Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40 peptides. Recent studies have provided considerable evidence contrary to the previous claim indicating that amyloid-beta oligomers (AβOs) as the main culprit responsible for AD-associated neurotoxicity and pathogenesis. In this review, we have discussed the primary features of AβOs, such as assembly formation, the kinetics of oligomer formation, interactions with various membranes/membrane receptors, the origin of toxicity, and oligomer-specific detection methods. Recently, the discovery of rationally designed antibodies has opened a gateway for using synthesized peptides as a grafting component in the complementarity determining region (CDR) of antibodies. Thus, the Aβ sequence motif or the complementary peptide sequence in the opposite strand of the β-sheet (extracted from the Protein Data Bank: PDB) helps design oligomer-specific inhibitors. The microscopic event responsible for oligomer formation can be targeted, and thus prevention of the overall macroscopic behaviour of the aggregation or the associated toxicity can be achieved. We have carefully reviewed the oligomer formation kinetics and associated parameters. Besides, we have depicted a thorough understanding of how the synthesized peptide inhibitors can impede the early aggregates (oligomers), mature fibrils, monomers, or a mixture of the species. The oligomer-specific inhibitors (peptides or peptide fragments) lack in-depth chemical kinetics and optimization control-based screening. In the present review, we have proposed a hypothesis for effectively screening oligomer-specific inhibitors using the chemical kinetics (determining the kinetic parameters) and optimization control strategy (cost-dependent analysis). Further, it may be possible to implement the structure-kinetic-activity-relationship (SKAR) strategy instead of structure-activity-relationship (SAR) to improve the inhibitor's activity. The controlled optimization of the kinetic parameters and dose usage will be beneficial for narrowing the search window for the inhibitors.
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6
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Thacker D, Willas A, Dear AJ, Linse S. Role of Hydrophobicity at the N-Terminal Region of Aβ42 in Secondary Nucleation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3477-3487. [PMID: 36411082 PMCID: PMC9732875 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00504] [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] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The self-assembly of the amyloid β 42 (Aβ42) peptide is linked to Alzheimer's disease, and oligomeric intermediates are linked to neuronal cell death during the pathology of the disease. These oligomers are produced prolifically during secondary nucleation, by which the aggregation of monomers is catalyzed on fibril surfaces. Significant progress has been made in understanding the aggregation mechanism of Aβ42; still, a detailed molecular-level understanding of secondary nucleation is lacking. Here, we explore the role of four hydrophobic residues on the unstructured N-terminal region of Aβ42 in secondary nucleation. We create eight mutants with single substitutions at one of the four positions─Ala2, Phe4, Tyr10, and Val12─to decrease the hydrophobicity at respective positions (A2T, A2S, F4A, F4S, Y10A, Y10S, V12A, and V12S) and one mutant (Y10F) to remove the polar nature of Tyr10. Kinetic analyses of aggregation data reveal that the hydrophobicity at the N-terminal region of Aβ42, especially at positions 10 and 12, affects the rate of fibril mass generated via secondary nucleation. Cryo-electron micrographs reveal that most of the mutants with lower hydrophobicity form fibrils that are markedly longer than WT Aβ42, in line with the reduced secondary nucleation rates for these peptides. The dominance of secondary nucleation, however, is still retained in the aggregation mechanism of these mutants because the rate of primary nucleation is even more reduced. This highlights that secondary nucleation is a general phenomenon that is not dependent on any one particular feature of the peptide and is rather robust to sequence perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dev Thacker
- Department
of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Lund22362, Sweden
| | - Amanda Willas
- Department
of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Lund22362, Sweden
| | - Alexander J. Dear
- Department
of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Lund22362, Sweden,Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Sara Linse
- Department
of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Lund22362, Sweden,
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7
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Liang R, Tian Y, Viles JH. Cross-seeding of WT amyloid-β with Arctic but not Italian familial mutants accelerates fibril formation in Alzheimer's disease. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102071. [PMID: 35643314 PMCID: PMC9243174 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involves the neurotoxic self-assembly of a 40 and 42 residue peptide, Amyloid-β (Aβ). Inherited early-onset AD can be caused by single point mutations within the Aβ sequence, including Arctic (E22G) and Italian (E22K) familial mutants. These mutations are heterozygous, resulting in an equal proportion of the WT and mutant Aβ isoform expression. It is therefore important to understand how these mixtures of Aβ isoforms interact with each other and influence the kinetics and morphology of their assembly into oligomers and fibrils. Using small amounts of nucleating fibril seeds, here, we systematically monitored the kinetics of fibril formation, comparing self-seeding with cross-seeding behavior of a range of isoform mixtures of Aβ42 and Aβ40. We confirm that Aβ40(WT) does not readily cross-seed Aβ42(WT) fibril formation. In contrast, fibril formation of Aβ40(Arctic) is hugely accelerated by Aβ42(WT) fibrils, causing an eight-fold reduction in the lag-time to fibrillization. We propose that cross-seeding between the more abundant Aβ40(Arctic) and Aβ42(WT) may be important for driving early-onset AD and will propagate fibril morphology as indicated by fibril twist periodicity. This kinetic behavior is not emulated by the Italian mutant, where minimal cross-seeding is observed. In addition, we studied the cross-seeding behavior of a C-terminal-amidated Aβ42 analog to probe the coulombic charge interplay between Glu22/Asp23/Lys28 and the C-terminal carboxylate. Overall, these studies highlight the role of cross-seeding between WT and mutant Aβ40/42 isoforms, which can impact the rate and structure of fibril assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruina Liang
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yao Tian
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John H Viles
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, London, United Kingdom.
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8
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Subedi S, Sasidharan S, Nag N, Saudagar P, Tripathi T. Amyloid Cross-Seeding: Mechanism, Implication, and Inhibition. Molecules 2022; 27:1776. [PMID: 35335141 PMCID: PMC8955620 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27061776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Most neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, etc. are caused by inclusions and plaques containing misfolded protein aggregates. These protein aggregates are essentially formed by the interactions of either the same (homologous) or different (heterologous) sequences. Several experimental pieces of evidence have revealed the presence of cross-seeding in amyloid proteins, which results in a multicomponent assembly; however, the molecular and structural details remain less explored. Here, we discuss the amyloid proteins and the cross-seeding phenomena in detail. Data suggest that targeting the common epitope of the interacting amyloid proteins may be a better therapeutic option than targeting only one species. We also examine the dual inhibitors that target the amyloid proteins participating in the cross-seeding events. The future scopes and major challenges in understanding the mechanism and developing therapeutics are also considered. Detailed knowledge of the amyloid cross-seeding will stimulate further research in the practical aspects and better designing anti-amyloid therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushma Subedi
- Molecular and Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India; (S.S.); (N.N.)
| | - Santanu Sasidharan
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal 506004, India;
| | - Niharika Nag
- Molecular and Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India; (S.S.); (N.N.)
| | - Prakash Saudagar
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal 506004, India;
| | - Timir Tripathi
- Molecular and Structural Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India; (S.S.); (N.N.)
