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Hachlica N, Kolodziejczyk A, Rawski M, Górecki M, Wajda A, Kaczor A. "Nature or nurture" - How environmental factors influence the conformational memory of amyloid fibrils. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 304:123293. [PMID: 37683433 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.123293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are complex protein structures with multilayered chiral architecture, that are known to self-propagate. The replication of the mother seed structure by daughter fibrils is known as conformational or templated memory. Using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), electronic circular dichroism (ECD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) we have shown that environmental factors (here agitation) can be a competing force against the templated growth of human lysozyme fibrils. In the cross-seeding experiment non-agitated daughters preserved the structure of agitated mothers, whereas agitated daughters did not always exhibit the same characteristics as their non-agitated mothers. This pattern was reflected on various levels of fibril architecture (secondary structure, protofilament handedness, morphology), demonstrating that the structural indeterminism originates from deeper levels of the fibril structure. This observation may contribute to a better understanding of the processes behind fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Hachlica
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Kolodziejczyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
| | - Michal Rawski
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Marcin Górecki
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Wajda
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Kaczor
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
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2
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Watanabe-Nakayama T, Ono K. Single-molecule Observation of Self-Propagating Amyloid Fibrils. Microscopy (Oxf) 2022; 71:133-141. [DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The assembly of misfolded proteins into amyloid fibrils is associated with amyloidosis, including neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prion diseases. The self-propagation of amyloid fibrils is widely observed in the aggregation pathways of numerous amyloidogenic proteins. This propensity with plasticity in primary nucleation allows amyloid fibril polymorphism, which is correlated with the pathology/phenotypes of patients. Because the interference with the nucleation and replication processes of amyloid fibrils can alter the amyloid structure and the outcome of the disease, these processes can be a target for developing clinical drugs. Single-molecule observation of amyloid fibril replication can be an experimental system to provide the kinetic parameters for simulation studies and confirm the effect of clinical drugs. Here, we review single-molecule observation of the amyloid fibril replication process using fluorescence microscopy and time-lapse atomic force microscopy, including high-speed atomic force microscopy. We discussed the amyloid fibril replication process and combined single-molecule observation results with molecular dynamics simulations.
Mini Abstract Structural dynamics in amyloid aggregation is related with various Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Single-molecule observation using high-speed atomic force microscopy can directly visualize the structural dynamics of individual amyloid aggregate assemblies. Here, we review historical and recent studies of single-molecule observation of amyloid aggregation with supportive molecular dynamics simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenjiro Ono
- Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1, Takara-machi, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
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3
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Dec R, Dzwolak W. A tale of two tails: Self-assembling properties of A- and B-chain parts of insulin's highly amyloidogenic H-fragment. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 186:510-518. [PMID: 34271044 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.07.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Due to the spontaneous transition of native insulin into therapeutically inactive amyloid, prolonged storage decreases effectiveness of the hormone in treatment of diabetes. Various regions of the amino acid sequence have been implicated in insulin aggregation. Here, we focus on smaller fragments of the highly amyloidogenic H-peptide comprising disulfide-bonded N-terminal sections of insulin's A-chain (13 residues) and B-chain (11 residues). Aggregation patterns of N-terminal fragments of A-chain (ACC1-13, ACC1-11, ACC6-13, ACC6-11, all retaining Cys6A-Cys11A disulfide bond) and B-chain (B1-11(7A)) are examined at acidic and neutral pH. ACC1-11 is the smallest fragment found to be amyloidogenic at either pH; removal of the N-terminal GIVEQ section renders this fragment entirely non-amyloidogenic. The self-assembling properties of ACC1-11 contrast with aggregation-resistant behavior of B1-11(7A) and its disulfide-linked homodimer, (B1-11)2 aggregating only at neutral pH. Fibrillar ACC1-11 is similar to insulin amyloid in terms of morphology and infrared features. Secondary nucleation is likely to account for the detected shortening of insulin aggregation lag phase at neutral pH upon cross-seeding with pre-formed fibrils of ACC1-11 or (B1-11)2. An aggregation-enhancing effect of monomeric ACC1-11 on co-dissolved native insulin is also observed. Our findings are discussed in the context of mechanisms of insulin aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Dec
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Str., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Str., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
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Hadi Alijanvand S, Peduzzo A, Buell AK. Secondary Nucleation and the Conservation of Structural Characteristics of Amyloid Fibril Strains. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:669994. [PMID: 33937341 PMCID: PMC8085410 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.669994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are ordered protein aggregates and a hallmark of many severe neurodegenerative diseases. Amyloid fibrils form through primary nucleation from monomeric protein, grow through monomer addition and proliferate through fragmentation or through the nucleation of new fibrils on the surface of existing fibrils (secondary nucleation). It is currently still unclear how amyloid fibrils initially form in the brain of affected individuals and how they are amplified. A given amyloid protein can sometimes form fibrils of different structure under different solution conditions in vitro, but often fibrils found in patients are highly homogeneous. These findings suggest that the processes that amplify amyloid fibrils in vivo can in some cases preserve the structural characteristics of the initial seed fibrils. It has been known for many years that fibril growth by monomer addition maintains the structure of the seed fibril, as the latter acts as a template that imposes its fold on the newly added monomer. However, for fibrils that are formed through secondary nucleation it was, until recently, not clear whether the structure of the seed fibril is preserved. Here we review the experimental evidence on this question that has emerged over the last years. The overall picture is that the fibril strain that forms through secondary nucleation is mostly defined by the solution conditions and intrinsic structural preferences, and not by the seed fibril strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeid Hadi Alijanvand
- Bioprocess Engineering Department, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alessia Peduzzo
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alexander K. Buell
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Lyngby, Denmark
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5
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Dec R, Dzwolak W. Extremely Amyloidogenic Single-Chain Analogues of Insulin's H-Fragment: Structural Adaptability of an Amyloid Stretch. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:12150-12159. [PMID: 32988199 PMCID: PMC7586408 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Relatively short amino acid sequences often play a pivotal role in triggering protein aggregation leading to the formation of amyloid fibrils. In the case of insulin, various regions of A- and B-chains have been implicated as the most relevant to the protein's amyloidogenicity. Here, we focus on the highly amyloidogenic H-fragment of insulin comprising the disulfide-bonded N-terminal parts of both chains. Analysis of the aggregation behavior of single-chain peptide derivatives of the H-fragment suggests that the A-chain's part initiates the aggregation process while the disulfide-tethered B-chain reluctantly adapts to amyloid structure. Merging of both A- and B-parts into single-chain continuous peptides (A-B and B-A) results in extreme amyloidogenicity exceeding that of the double-chain H-fragment as reflected by almost instantaneous de novo fibrillization. Amyloid fibrils of A-B and B-A present distinct morphological and infrared traits and do not cross-seed insulin. Our study suggests that the N-terminal part of insulin's A-chain containing the intact Cys6-Cys11 intrachain disulfide bond may constitute insulin's major amyloid stretch which, through its bent conformation, enforces a parallel in-register alignment of β-strands. Comparison of the self-association behavior of H, A-B, and B-A peptides suggests that A-chain's N-terminal amyloid stretch is very versatile and adaptive to various structural contexts.
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Akbarian M, Kianpour M, Yousefi R, Moosavi-Movahedi AA. Characterization of insulin cross-seeding: the underlying mechanism reveals seeding and denaturant-induced insulin fibrillation proceeds through structurally similar intermediates. RSC Adv 2020; 10:29885-29899. [PMID: 35518209 PMCID: PMC9056291 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra05414c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin rapidly fibrillates in the presence of amyloid seeds from different sources. To address its cross-reactivity we chose the seeds of seven model proteins and peptides along with the seeds of insulin itself. Model candidates were selected/designed according to their size, amino acid sequence, and hydrophobicity. We found while some seeds provided catalytic ends for inducing the formation of non-native insulin conformers and increase fibrillation, others attenuated insulin fibrillation kinetics. We also observed competition between the intermediate insulin conformers which formed with urea and amyloid seeds in entering the fibrillogenic pathway. Simultaneous incubation of insulin with urea and amyloid seeds resulted in the formation of nearly similar insulin intermediate conformers which synergistically enhance insulin fibrillation kinetics. Given these results, it is highly likely that, structurally, there is a specific intermediate in different pathways of insulin fibrillation that governs fibrillation kinetics and morphology of the final mature fibril. Overall, this study provides a novel mechanistic insight into insulin fibrillation and gives new information on how seeds of different proteins are capable of altering insulin fibrillation kinetics and morphology. This report, for the first time, tries to answer an important question that why fibrillation of insulin is either accelerated or attenuated in the presence of amyloid fibril seeds from different sources. Native insulins in the presence of low urea concentrations or seeds with low hydrophobicity form ordered aggregates (amyloid fibrils), while high urea concentrations or the seeds with high level of hydrophobicity can induce the amorphous aggregation.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Akbarian
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL)
- Department of Biology
- College of Sciences
- Shiraz University
- Shiraz
| | - Maryam Kianpour
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL)
- Department of Biology
- College of Sciences
- Shiraz University
- Shiraz
| | - Reza Yousefi
- Protein Chemistry Laboratory (PCL)
- Department of Biology
- College of Sciences
- Shiraz University
- Shiraz
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7