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9
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Braun GA, Dear AJ, Sanagavarapu K, Zetterberg H, Linse S. Amyloid-β peptide 37, 38 and 40 individually and cooperatively inhibit amyloid-β 42 aggregation. Chem Sci 2022; 13:2423-2439. [PMID: 35310497 PMCID: PMC8864715 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc02990h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathology of Alzheimer's disease is connected to the aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide, which in vivo exists as a number of length-variants. Truncations and extensions are found at both the N- and C-termini, relative to the most commonly studied 40- and 42-residue alloforms. Here, we investigate the aggregation of two physiologically abundant alloforms, Aβ37 and Aβ38, as pure peptides and in mixtures with Aβ40 and Aβ42. A variety of molar ratios were applied in quaternary mixtures to investigate whether a certain ratio is maximally inhibiting of the more toxic alloform Aβ42. Through kinetic analysis, we show that both Aβ37 and Aβ38 self-assemble through an autocatalytic secondary nucleation reaction to form fibrillar β-sheet-rich aggregates, albeit on a longer timescale than Aβ40 or Aβ42. Additionally, we show that the shorter alloforms co-aggregate with Aβ40, affecting both the kinetics of aggregation and the resulting fibrillar ultrastructure. In contrast, neither Aβ37 nor Aβ38 forms co-aggregates with Aβ42; however, both short alloforms reduce the rate of Aβ42 aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, we show that the aggregation of Aβ42 is more significantly impeded by a combination of Aβ37, Aβ38, and Aβ40 than by any of these alloforms independently. These results demonstrate that the aggregation of any given Aβ alloform is significantly perturbed by the presence of other alloforms, particularly in heterogeneous mixtures, such as is found in the extracellular fluid of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A Braun
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Alexander J Dear
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University Lund Sweden
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
- Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University Cambridge MA USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg Mölndal Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Mölndal Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology Queen Square London UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL London UK
| | - Sara Linse
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University Lund Sweden
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10
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Klafki HW, Wirths O, Mollenhauer B, Liepold T, Rieper P, Esselmann H, Vogelgsang J, Wiltfang J, Jahn O. Detection and quantification of Aβ-3-40 (APP669-711) in cerebrospinal fluid. J Neurochem 2022; 160:578-589. [PMID: 34984682 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Neurochemical biomarkers can support the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and may facilitate clinical trials. In blood plasma, the ratio of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides Aβ-3-40/Aβ1-42 can predict cerebral amyloid-β pathology with high accuracy (Nakamura et al., 2018). Whether or not Aβ-3-40 (aka. amyloid precursor protein (APP) 669-711) is also present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is not clear. Here, we investigated whether Aβ-3-40 can be detected in CSF and to what extent the CSF Aβ-3-40/Aβ42 ratio is able to differentiate between individuals with or without amyloid-β positron emission tomography (PET) evidence of brain amyloid. The occurrence of Aβ-3-40 in human CSF was assessed by immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry. For quantifying the CSF concentrations of Aβ-3-40 in 23 amyloid PET-negative and 17 amyloid PET-positive subjects, we applied a sandwich-type immunoassay. Our findings provide clear evidence of the presence of Aβ-3-40 and Aβ-3-38 in human CSF. While there was no statistically significant difference in the CSF concentration of Aβ-3-40 between the two diagnostic groups, the CSF Aβ-3-40/Aβ42 ratio was increased in the amyloid PET-positive individuals. We conclude that Aβ-3-40 appears to be a regular constituent of CSF and may potentially serve to accentuate the selective decrease in CSF Aβ42 in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Wolfgang Klafki
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Wirths
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Brit Mollenhauer
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany.,Paracelsus-Elena-Klinik, Kassel, Germany
| | - Thomas Liepold
- Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Proteomics Group, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Petra Rieper
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Hermann Esselmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jonathan Vogelgsang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Goettingen, Germany.,Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Olaf Jahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Germany.,Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Proteomics Group, Goettingen, Germany
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11
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Rodriguez Camargo DC, Sileikis E, Chia S, Axell E, Bernfur K, Cataldi RL, Cohen SIA, Meisl G, Habchi J, Knowles TPJ, Vendruscolo M, Linse S. Proliferation of Tau 304-380 Fragment Aggregates through Autocatalytic Secondary Nucleation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:4406-4415. [PMID: 34783519 PMCID: PMC8640994 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
![]()
The self-assembly
of the protein tau into neurofibrillary tangles
is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease and related
tauopathies. Still, the molecular mechanism of tau aggregation is
largely unknown. This problem may be addressed by systematically obtaining
reproducible in vitro kinetics measurements under quiescent conditions
in the absence of triggering substances. Here, we implement this strategy
by developing protocols for obtaining an ultrapure tau fragment (residues
304–380 of tau441) and for performing spontaneous aggregation
assays with reproducible kinetics under quiescent conditions. We are
thus able to identify the mechanism of fibril formation of the tau
304–380 fragment at physiological pH using fluorescence spectroscopy
and mass spectrometry. We find that primary nucleation is slow, and
that secondary processes dominate the aggregation process once the
initial aggregates are formed. Moreover, our results further show
that secondary nucleation of monomers on fibril surfaces dominates
over fragmentation of fibrils. Using separate isotopes in monomers
and fibrils, through mass spectroscopy measurements, we verify the
isotope composition of the intermediate oligomeric species, which
reveals that these small aggregates are generated from monomer through
secondary nucleation. Our results provide a framework for understanding
the processes leading to tau aggregation in disease and for selecting
possible tau forms as targets in the development of therapeutic interventions
in Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C. Rodriguez Camargo
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Chemical Centre, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Wren Therapeutics Limited, Clarendon House, Clarendon Road, Cambridge CB2 8FH, United Kingdom
| | - Eimantas Sileikis
- Wren Therapeutics Limited, Clarendon House, Clarendon Road, Cambridge CB2 8FH, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Chia
- Wren Therapeutics Limited, Clarendon House, Clarendon Road, Cambridge CB2 8FH, United Kingdom
| | - Emil Axell
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Chemical Centre, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Katja Bernfur
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Chemical Centre, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Rodrigo L. Cataldi
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel I. A. Cohen
- Wren Therapeutics Limited, Clarendon House, Clarendon Road, Cambridge CB2 8FH, United Kingdom
| | - Georg Meisl
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Johnny Habchi
- Wren Therapeutics Limited, Clarendon House, Clarendon Road, Cambridge CB2 8FH, United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Chemical Centre, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
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12
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Sarkar S, Sarkar A, Som A, Agasti SS, George SJ. Stereoselective Primary and Secondary Nucleation Events in Multicomponent Seeded Supramolecular Polymerization. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:11777-11787. [PMID: 34308651 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c05642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Bioinspired, kinetically controlled seeded growth has been recently shown to provide length, dispersity, and sequence control on the primary structure of dynamic supramolecular polymers. However, command over the molecular organization at all hierarchical levels for the modulation of higher order structures of supramolecular polymers remains a formidable task. In this context, a surface-catalyzed secondary nucleation process, which plays an important role in the autocatalytic generation of amyloid fibrils and also during the chiral crystallization of small monomers, offers exciting possibilities for topology control in synthetic macromolecular systems by introducing secondary growth pathways compared to the usual primary nucleation-elongation process. However, mechanistic insights into the molecular determinants and driving forces for the secondary nucleation event in synthetic systems are not yet realized. Herein, we attempt to fill this dearth by showing an unprecedented molecular chirality control on the primary and secondary nucleation events in seed-induced supramolecular polymerization. Comprehensive kinetic experiments using in situ spectroscopic probing of the temporal changes of the monomer organization during the growth process provide a unique study to characterize the primary and secondary nucleation events in a supramolecular polymerization process. Kinetic analyses along with various microscopic studies further reveal the remarkable effect of stereoselective nucleation and seeding events on the (micro)structural aspects of the resulting multicomponent supramolecular polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souvik Sarkar
- New Chemistry Unit and School of Advanced Materials (SAMat), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India
| | - Aritra Sarkar
- New Chemistry Unit and School of Advanced Materials (SAMat), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India
| | - Arka Som
- New Chemistry Unit and School of Advanced Materials (SAMat), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India
| | - Sarit S Agasti
- New Chemistry Unit and School of Advanced Materials (SAMat), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India
| | - Subi J George
- New Chemistry Unit and School of Advanced Materials (SAMat), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India
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13
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Toward the equilibrium and kinetics of amyloid peptide self-assembly. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 70:87-98. [PMID: 34153659 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Several devastating human diseases are linked to peptide self-assembly, but our understanding their onset and progression is not settled. This is a sign of the complexity of the aggregation process, which is prevented, catalyzed, or retarded by numerous factors in body fluids and cells, varying in time and space. Biophysical studies of pure peptide solutions contribute insights into the underlying steps in the process and quantitative parameters relating to rate constants (energy barriers) and equilibrium constants (population distributions). This requires methods to quantify the concentration of at least one species in the process. Translation to an in vivo situation poses an enormous challenge, and the effects of selected components (bottom up) or entire body fluids (top down) need to be quantified.
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14
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Zhang S, Guaglianone G, Morris MA, Yoo S, Howitz WJ, Xing L, Zheng JG, Jusuf H, Huizar G, Lin J, Kreutzer AG, Nowick JS. Expression of N-Terminal Cysteine Aβ 42 and Conjugation to Generate Fluorescent and Biotinylated Aβ 42. Biochemistry 2021; 60:1191-1200. [PMID: 33793198 PMCID: PMC9059633 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescent derivatives of the β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) are valuable tools for studying the interactions of Aβ with cells. Facile access to labeled expressed Aβ offers the promise of Aβ with greater sequence and stereochemical integrity, without impurities from amino acid deletion and epimerization. Here, we report methods for the expression of Aβ42 with an N-terminal cysteine residue, Aβ(C1-42), and its conjugation to generate Aβ42 bearing fluorophores or biotin. The methods rely on the hitherto unrecognized observation that expression of the Aβ(MC1-42) gene yields the Aβ(C1-42) peptide, because the N-terminal methionine is endogenously excised by Escherichia coli. Conjugation of Aβ(C1-42) with maleimide-functionalized fluorophores or biotin affords the N-terminally labeled Aβ42. The expression affords ∼14 mg of N-terminal cysteine Aβ from 1 L of bacterial culture. Subsequent conjugation affords ∼3 mg of labeled Aβ from 1 L of bacterial culture with minimal cost for labeling reagents. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis indicates the N-terminal cysteine Aβ to be >97% pure and labeled Aβ peptides to be 94-97% pure. Biophysical studies show that the labeled Aβ peptides behave like unlabeled Aβ and suggest that labeling of the N-terminus does not substantially alter the properties of the Aβ. We further demonstrate applications of the fluorophore-labeled Aβ peptides by using fluorescence microscopy to visualize their interactions with mammalian cells and bacteria. We anticipate that these methods will provide researchers convenient access to useful N-terminally labeled Aβ, as well as Aβ with an N-terminal cysteine that enables further functionalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Gretchen Guaglianone
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Michael A. Morris
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Stan Yoo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - William J. Howitz
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Li Xing
- Irvine Materials Research Institute (IMRI), University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2575, United States
| | - Jian-Guo Zheng
- Irvine Materials Research Institute (IMRI), University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2575, United States
| | - Hannah Jusuf
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Grace Huizar
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Jonathan Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Adam G. Kreutzer
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - James S. Nowick
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
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15
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The Aggregation Pattern of Aβ
1–40
is Altered by the Presence of
N
‐Truncated Aβ
4–40
and/or Cu
II
in a Similar Way through Ionic Interactions. Chemistry 2021; 27:2798-2809. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.202004484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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16
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The role of fibril structure and surface hydrophobicity in secondary nucleation of amyloid fibrils. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:25272-25283. [PMID: 33004626 PMCID: PMC7568274 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2002956117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease affects a rapidly growing number of individuals worldwide. Key unresolved questions relate to the onset and propagation of the disease, linked to the self-assembly of amyloid β peptide into fibrillar and smaller aggregates. This study investigates the propagation of aggregates of amyloid β peptide and asks whether hydrophobic molecular features observed on the fibril surface correlate with its ability to catalyze the formation of new aggregates. This question is motivated by the associated formation of intermediate forms that are toxic to neuronal cells. The results imply that surface catalysis is independent of surface details but requires that the monomers that form the new aggregate can adopt the structure of the parent aggregate without steric clashes. Crystals, nanoparticles, and fibrils catalyze the generation of new aggregates on their surface from the same type of monomeric building blocks as the parent assemblies. This secondary nucleation process can be many orders of magnitude faster than primary nucleation. In the case of amyloid fibrils associated with Alzheimer’s disease, this process leads to the multiplication and propagation of aggregates, whereby short-lived oligomeric intermediates cause neurotoxicity. Understanding the catalytic activity is a fundamental goal in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s and associated diseases. Here we explore the role of fibril structure and hydrophobicity by asking whether the V18, A21, V40, and A42 side chains which are exposed on the Aβ42 fibril surface as continuous hydrophobic patches play a role in secondary nucleation. Single, double, and quadruple serine substitutions were made. Kinetic analyses of aggregation data at multiple monomer concentrations reveal that all seven mutants retain the dominance of secondary nucleation as the main mechanism of fibril proliferation. This finding highlights the generality of secondary nucleation and its independence of the detailed molecular structure. Cryo-electron micrographs reveal that the V18S substitution causes fibrils to adopt a distinct morphology with longer twist distance than variants lacking this substitution. Self- and cross-seeding data show that surface catalysis is only efficient between peptides of identical morphology, indicating a templating role of secondary nucleation with structural conversion at the fibril surface. Our findings thus provide clear evidence that the propagation of amyloid fibril strains is possible even in systems dominated by secondary nucleation rather than fragmentation.
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17
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Huang YR, Liu RT. The Toxicity and Polymorphism of β-Amyloid Oligomers. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4477. [PMID: 32599696 PMCID: PMC7352971 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely accepted that β-amyloid oligomers (Aβos) play a key role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by inducing neuron damage and cognitive impairment, but Aβos are highly heterogeneous in their size, structure and cytotoxicity, making the corresponding studies tough to carry out. Nevertheless, a number of studies have recently made remarkable progress in the describing the characteristics and pathogenicity of Aβos. We here review the mechanisms by which Aβos exert their neuropathogenesis for AD progression, including receptor binding, cell membrane destruction, mitochondrial damage, Ca2+ homeostasis dysregulation and tau pathological induction. We also summarize the characteristics and pathogenicity such as the size, morphology and cytotoxicity of dimers, trimers, Aβ*56 and spherical oligomers, and suggest that Aβos may play a different role at different phases of AD pathogenesis, resulting in differential consequences on neuronal synaptotoxicity and survival. It is warranted to investigate the temporal sequence of Aβos in AD human brain and examine the relationship between different Aβos and cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-ru Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Rui-tian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;
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18
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Liu H, Qian C, Yang T, Wang Y, Luo J, Zhang C, Wang X, Wang X, Guo Z. Small molecule-mediated co-assembly of amyloid-β oligomers reduces neurotoxicity through promoting non-fibrillar aggregation. Chem Sci 2020; 11:7158-7169. [PMID: 34123000 PMCID: PMC8159368 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc00392a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers, particularly low molecular weight (LMW) oligomers, rather than fibrils, contribute very significantly to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, due to the inherent heterogeneity and metastability of oligomers, most of the conventional anti-oligomer therapies have indirectly modulated oligomers' toxicity through manipulating Aβ self-assembly to reduce oligomer levels, which are prone to suffering from the risk of regenerating toxic oligomers from the products of modulation. To circumvent this disadvantage, we demonstrate, for the first time, rational design of rigid pincer-like scaffold-based small molecules with blood–brain barrier permeability that specifically co-assemble with LMW Aβ oligomers through directly binding to the exposed hydrophobic regions of oligomers to form non-fibrillar, degradable, non-toxic co-aggregates. As a proof of concept, treatment with a europium complex (EC) in such a structural mode can rescue Aβ-mediated dysfunction in C. elegans models of AD in vivo. This small molecule-mediated oligomer co-assembly strategy offers an efficient approach for AD treatment. A rational design of pincer-like scaffold-based small molecule with blood-brain barrier permeability that can specifically co-assemble with low molecular weight Aβ oligomers to form non-fibrillar, degradable, non-toxic co-aggregates.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 211816 P. R. China
| | - Chengyuan Qian
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 211816 P. R. China
| | - Tao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University Nanjing 210093 P. R. China
| | - Yanqing Wang
- Institute of Environmental Toxicology and Environmental Ecology, Yancheng Teachers University Yancheng 224007 P. R. China
| | - Jian Luo
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 211816 P. R. China
| | - Changli Zhang
- School of Environmental Science, Nanjing Xiaozhuang College Nanjing 211171 P. R. China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Nanjing Tech University Nanjing 211816 P. R. China .,State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University Nanjing 210093 P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University Nanjing 210093 P. R. China
| | - Zijian Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Nanjing University Nanjing 210093 P. R. China
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19
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Michaels TCT, Šarić A, Curk S, Bernfur K, Arosio P, Meisl G, Dear AJ, Cohen SIA, Dobson CM, Vendruscolo M, Linse S, Knowles TPJ. Dynamics of oligomer populations formed during the aggregation of Alzheimer's Aβ42 peptide. Nat Chem 2020; 12:445-451. [PMID: 32284577 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-020-0452-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Oligomeric species populated during the aggregation of the Aβ42 peptide have been identified as potent cytotoxins linked to Alzheimer's disease, but the fundamental molecular pathways that control their dynamics have yet to be elucidated. By developing a general approach that combines theory, experiment and simulation, we reveal, in molecular detail, the mechanisms of Aβ42 oligomer dynamics during amyloid fibril formation. Even though all mature amyloid fibrils must originate as oligomers, we found that most Aβ42 oligomers dissociate into their monomeric precursors without forming new fibrils. Only a minority of oligomers converts into fibrillar structures. Moreover, the heterogeneous ensemble of oligomeric species interconverts on timescales comparable to those of aggregation. Our results identify fundamentally new steps that could be targeted by therapeutic interventions designed to combat protein misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C T Michaels
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andela Šarić
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London, UK.,MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Samo Curk
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London, UK.,MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK.,Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Katja Bernfur
- Department of Chemistry, Division for Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Georg Meisl
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alexander J Dear
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samuel I A Cohen
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Chemistry, Division for Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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20
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Brinkmalm G, Hong W, Wang Z, Liu W, O'Malley TT, Sun X, Frosch MP, Selkoe DJ, Portelius E, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Walsh DM. Identification of neurotoxic cross-linked amyloid-β dimers in the Alzheimer's brain. Brain 2020; 142:1441-1457. [PMID: 31032851 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 01/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The primary structure of canonical amyloid-β-protein was elucidated more than 30 years ago, yet the forms of amyloid-β that play a role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis remain poorly defined. Studies of Alzheimer's disease brain extracts suggest that amyloid-β, which migrates on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of ∼7 kDa (7kDa-Aβ), is particularly toxic; however, the nature of this species has been controversial. Using sophisticated mass spectrometry and sensitive assays of disease-relevant toxicity we show that brain-derived bioactive 7kDa-Aβ contains a heterogeneous mixture of covalently cross-linked dimers in the absence of any other detectable proteins. The identification of amyloid-β dimers may open a new phase of Alzheimer's research and allow a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease, and how to monitor and treat this devastating disorder. Future studies investigating the bioactivity of individual dimers cross-linked at known sites will be critical to this effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Brinkmalm
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Wei Hong
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zemin Wang
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wen Liu
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tiernan T O'Malley
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xin Sun
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew P Frosch
- Massachusetts General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Dennis J Selkoe
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erik Portelius
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, SE-431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Dominic M Walsh
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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21
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Linse S. Expression and Purification of Intrinsically Disordered Aβ Peptide and Setup of Reproducible Aggregation Kinetics Experiment. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2141:731-754. [PMID: 32696387 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0524-0_38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
High purity and sequence homogeneity of intrinsically disordered proteins are prerequisites for reproducible studies of the kinetics and equilibrium of their self-assembly reactions. Starting from the pure state enables quantitative studies of intrinsic and extrinsic factors in the process to understand its molecular determinants. Here we outline detailed protocols for recombinant expression and purification of ultra-pure amyloid β peptide (Aβ) in sequence homogeneous form, which allows for the setup of reproducible kinetic self-assembly experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Linse
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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22
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Chaudhuri P, Prajapati KP, Anand BG, Dubey K, Kar K. Amyloid cross-seeding raises new dimensions to understanding of amyloidogenesis mechanism. Ageing Res Rev 2019; 56:100937. [PMID: 31430565 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2019.100937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hallmarks of most of the amyloid pathologies are surprisingly found to be heterocomponent entities such as inclusions and plaques which contain diverse essential proteins and metabolites. Experimental studies have already revealed the occurrence of coaggregation and cross-seeding during amyloid formation of several proteins and peptides, yielding multicomponent assemblies of amyloid nature. Further, research reports on the co-occurrence of more than one type of amyloid-linked pathologies in the same individual suggest the possible cross-talk among the disease related amyloidogenic protein species during their amyloid growth. In this review paper, we have tried to gain more insight into the process of coaggregation and cross-seeding during amyloid aggregation of proteins, particularly focusing on their relevance to the pathogenesis of the protein misfolding diseases. Revelation of amyloid cross-seeding and coaggregation seems to open new dimensions in our mechanistic understanding of amyloidogenesis and such knowledge may possibly inspire better designing of anti-amyloid therapeutics.