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The Environment Is a Key Factor in Determining the Anti-Amyloid Efficacy of EGCG. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9120855. [PMID: 31835741 PMCID: PMC6995563 DOI: 10.3390/biom9120855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Millions of people around the world suffer from amyloid-related disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Despite significant and sustained efforts, there are still no disease-modifying drugs available for the majority of amyloid-related disorders, and the overall failure rate in clinical trials is very high, even for compounds that show promising anti-amyloid activity in vitro. In this study, we demonstrate that even small changes in the chemical environment can strongly modulate the inhibitory effects of anti-amyloid compounds. Using one of the best-established amyloid inhibitory compounds, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), as an example, and two amyloid-forming proteins, insulin and Parkinson's disease-related α -synuclein, we shed light on the previously unexplored sensitivity to solution conditions of the action of this compound on amyloid fibril formation. In the case of insulin, we show that the classification of EGCG as an amyloid inhibitor depends on the experimental conditions select, on the method used for the evaluation of the efficacy, and on whether or not EGCG is allowed to oxidise before the experiment. For α -synuclein, we show that a small change in pH value, from 7 to 6, transforms EGCG from an efficient inhibitor to completely ineffective, and we were able to explain this behaviour by the increased stability of EGCG against oxidation at pH 6.
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8
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Ziaunys M, Sneideris T, Smirnovas V. Self-inhibition of insulin amyloid-like aggregation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:27638-27645. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp04838j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
NaCl induces formation of insulin tetramers leading to inhibition of amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Life Sciences Center
- Vilnius University
- LT-10257 Vilnius
- Lithuania
| | - Tomas Sneideris
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Life Sciences Center
- Vilnius University
- LT-10257 Vilnius
- Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Life Sciences Center
- Vilnius University
- LT-10257 Vilnius
- Lithuania
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9
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Fate of a Stressed Therapeutic Antibody Tracked by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy: Folded Monomers Survive Aggregation. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:8085-8093. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b05603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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10
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Gallardo R, Ramakers M, De Smet F, Claes F, Khodaparast L, Khodaparast L, Couceiro JR, Langenberg T, Siemons M, Nyström S, Young LJ, Laine RF, Young L, Radaelli E, Benilova I, Kumar M, Staes A, Desager M, Beerens M, Vandervoort P, Luttun A, Gevaert K, Bormans G, Dewerchin M, Van Eldere J, Carmeliet P, Vande Velde G, Verfaillie C, Kaminski CF, De Strooper B, Hammarström P, Nilsson KPR, Serpell L, Schymkowitz J, Rousseau F. De novo design of a biologically active amyloid. Science 2016; 354:aah4949. [PMID: 27846578 DOI: 10.1126/science.aah4949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2024]
Abstract
Most human proteins possess amyloidogenic segments, but only about 30 are associated with amyloid-associated pathologies, and it remains unclear what determines amyloid toxicity. We designed vascin, a synthetic amyloid peptide, based on an amyloidogenic fragment of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), a protein that is not associated to amyloidosis. Vascin recapitulates key biophysical and biochemical characteristics of natural amyloids, penetrates cells, and seeds the aggregation of VEGFR2 through direct interaction. We found that amyloid toxicity is observed only in cells that both express VEGFR2 and are dependent on VEGFR2 activity for survival. Thus, amyloid toxicity here appears to be both protein-specific and conditional-determined by VEGFR2 loss of function in a biological context in which target protein function is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Gallardo
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Meine Ramakers
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Frederik De Smet
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Filip Claes
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Ladan Khodaparast
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
- Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laleh Khodaparast
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
- Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - José R Couceiro
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Tobias Langenberg
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Maxime Siemons
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
- Laboratory of Radiopharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Nyström
- IFM Department of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Laurence J Young
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA, UK
| | - Romain F Laine
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA, UK
| | - Lydia Young
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Enrico Radaelli
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Human Genetics and Leuven Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (LIND), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Iryna Benilova
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Human Genetics and Leuven Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (LIND), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Staes
- VIB Medical Biotechnology Center, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matyas Desager
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
- Laboratory of Radiopharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Manu Beerens
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology Research Unit, Endothelial Cell Biology Unit, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Petra Vandervoort
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology Research Unit, Endothelial Cell Biology Unit, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aernout Luttun
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology Research Unit, Endothelial Cell Biology Unit, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB Medical Biotechnology Center, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Bormans
- Laboratory of Radiopharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mieke Dewerchin