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23
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Frankel R, Törnquist M, Meisl G, Hansson O, Andreasson U, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Frohm B, Cedervall T, Knowles TPJ, Leiding T, Linse S. Autocatalytic amplification of Alzheimer-associated Aβ42 peptide aggregation in human cerebrospinal fluid. Commun Biol 2019; 2:365. [PMID: 31602414 PMCID: PMC6783456 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0612-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is linked to amyloid β (Aβ) peptide aggregation in the brain, and a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanism of Aβ aggregation may lead to improved diagnostics and therapeutics. While previous studies have been performed in pure buffer, we approach the mechanism in vivo using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We investigated the aggregation mechanism of Aβ42 in human CSF through kinetic experiments at several Aβ42 monomer concentrations (0.8-10 µM). The data were subjected to global kinetic analysis and found consistent with an aggregation mechanism involving secondary nucleation of monomers on the fibril surface. A mechanism only including primary nucleation was ruled out. We find that the aggregation process is composed of the same microscopic steps in CSF as in pure buffer, but the rate constant of secondary nucleation is decreased. Most importantly, the autocatalytic amplification of aggregate number through catalysis on the fibril surface is prevalent also in CSF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Frankel
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O Box 124, SE22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Mattias Törnquist
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O Box 124, SE22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Georg Meisl
- Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW UK
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Ulf Andreasson
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Birgitta Frohm
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O Box 124, SE22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Tommy Cedervall
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O Box 124, SE22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW UK
- Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE UK
| | - Thom Leiding
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O Box 124, SE22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O Box 124, SE22100 Lund, Sweden
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24
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LeVatte MA, Lipfert M, Ladner-Keay C, Wishart DS. Preparation and characterization of a highly soluble Aβ 1-42 peptide variant. Protein Expr Purif 2019; 164:105480. [PMID: 31425755 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2019.105480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disease marked by the accumulation and deposition of misfolded amyloid beta or Abeta (Aβ) peptide. Two species of Aβ peptides are found in amyloid plaques, Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42, with the latter being the more amyloidogenic of the two. Understanding how and why Aβ peptides misfold, oligomerize and form amyloid plaques requires a detailed understanding of their structure and dynamics. The poor solubility and strong aggregation tendencies of Aβ1-42 has made the isolation and characterization of its different structural isoforms (monomer, dimer, oligomer, amyloid) exceedingly difficult. Furthermore, while synthetic Aβ1-42 peptides (Aβ42syn) are readily available, the cost of isotopically labeled peptide is substantial, making their characterization by NMR spectroscopy cost prohibitive. Here we describe the design, cloning, high-level production, isotopic labeling and biophysical characterization of a modified (solubility-tagged) Aβ1-42 variant that exhibits excellent water solubility and shares similar aggregation properties as wildtype Aβ1-42. Specifically, we attached six lysines (6K) to the C-terminus of native Aβ1-42 to create a more soluble, monomeric form of Aβ1-42 called Aβ42C6K. A gene for the Aβ42C6K was designed, synthesized and cloned into Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the peptide was expressed at milligram levels. The Aβ42C6K peptide was characterized using circular dichroism (CD), NMR, electron microscopy and thioflavin T fluorescence. Its ability to form stable monomers, oligomers and fibrils under different conditions was assessed. Our results indicate that Aβ42C6K stays monomeric at high concentrations (unlike Aβ1-42) and can be induced to oligomerize and form fibrils like Aβ1-42. Our novel construct could be used to explore the structure and dynamics of Aβ1-42 as well as the interaction of ligands with Aβ1-42 via NMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia A LeVatte
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E8, Canada
| | - Matthias Lipfert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E8, Canada
| | - Carol Ladner-Keay
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E8, Canada
| | - David S Wishart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E8, Canada; Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E8, Canada.
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25
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Stefaniak E, Bal W. Cu II Binding Properties of N-Truncated Aβ Peptides: In Search of Biological Function. Inorg Chem 2019; 58:13561-13577. [PMID: 31304745 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
As life expectancy increases, the number of people affected by progressive and irreversible dementia, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), is predicted to grow. No drug designs seem to be working in humans, apparently because the origins of AD have not been identified. Invoking amyloid cascade, metal ions, and ROS production hypothesis of AD, herein we share our point of view on Cu(II) binding properties of Aβ4-x, the most prevalent N-truncated Aβ peptide, currently known as the main constituent of amyloid plaques. The capability of Aβ4-x to rapidly take over copper from previously tested Aβ1-x peptides and form highly stable complexes, redox unreactive and resistant to copper exchange reactions, prompted us to propose physiological roles for these peptides. We discuss the new findings on the reactivity of Cu(II)Aβ4-x with coexisting biomolecules in the context of synaptic cleft; we suggest that the role of Aβ4-x peptides is to quench Cu(II) toxicity in the brain and maintain neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Stefaniak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences , Pawińskiego 5a , 02-106 Warsaw , Poland
| | - Wojciech Bal
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences , Pawińskiego 5a , 02-106 Warsaw , Poland
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26
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Cline EN, Bicca MA, Viola KL, Klein WL. The Amyloid-β Oligomer Hypothesis: Beginning of the Third Decade. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 64:S567-S610. [PMID: 29843241 PMCID: PMC6004937 DOI: 10.3233/jad-179941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 530] [Impact Index Per Article: 106.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The amyloid-β oligomer (AβO) hypothesis was introduced in 1998. It proposed that the brain damage leading to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was instigated by soluble, ligand-like AβOs. This hypothesis was based on the discovery that fibril-free synthetic preparations of AβOs were potent CNS neurotoxins that rapidly inhibited long-term potentiation and, with time, caused selective nerve cell death (Lambert et al., 1998). The mechanism was attributed to disrupted signaling involving the tyrosine-protein kinase Fyn, mediated by an unknown toxin receptor. Over 4,000 articles concerning AβOs have been published since then, including more than 400 reviews. AβOs have been shown to accumulate in an AD-dependent manner in human and animal model brain tissue and, experimentally, to impair learning and memory and instigate major facets of AD neuropathology, including tau pathology, synapse deterioration and loss, inflammation, and oxidative damage. As reviewed by Hayden and Teplow in 2013, the AβO hypothesis “has all but supplanted the amyloid cascade.” Despite the emerging understanding of the role played by AβOs in AD pathogenesis, AβOs have not yet received the clinical attention given to amyloid plaques, which have been at the core of major attempts at therapeutics and diagnostics but are no longer regarded as the most pathogenic form of Aβ. However, if the momentum of AβO research continues, particularly efforts to elucidate key aspects of structure, a clear path to a successful disease modifying therapy can be envisioned. Ensuring that lessons learned from recent, late-stage clinical failures are applied appropriately throughout therapeutic development will further enable the likelihood of a successful therapy in the near-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika N Cline
- Department of Neurobiology, Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, International Institute for Nanotechnology, and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Maíra Assunção Bicca
- Department of Neurobiology, Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, International Institute for Nanotechnology, and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Kirsten L Viola
- Department of Neurobiology, Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, International Institute for Nanotechnology, and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - William L Klein
- Department of Neurobiology, Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, International Institute for Nanotechnology, and Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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27
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Prakash P, Lantz TC, Jethava KP, Chopra G. Rapid, Refined, and Robust Method for Expression, Purification, and Characterization of Recombinant Human Amyloid beta 1-42. Methods Protoc 2019; 2:mps2020048. [PMID: 31181684 PMCID: PMC6632169 DOI: 10.3390/mps2020048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients primarily consists of amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ42). Commercially, Aβ42 is synthesized using high-throughput peptide synthesizers resulting in the presence of impurities and the racemization of amino acids that affects its aggregation properties. Furthermore, the repeated purchase of even a small quantity (~1 mg) of commercial Aβ42 can be expensive for academic researchers. Here, we describe a detailed methodology for robust expression of recombinant human Aβ(M1-42) in Rosetta(DE3)pLysS and BL21(DE3)pLysS competent E. coli using standard molecular biology techniques with refined and rapid one-step analytical purification techniques. The peptide is isolated and purified from transformed cells using an optimized reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) protocol with commonly available C18 columns, yielding high amounts of peptide (~15–20 mg per 1 L culture) within a short period of time. The recombinant human Aβ(M1-42) forms characteristic aggregates similar to synthetic Aβ42 aggregates as verified by western blotting and atomic force microscopy to warrant future biological use. Our rapid, refined, and robust technique produces pure recombinant human Aβ(M1-42) that may be used to synthesize chemical probes and in several downstream in vitro and in vivo assays to facilitate Alzheimer’s disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Prakash
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Travis C Lantz
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Krupal P Jethava
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Gaurav Chopra
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
- Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
- Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
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28
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Weiffert T, Meisl G, Flagmeier P, De S, Dunning CJR, Frohm B, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Portelius E, Klenerman D, Dobson CM, Knowles TPJ, Linse S. Increased Secondary Nucleation Underlies Accelerated Aggregation of the Four-Residue N-Terminally Truncated Aβ42 Species Aβ5-42. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2374-2384. [PMID: 30793584 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide into plaques is believed to play a crucial role in Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid plaques consist of fibrils of full length Aβ peptides as well as N-terminally truncated species. β-Site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme (BACE1) cleaves amyloid precursor protein in the first step in Aβ peptide production and is an attractive therapeutic target to limit Aβ generation. Inhibition of BACE1, however, induces a unique pattern of Aβ peptides with increased levels of N-terminally truncated Aβ peptides starting at position 5 (Aβ5-X), indicating that these peptides are generated through a BACE1-independent pathway. Here we elucidate the aggregation mechanism of Aβ5-42 and its influence on full-length Aβ42. We find that, compared to Aβ42, Aβ5-42 is more aggregation prone and displays enhanced nucleation rates. Aβ5-42 oligomers cause nonspecific membrane disruption to similar extent as Aβ42 but appear at earlier time points in the aggregation reaction. Noteworthy, this implies similar toxicity of Aβ42 and Aβ5-42 and the toxic species are generated faster by Aβ5-42. The increased rate of secondary nucleation on the surface of existing fibrils originates from a higher affinity of Aβ5-42 monomers for fibrils, as compared to Aβ42: an effect that may be related to the reduced net charge of Aβ5-42. Moreover, Aβ5-42 and Aβ42 peptides coaggregate into heteromolecular fibrils and either species can elongate existing Aβ42 or Aβ5-42 fibrils but Aβ42 fibrils are more catalytic than Aβ5-42 fibrils. Our findings highlight the importance of the N-terminus for surface-catalyzed nucleation and thus the production of toxic oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Weiffert
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Georg Meisl
- Centre for Misfolding Disease, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Flagmeier
- Centre for Misfolding Disease, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Suman De
- Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. R. Dunning
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Birgitta Frohm
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Institute of Neuroscience
and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska
Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, WC1N 3BG London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Institute of Neuroscience
and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska
Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Erik Portelius
- Institute of Neuroscience
and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, the Sahlgrenska
Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - David Klenerman
- Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding Disease, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Disease, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, P O box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
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29
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Cui M, Qi Q, Gurry T, Zhao T, An B, Pu J, Gui X, Cheng AA, Zhang S, Xun D, Becce M, Briatico-Vangosa F, Liu C, Lu TK, Zhong C. Modular genetic design of multi-domain functional amyloids: insights into self-assembly and functional properties. Chem Sci 2019; 10:4004-4014. [PMID: 31015941 PMCID: PMC6461117 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc00208a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineering functional amyloids through a modular genetic strategy represents new opportunities for creating multifunctional molecular materials with tailored structures and performance. Despite important advances, how fusion modules affect the self-assembly and functional properties of amyloids remains elusive. Here, using Escherichia coli curli as a model system, we systematically studied the effect of flanking domains on the structures, assembly kinetics and functions of amyloids. The designed amyloids were composed of E. coli biofilm protein CsgA (as amyloidogenic cores) and one or two flanking domains, consisting of chitin-binding domains (CBDs) from Bacillus circulans chitinase, and/or mussel foot proteins (Mfps). Incorporation of fusion domains did not disrupt the typical β-sheet structures, but indeed affected assembly rate, morphology, and stiffness of resultant fibrils. Consequently, the CsgA-fusion fibrils, particularly those containing three domains, were much shorter than the CsgA-only fibrils. Furthermore, the stiffness of the resultant fibrils was heavily affected by the structural feature of fusion domains, with β-sheet-containing domains tending to increase the Young's modulus while random coil domains decreasing the Young's modulus. In addition, fibrils containing CBD domains showed higher chitin-binding activity compared to their CBD-free counterparts. The CBD-CsgA-Mfp3 construct exhibited significantly lower binding activity than Mfp5-CsgA-CBD due to inappropriate folding of the CBD domain in the former construct, in agreement with results based upon molecular dynamics modeling. Our study provides new insights into the assembly and functional properties of designer amyloid proteins with increasing complex domain structures and lays the foundation for the future design of functional amyloid-based structures and molecular materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengkui Cui
- School of Physical Science and Technology , ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai 200120 , China .
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
- Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai 200032 , China
| | - Qi Qi
- School of Physical Science and Technology , ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai 200120 , China .
| | - Thomas Gurry
- Department of Biological Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139-4307 , USA
| | - Tianxin Zhao
- School of Physical Science and Technology , ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai 200120 , China .
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
- Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai 200032 , China
| | - Bolin An
- School of Physical Science and Technology , ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai 200120 , China .
| | - Jiahua Pu
- School of Physical Science and Technology , ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai 200120 , China .
| | - Xinrui Gui
- Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai 200032 , China
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry , Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai 200032 , China
| | - Allen A Cheng
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science , Department of Biological Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139-4307 , USA
| | - Siyu Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology , ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai 200120 , China .
| | - Dongmin Xun
- School of Physical Science and Technology , ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai 200120 , China .
| | - Michele Becce
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science , Department of Biological Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139-4307 , USA
- Dipartimento di Chimica Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica G. Natta , Politecnico di Milano , Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32 , 20133 Milano , Italy
- Department of Materials , Imperial College London , London SW7 2AZ , UK
| | - Francesco Briatico-Vangosa
- Dipartimento di Chimica Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica G. Natta , Politecnico di Milano , Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32 , 20133 Milano , Italy
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry , Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai 200032 , China
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science , Department of Biological Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02139-4307 , USA
| | - Chao Zhong
- School of Physical Science and Technology , ShanghaiTech University , Shanghai 200120 , China .
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30
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Influence of crowding and surfaces on protein amyloidogenesis: A thermo-kinetic perspective. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2019; 1867:941-953. [PMID: 30928692 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The last few decades have irreversibly implicated protein self-assembly and aggregation leading to amyloid fibril formation in proteopathies that include several neurodegenerative diseases. Emerging studies recognize the importance of eliciting the pathways leading to protein aggregation in the context of the crowded intracellular environment rather than in conventional in vitro conditions. It is found that crowded environments can have acceleratory as well as inhibitory effects on protein aggregation, depending on the interplay of underlying factors on the crucial rate limiting steps. The aggregation mechanism and transient species formed along the pathway are further altered when they interface with natural and artificial surfaces in the cellular milieu. An increasing number of studies probe the autocatalytic nature of amyloid surfaces as well as membrane bilayer effects on amyloidogenesis. Moreover, exposure to modern nanosurfaces via nanomedicines and other sources potentially invokes beneficial or deleterious biological response that needs rigorous investigation. Mounting evidences indicate that nanoparticles can either promote or impede amyloid aggregation, spurring efforts to tune their interactions for developing effective anti-amyloid strategies. Mechanistic insights into nanoparticle mediated aggregation pathways are therefore crucial for engineering anti-amyloid nanoparticle strategies that are biocompatible and sustainable. This review is a compilation of studies that contribute to the current understanding of the altering effects of molecular crowding as well as natural and artificial surfaces on protein amyloidogenesis.
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31
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Sanagavarapu K, Nüske E, Nasir I, Meisl G, Immink JN, Sormanni P, Vendruscolo M, Knowles TPJ, Malmendal A, Cabaleiro-Lago C, Linse S. A method of predicting the in vitro fibril formation propensity of Aβ40 mutants based on their inclusion body levels in E. coli. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3680. [PMID: 30842594 PMCID: PMC6403284 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39216-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of recombinant proteins in bacteria may lead to their aggregation and deposition in inclusion bodies. Since the conformational properties of proteins in inclusion bodies exhibit many of the characteristics typical of amyloid fibrils. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the rate at which proteins form amyloid fibrils may be predicted from their propensity to form inclusion bodies. To establish a method based on this concept, we first measured by SDS-PAGE and confocal microscopy the level of inclusion bodies in E. coli cells overexpressing the 40-residue amyloid-beta peptide, Aβ40, wild-type and 24 charge mutants. We then compared these results with a number of existing computational aggregation propensity predictors as well as the rates of aggregation measured in vitro for selected mutants. Our results show a strong correlation between the level of inclusion body formation and aggregation propensity, thus demonstrating the power of this approach and its value in identifying factors modulating aggregation kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani Sanagavarapu
- Lund University, Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Chemical Center, Lund, Sweden.
| | | | - Irem Nasir
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N, Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Georg Meisl
- University of Cambridge, Chemistry Department, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jasper N Immink
- Lund University, Physical Chemistry, Chemical Center, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pietro Sormanni
- University of Cambridge, Chemistry Department, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- University of Cambridge, Chemistry Department, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- University of Cambridge, Chemistry Department, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK.,Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anders Malmendal
- Lund University, Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Chemical Center, Lund, Sweden
| | - Celia Cabaleiro-Lago
- Lund University, Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Chemical Center, Lund, Sweden.,Faculty of natural sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Sara Linse
- Lund University, Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Chemical Center, Lund, Sweden.