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Vesalius Research Center, VIB, Leuven B-3000, Belgium
| | - Johan Van Eldere
- Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Vesalius Research Center, VIB, Leuven B-3000, Belgium
| | - Greetje Vande Velde
- Biomedical MRI Unit/MoSAIC, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Clemens F Kaminski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA, UK
| | - Bart De Strooper
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Human Genetics and Leuven Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (LIND), KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Per Hammarström
- IFM Department of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- IFM Department of Chemistry, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Louise Serpell
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- VIB Switch Laboratory, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
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11
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Surmacz-Chwedoruk W, Babenko V, Dec R, Szymczak P, Dzwolak W. The emergence of superstructural order in insulin amyloid fibrils upon multiple rounds of self-seeding. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32022. [PMID: 27558445 PMCID: PMC4997315 DOI: 10.1038/srep32022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Typically, elongation of an amyloid fibril entails passing conformational details of the mother seed to daughter generations of fibrils with high fidelity. There are, however, several factors that can potentially prevent such transgenerational structural imprinting from perpetuating, for example heterogeneity of mother seeds or so-called conformational switching. Here, we examine phenotypic persistence of bovine insulin amyloid ([BI]) upon multiple rounds of self-seeding under quiescent conditions. According to infrared spectroscopy, with the following passages of homologous seeding, daughter fibrils gradually depart from the mother seed’s spectral characteristics. We note that this transgenerational structural drift in [BI] amyloid leads toward fibrils with infrared, chiroptical, and morphological traits similar to those of the superstructural variant of fibrils which normally forms upon strong agitation of insulin solutions. However, in contrast to agitation-induced insulin amyloid, the superstructural assemblies of daughter fibrils isolated through self-seeding are sonication-resistant. Our results suggest that formation of single amyloid fibrils is not a dead-end of the amyloidogenic self-assembly. Instead, the process appears to continue toward the self-assembly of higher-order structures although on longer time-scales. From this perspective, the fast agitation-induced aggregation of insulin appears to be a shortcut to amyloid superstructures whose formation under quiescent conditions is slow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Surmacz-Chwedoruk
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska 29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland.,Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Staroscinska 5, 02-516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Viktoria Babenko
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert Dec
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Szymczak
- Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska 29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
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12
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Abstract
Prions are infective proteins, which can self-assemble into different strain conformations, leading to different disease phenotypes. An increasing number of studies suggest that prion-like self-propagation may be a common feature of amyloid-like structures. Thus it is important to unravel every possible factor leading to the formation of different amyloid strains. Here we report on the formation of two types of insulin amyloid-like fibrils with distinct infrared spectroscopic features grown under slightly different pH conditions. Similar to prion strains, both insulin fibril types are able to self-propagate their conformational template under conditions, favoring spontaneous formation of different type fibrils. The low-pH-induced insulin amyloid strain is structurally very similar to previously reported strains formed either in the presence of 20% ethanol, or by modification of the amino acid sequence of insulin. A deeper analysis of literature data in the context of our current findings suggests a shift of the monomer-dimer equilibrium of insulin as a possible factor controlling the formation of different strains.
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13
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Sneideris T, Milto K, Smirnovas V. Polymorphism of amyloid-like fibrils can be defined by the concentration of seeds. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1207. [PMID: 26355941 PMCID: PMC4563235 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are infectious proteins where the same protein may express distinct strains. The strains are enciphered by different misfolded conformations. Strain-like phenomena have also been reported in a number of other amyloid-forming proteins. One of the features of amyloid strains is the ability to self-propagate, maintaining a constant set of physical properties despite being propagated under conditions different from those that allowed initial formation of the strain. Here we report a cross-seeding experiment using strains formed under different conditions. Using high concentrations of seeds results in rapid elongation and new fibrils preserve the properties of the seeding fibrils. At low seed concentrations, secondary nucleation plays the major role and new fibrils gain properties predicted by the environment rather than the structure of the seeds. Our findings could explain conformational switching between amyloid strains observed in a wide variety of in vivo and in vitro experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Sneideris
- Department of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design, Vilnius University, Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Katažyna Milto
- Department of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design, Vilnius University, Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Department of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design, Vilnius University, Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius, Lithuania
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