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32
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Abstract
Abstract
Inhibition of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) aggregation is an important goal due to the connection of this process with Alzheimer’s disease. Traditionally, inhibitors were developed with an aim to retard the overall macroscopic aggregation. However, recent advances imply that approaches based on mechanistic insights may be more powerful. In such approaches, the microscopic steps underlying the aggregation process are identified, and it is established which of these step(s) lead to neurotoxicity. Inhibitors are then derived to specifically target steps involved in toxicity. The Aβ aggregation process is composed of at minimum three microscopic steps: primary nucleation of monomers only, secondary nucleation of monomers on fibril surface, and elongation of fibrils by monomer addition. The vast majority of toxic species are generated from the secondary nucleation process: this may be a key process to inhibit in order to limit toxicity. Inhibition of primary nucleation, which delays the emergence of toxic species without affecting their total concentration, may also be effective. Inhibition of elongation may instead increase the toxicity over time. Here we briefly review findings regarding secondary nucleation of Aβ, its dominance over primary nucleation, and attempts to derive inhibitors that specifically target secondary nucleation with an aim to limit toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Linse
- Lund University , Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology , P.O. Box 124 , 221 00 Lund , Sweden
- Lund University , NanoLund , Lund , Sweden
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33
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Zhang S. Discovery of the first self-assembling peptide, study of peptide dynamic behaviors, and G protein-coupled receptors using an Aviv circular dichroism spectropolarimeter. Biopolymers 2019; 109:e23235. [PMID: 30269347 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy is a useful technique to study the structure and dynamics of peptides, proteins and nucleic acids. CD is particularly useful because sample volumes may be as low as 50 μL, it provides high precision and sensitivity, and it achieves a good signal to noise ratio. CD characterizes molecular conformational changes in real time by finely controlling temperature, pH, and titrating urea and guanidine·HCl which is necessary for studying protein folding. Although CD does not provide detailed structure at the atomic level, it provides a global structural framework. Researchers use CD to observe molecular phenomena, namely how macromolecules unfold/refold and their overall self-assembly/disassembly. Using CD to monitor a peptide structure, I serendipitously discovered the self-assembling peptide EAK16 from yeast protein Zuotin. This unusual peptide formed a new type of nanofiber scaffold hydrogel material. The discovery in 1990 opened a new field in the design and study of numerous self-assembling peptides, thereby launching the area of peptide nanobiotechnology. In this review, I reflect on my personal discoveries of several self-assembling peptides, investigations into the dynamic behaviors of peptides, as well as the impact of the work on society. I also describe studies of natural membrane proteins and engineered membrane proteins using CD. Furthermore, I enjoyed numerous and close interactions with Jack Aviv since 1997. He generously supported 10 high impact workshops (Crete and Mikonos) and meetings in various countries around the world that left fond memories of many young researches who later became leading scientists in their respective fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuguang Zhang
- Center for Bits and Atoms E15-401, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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34
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Zheng Y, Xu M, Yu L, Qu F, Lin Y, Xu J, Zou Y, Yang Y, Wang C. Identifying Terminal Assembly Propensity of Amyloidal Peptides by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. Chemphyschem 2018; 20:103-107. [PMID: 30467942 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201800975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The abnormal accumulation of beta-amyloids (Aβ) in brain is considered as a key initiating cause for Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to their richness in plaques and self-aggregate propensity. In recent studies, N-terminally extended Aβ peptides (NTE-Aβ) with the N-terminus originating prior to the canonical β-secretase cleavage site were found in humans and suggested to have possible relevance to AD. However, the effects of the extended N-terminus on the amyloidegenic structure and aggregation propensity have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we characterized the assembly structures of Aβ1-42, Aβ(-5)-42, Aβ(-10)-42 and Aβ(-15)-42 with both normal and reversed sequences on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The molecularly resolved surface-mediated peptide assemblies enable identification of amyloidegenic fragments. The observations reveal that the assembly propensity of the C-terminal strand of Aβ1-42 is highly conserved and insensitive to N-terminal extensions. In contrast, different assembly structures of the N-terminal strand of Aβ variants can be observed with possible assignment of varied amyloidegenic fragments in the extended N-termini, which may contribute to the varied aggregation propensities of Aβ42 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfang Zheng
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No. 11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19 A YuquanRoad, Shijingshan District, 100049, Beijing, P.R. China.,Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, No. 30 ShuangqingRoad, 100084, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Meng Xu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No. 11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19 A YuquanRoad, Shijingshan District, 100049, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lanlan Yu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No. 11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19 A YuquanRoad, Shijingshan District, 100049, Beijing, P.R. China.,Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, No. 30 ShuangqingRoad, 100084, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Fuyang Qu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No. 11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19 A YuquanRoad, Shijingshan District, 100049, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yuchen Lin
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No. 11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19 A YuquanRoad, Shijingshan District, 100049, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jing Xu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No. 11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19 A YuquanRoad, Shijingshan District, 100049, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yimin Zou
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No. 11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19 A YuquanRoad, Shijingshan District, 100049, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yanlian Yang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No. 11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19 A YuquanRoad, Shijingshan District, 100049, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Chen Wang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, No. 11 ZhongGuanCun BeiYiTiao, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19 A YuquanRoad, Shijingshan District, 100049, Beijing, P.R. China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, No. 320 YueyangRoad, 200031, Shanghai, P.R. China
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35
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Li S, Jin M, Liu L, Dang Y, Ostaszewski BL, Selkoe DJ. Decoding the synaptic dysfunction of bioactive human AD brain soluble Aβ to inspire novel therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2018; 6:121. [PMID: 30409172 PMCID: PMC6225562 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-018-0626-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathologic, biochemical and genetic evidence indicates that accumulation and aggregation of amyloid β-proteins (Aβ) is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several therapeutic interventions attempting to lower Aβ have failed to ameliorate cognitive decline in patients with clinical AD significantly, but most such approaches target only one or two facets of Aβ production/clearance/toxicity and do not consider the heterogeneity of human Aβ species. As synaptic dysfunction may be among the earliest deficits in AD, we used hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) as a sensitive indicator of the early neurotoxic effects of Aβ species. Here we confirmed prior findings that soluble Aβ oligomers, much more than fibrillar amyloid plaque cores or Aβ monomers, disrupt synaptic function. Interestingly, not all (84%) human AD brain extracts are able to inhibit LTP and the degree of LTP impairment by AD brain extracts does not correlate with Aβ levels detected by standard ELISAs. Bioactive AD brain extracts also induce neurotoxicity in iPSC-derived human neurons. Shorter forms of Aβ (including Aβ1-37, Aβ1-38, Aβ1-39), pre-Aβ APP fragments (- 30 to - 1) and N-terminally extended Aβs (- 30 to + 40) each showed much less synaptotoxicity than longer Aβs (Aβ1-42 - Aβ1-46). We found that antibodies which target the N-terminus, not the C-terminus, efficiently rescued Aβ oligomer-impaired LTP and oligomer-facilitated LTD. Our data suggest that preventing soluble Aβ oligomer formation and targeting their N-terminal residues with antibodies could be an attractive combined therapeutic approach.
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36
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Törnquist M, Michaels TCT, Sanagavarapu K, Yang X, Meisl G, Cohen SIA, Knowles TPJ, Linse S. Secondary nucleation in amyloid formation. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018; 54:8667-8684. [PMID: 29978862 DOI: 10.1039/c8cc02204f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 276] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Nucleation of new peptide and protein aggregates on the surfaces of amyloid fibrils of the same peptide or protein has emerged in the past two decades as a major pathway for both the generation of molecular species responsible for cellular toxicity and for the autocatalytic proliferation of peptide and protein aggregates. A key question in current research is the molecular mechanism and driving forces governing such processes, known as secondary nucleation. In this context, the analogies with other self-assembling systems for which monomer-dependent secondary nucleation has been studied for more than a century provide a valuable source of inspiration. Here, we present a short overview of this background and then review recent results regarding secondary nucleation of amyloid-forming peptides and proteins, focusing in particular on the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) from Alzheimer's disease, with some examples regarding α-synuclein from Parkinson's disease. Monomer-dependent secondary nucleation of Aβ was discovered using a combination of kinetic experiments, global analysis, seeding experiments and selective isotope-enrichment, which pinpoint the monomer as the origin of new aggregates in a fibril-catalyzed reaction. Insights into driving forces are gained from variations of solution conditions, temperature and peptide sequence. Selective inhibition of secondary nucleation is explored as an effective means to limit oligomer production and toxicity. We also review experiments aimed at finding interaction partners of oligomers generated by secondary nucleation in an ongoing aggregation process. At the end of this feature article we bring forward outstanding questions and testable mechanistic hypotheses regarding monomer-dependent secondary nucleation in amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias Törnquist
- Lund University, Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Chemical Centre, PO Box 124, SE221 00 Lund, Sweden.
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37
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Månsson C, van Cruchten RTP, Weininger U, Yang X, Cukalevski R, Arosio P, Dobson CM, Knowles T, Akke M, Linse S, Emanuelsson C. Conserved S/T Residues of the Human Chaperone DNAJB6 Are Required for Effective Inhibition of Aβ42 Amyloid Fibril Formation. Biochemistry 2018; 57:4891-4902. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Månsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Remco T. P. van Cruchten
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ulrich Weininger
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Xiaoting Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Risto Cukalevski
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | - Tuomas Knowles
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K
| | - Mikael Akke
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Emanuelsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
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38
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Hong W, Wang Z, Liu W, O'Malley TT, Jin M, Willem M, Haass C, Frosch MP, Walsh DM. Diffusible, highly bioactive oligomers represent a critical minority of soluble Aβ in Alzheimer's disease brain. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 136:19-40. [PMID: 29687257 PMCID: PMC6647843 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-1846-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Significant data suggest that soluble Aβ oligomers play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but there is great confusion over what exactly constitutes an Aβ oligomer and which oligomers are toxic. Most studies have utilized synthetic Aβ peptides, but the relevance of these test tube experiments to the conditions that prevail in AD is uncertain. A few groups have studied Aβ extracted from human brain, but they employed vigorous tissue homogenization which is likely to release insoluble Aβ that was sequestered in plaques during life. Several studies have found such extracts to possess disease-relevant activity and considerable efforts are being made to purify and better understand the forms of Aβ therein. Here, we compared the abundance of Aβ in AD extracts prepared by traditional homogenization versus using a far gentler extraction, and assessed their bioactivity via real-time imaging of iPSC-derived human neurons plus the sensitive functional assay of long-term potentiation. Surprisingly, the amount of Aβ retrieved by gentle extraction constituted only a small portion of that released by traditional homogenization, but this readily diffusible fraction retained all of the Aβ-dependent neurotoxic activity. Thus, the bulk of Aβ extractable from AD brain was innocuous, and only the small portion that was aqueously diffusible caused toxicity. This unexpected finding predicts that generic anti-oligomer therapies, including Aβ antibodies now in trials, may be bound up by the large pool of inactive oligomers, whereas agents that specifically target the small pool of diffusible, bioactive Aβ would be more useful. Furthermore, our results indicate that efforts to purify and target toxic Aβ must employ assays of disease-relevant activity. The approaches described here should enable these efforts, and may assist the study of other disease-associated aggregation-prone proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Hong
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Zemin Wang
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Wen Liu
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tiernan T O'Malley
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ming Jin
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michael Willem
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Haass
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthew P Frosch
- Massachusetts General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Dominic M Walsh
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Building for Transformative Medicine, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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39
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Zhao W, Xing X, Kang B, Zhu X, Ai H. Positive effect of strong acidity on the twist of Aβ 42 fibrils and the counteraction of Aβ 42 N-terminus. J Mol Graph Model 2018; 82:59-66. [PMID: 29698798 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
pH is a crucial factor in terms of affecting the aggregation and morphology of β-Amyloid and hence a focus of study. In this study, structural and mechanical properties of a series of models (5, 6, …, 30 layer) of one-fold Aβ42 fibrils at pH 1.5, 3.0 and 7.5, have been computed by using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. 12, 14, and 15 layers are established to be the smallest realistic models for Aβ42 fibrils at pH 1.5, 3.0 and 7.5, with twist angles of 0.40°, 0.34°, 0.31° respectively, disclosing the favorable effect of strong acidity on fibril twist. However, these angles are all lower than that (0.48°) determined for the truncated Aβ17-42 fibril at pH 7.5, indicating that the disordered N-terminal depresses greatly the fibril twist and the lower pH disfavors the depression. Three commonly used indices to measure the fibril properties, namely number of H-bonds, interstrand distance and β-sheet content have imperceptible changes with the pH alternation, therefore changes in fibril twist can be taken as a probe to monitor fibril properties. By contrast, N-terminus is determined not only to inhibit the U-shaped fibril twist by hampering the stagger between β1 and β2 strands, but also to play a vital carrier role in feeling solution (i.e., pH, salt) changes. These results can help design the nextgeneration of amyloid materials for state-of-the-art bio-nano-med applications by changing the solution pH or modifying chain length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xing
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Baotao Kang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Xueying Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China
| | - Hongqi Ai
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China.
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40
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Chiang ACA, Fowler SW, Reddy R, Pletnikova O, Troncoso JC, Sherman MA, Lesne SE, Jankowsky JL. Discrete Pools of Oligomeric Amyloid-β Track with Spatial Learning Deficits in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer Amyloidosis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2018; 188:739-756. [PMID: 29248459 PMCID: PMC5840490 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite increasing appreciation that oligomeric amyloid-β (Aβ) may contribute to cognitive decline of Alzheimer disease, defining the most critical forms has been thwarted by the changeable nature of these aggregates and the varying methods used for detection. Herein, using a broad approach, we quantified Aβ oligomers during the evolution of cognitive deficits in an aggressive model of Aβ amyloidosis. Amyloid precursor protein/tetracycline transactivator mice underwent behavioral testing at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age to evaluate spatial learning and memory, followed by histologic assessment of amyloid burden and biochemical characterization of oligomeric Aβ species. Transgenic mice displayed progressive impairments in acquisition and immediate recall of the trained platform location. Biochemical analysis of cortical extracts from behaviorally tested mice revealed distinct age-dependent patterns of accumulation in multiple oligomeric species. Dot blot analysis demonstrated that nonfibrillar Aβ oligomers were highly soluble and extracted into a fraction enriched for extracellular proteins, whereas prefibrillar species required high-detergent conditions to retrieve, consistent with membrane localization. Low-detergent extracts tested by 82E1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed the presence of bona fide Aβ oligomers, whereas immunoprecipitation-Western blotting using high-detergent extracts revealed a variety of SDS-stable low-n species. These findings show that different Aβ oligomers vary in solubility, consistent with distinct localization, and identify nonfibrillar Aβ oligomer-positive aggregates as tracking most closely with cognitive decline in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie C A Chiang
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Stephanie W Fowler
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Rohit Reddy
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Cognitive Science, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Olga Pletnikova
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mathew A Sherman
- Department of Neuroscience, N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Sylvain E Lesne
- Department of Neuroscience, N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Joanna L Jankowsky
- Department of Neuroscience, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
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41
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Honda R, Kuwata K. Evidence for a central role of PrP helix 2 in the nucleation of amyloid fibrils. FASEB J 2018; 32:3641-3652. [PMID: 29401635 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201701183rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are filamentous protein aggregates associated with the pathogenesis of a wide variety of human diseases. The formation of such aggregates typically follows nucleation-dependent kinetics, wherein the assembly and structural conversion of amyloidogenic proteins into oligomeric aggregates (nuclei) is the rate-limiting step of the overall reaction. In this study, we sought to gain structural insights into the oligomeric nuclei of the human prion protein (PrP) by preparing a series of deletion mutants lacking 14-44 of the C-terminal 107 residues of PrP and examined the kinetics and thermodynamics of these mutants in amyloid formation. An analysis of the experimental data using the concepts of the Φ-value analysis indicated that the helix 2 region (residues 168-196) acquires an amyloid-like β-sheet during nucleation, whereas the other regions preserves a relatively disordered structure in the nuclei. This finding suggests that the helix 2 region serves as the nucleation site for the assembly of amyloid fibrils.-Honda, R., Kuwata, K. Evidence for a central role of PrP helix 2 in the nucleation of amyloid fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Honda
- Department of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.,United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kuwata
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.,Department of Gene and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
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42
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O'Malley TT, Linse S, Walsh DM. Production and Use of Recombinant Aβ for Aggregation Studies. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1777:307-320. [PMID: 29744844 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7811-3_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The amyloid β-protein (Aβ) is believed to play a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis and there is great interest in understanding the process of Aβ aggregation, its underlying mechanism and the species generated during aggregation and their biological activity. Although Aβ has been studied for more than 30 years, analysis of its aggregation has been hampered by structural and chemical impurities. Here we provide a detailed protocol for the expression and purification of chemically and structurally homogeneous Aβ monomer. We also describe a method to produce covalent Aβ dimers linked by phenolic coupling of tyrosine residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiernan T O'Malley
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dominic M Walsh
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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43
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Guan Y, Du Z, Gao N, Cao Y, Wang X, Scott P, Song H, Ren J, Qu X. Stereochemistry and amyloid inhibition: Asymmetric triplex metallohelices enantioselectively bind to Aβ peptide. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaao6718. [PMID: 29372182 PMCID: PMC5775025 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aao6718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Stereochemistry is vital for pharmaceutical development and can determine drug efficacy. Herein, 10 pairs of asymmetric triplex metallohelix enantiomers as a library were used to screen inhibitors of amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation via a fluorescent cell-based high-throughput method. Intriguingly, Λ enantiomers show a stronger inhibition effect than Δ enantiomers. In addition, the metallohelices with aromatic substituents are more effective than those without, revealing that these groups play a key role in the Aβ interaction. Fluorescence stopped-flow kinetic studies indicate that binding of the Λ enantiomer to Aβ is much faster than that of the Δ enantiomer. Furthermore, studies in enzyme digestion, isothermal titration calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and computational docking demonstrate that the enantiomers bind to the central hydrophobic α-helical region of Aβ13-23, although with different modes for the Λ and Δ enantiomers. Finally, an in vivo study showed that these metallohelices extend the life span of the Caenorhabditis elegans CL2006 strain by attenuating Aβ-induced toxicity. Our work will shed light on the design and screening of a metal complex as an amyloid inhibitor against Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijia Guan
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Zhi Du
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Nan Gao
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
| | - Yue Cao
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Hualong Song
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Jinsong Ren
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
| | - Xiaogang Qu
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
- Corresponding author.
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44
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Ruggeri FS, Habchi J, Cerreta A, Dietler G. AFM-Based Single Molecule Techniques: Unraveling the Amyloid Pathogenic Species. Curr Pharm Des 2017; 22:3950-70. [PMID: 27189600 PMCID: PMC5080865 DOI: 10.2174/1381612822666160518141911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background A wide class of human diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, is due to the failure of a specific peptide or protein to keep its native functional conformational state and to undergo a conformational change into a misfolded state, triggering the formation of fibrillar cross-β sheet amyloid aggregates. During the fibrillization, several coexisting species are formed, giving rise to a highly heterogeneous mixture. Despite its fundamental role in biological function and malfunction, the mechanism of protein self-assembly and the fundamental origins of the connection between aggregation, cellular toxicity and the biochemistry of neurodegeneration remains challenging to elucidate in molecular detail. In particular, the nature of the specific state of proteins that is most prone to cause cytotoxicity is not established. Methods: In the present review, we present the latest advances obtained by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) based techniques to unravel the biophysical properties of amyloid aggregates at the nanoscale. Unraveling amyloid single species biophysical properties still represents a formidable experimental challenge, mainly because of their nanoscale dimensions and heterogeneous nature. Bulk techniques, such as circular dichroism or infrared spectroscopy, are not able to characterize the heterogeneity and inner properties of amyloid aggregates at the single species level, preventing a profound investigation of the correlation between the biophysical properties and toxicity of the individual species. Conclusion: The information delivered by AFM based techniques could be central to study the aggregation pathway of proteins and to design molecules that could interfere with amyloid aggregation delaying the onset of misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Simone Ruggeri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EW, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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45
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Young LJ, Kaminski Schierle GS, Kaminski CF. Imaging Aβ(1-42) fibril elongation reveals strongly polarised growth and growth incompetent states. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2017; 19:27987-27996. [PMID: 29026905 PMCID: PMC7612976 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp03412a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the deposition of plaques of amyloid fibrils formed from amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. Kinetic studies have contributed significantly towards a mechanistic understanding of amyloid fibril self-assembly, however dynamic features of the aggregation process cannot be captured using ensemble methods. Here we present an assay for imaging Aβ42 aggregation dynamics at the single fibril level, allowing for the quantitative extraction of concentration and temperature dependent kinetic parameters. From direct observation of elongation using TIRF and super-resolution optical microscopy, we find that Aβ42 fibril growth is strongly polarized, with fast and slow growing ends arising from different elongation rates, but also from a growth incompetent state, which dominates the process at the slow growing end. Our findings reveal the surprising complexity of the Aβ42 fibril elongation reaction at the microscopic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence J Young
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, CB3 0AS, UK.
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46
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Biophysical Aspects of Alzheimer's Disease: Implications for Pharmaceutical Sciences : Theme: Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery in Alzheimer's Disease Guest Editor: Davide Brambilla. Pharm Res 2017; 34:2628-2636. [PMID: 28963701 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-017-2266-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
An increasing amount of findings suggests that the aggregation of soluble peptides and proteins into amyloid fibrils is a relevant upstream process in the complex cascade of events leading to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease and several other neurodegenerative disorders. Nevertheless, several aspects of the correlation between the aggregation process and the onset and development of the pathology remain largely elusive. In this context, biophysical and biochemical studies in test tubes have proven extremely powerful in providing quantitative information about the structure and the reactivity of amyloids at the molecular level. In this review we use selected recent examples to illustrate the importance of such biophysical research to complement phenomenological studies based on cellular and molecular biology, and we discuss the implications for pharmaceutical applications associated with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders in both academic and industrial contexts.
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47
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Silvers R, Colvin MT, Frederick KK, Jacavone AC, Lindquist S, Linse S, Griffin RG. Aggregation and Fibril Structure of Aβ M01-42 and Aβ 1-42. Biochemistry 2017; 56:4850-4859. [PMID: 28792214 PMCID: PMC8254419 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A mechanistic understanding of Aβ aggregation and high-resolution structures of Aβ fibrils and oligomers are vital to elucidating relevant details of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, which will facilitate the rational design of diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. The most detailed and reproducible insights into structure and kinetics have been achieved using Aβ peptides produced by recombinant expression, which results in an additional methionine at the N-terminus. While the length of the C-terminus is well established to have a profound impact on the peptide's aggregation propensity, structure, and neurotoxicity, the impact of the N-terminal methionine on the aggregation pathways and structure is unclear. For this reason, we have developed a protocol to produce recombinant Aβ1-42, sans the N-terminal methionine, using an N-terminal small ubiquitin-like modifier-Aβ1-42 fusion protein in reasonable yield, with which we compared aggregation kinetics with AβM01-42 containing the additional methionine residue. The data revealed that Aβ1-42 and AβM01-42 aggregate with similar rates and by the same mechanism, in which the generation of new aggregates is dominated by secondary nucleation of monomers on the surface of fibrils. We also recorded magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectra that demonstrated that excellent spectral resolution is maintained with both AβM01-42 and Aβ1-42 and that the chemical shifts are virtually identical in dipolar recoupling experiments that provide information about rigid residues. Collectively, these results indicate that the structure of the fibril core is unaffected by N-terminal methionine. This is consistent with the recent structures of AβM01-42 in which M0 is located at the terminus of a disordered 14-amino acid N-terminal tail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Silvers
- Department of Chemistry and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Michael T Colvin
- Department of Chemistry and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Kendra K Frederick
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research , Nine Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Angela C Jacavone
- Department of Chemistry and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Susan Lindquist
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research , Nine Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University , SE22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Robert G Griffin
- Department of Chemistry and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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48
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Monomer-dependent secondary nucleation in amyloid formation. Biophys Rev 2017; 9:329-338. [PMID: 28812278 PMCID: PMC5578932 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-017-0289-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Secondary nucleation of monomers on the surface of an already existing aggregate that is formed from the same kind of monomers may lead to autocatalytic amplification of a self-assembly process. Such monomer-dependent secondary nucleation occurs during the crystallization of small molecules or proteins and self-assembled materials, as well as in protein self-assembly into fibrous structures. Indications of secondary nucleation may come from analyses of kinetic experiments starting from pure monomers or monomers supplemented with a low concentration of pre-formed aggregates (seeds). More firm evidence requires additional experiments, for example those employing isotope labels to distinguish new aggregates arising from the monomer from those resulting from fragmentation of the seed. In cases of amyloid formation, secondary nucleation leads to the formation of toxic oligomers, and inhibitors of secondary nucleation may serve as starting points for therapeutic developments. Secondary nucleation displays a high degree of structural specificity and may be enhanced by mutations or screening of electrostatic repulsion.
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49
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Barritt JD, Younan ND, Viles JH. N‐Terminally Truncated Amyloid‐β
(11
–
40/42)
Cofibrillizes with its Full‐Length Counterpart: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201704618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D. Barritt
- Department Chemistry and BiochemistryQueen Mary University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - Nadine D. Younan
- Department Chemistry and BiochemistryQueen Mary University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
| | - John H. Viles
- Department Chemistry and BiochemistryQueen Mary University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS UK
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50
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Barritt JD, Younan ND, Viles JH. N-Terminally Truncated Amyloid-β (11-40/42) Cofibrillizes with its Full-Length Counterpart: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:9816-9819. [PMID: 28609583 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201704618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) isoforms of different lengths and aggregation propensities coexist in vivo. These different isoforms are able to nucleate or frustrate the assembly of each other. N-terminally truncated Aβ(11-40) and Aβ(11-42) make up one fifth of plaque load yet nothing is known about their interaction with full-length Aβ(1-40/42) . We show that in contrast to C-terminally truncated isoforms, which do not co-fibrillize, deletions of ten residues from the N terminus of Aβ have little impact on its ability to co-fibrillize with the full-length counterpart. As a consequence, N-terminally truncated Aβ will accelerate fiber formation and co-assemble into short rod-shaped fibers with its full-length Aβ counterpart. This has implications for the assembly kinetics, morphology, and toxicity of all Aβ isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D Barritt
- Department Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Nadine D Younan
- Department Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - John H Viles
- Department Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
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