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Zalon AJ, Quiriconi DJ, Pitcairn C, Mazzulli JR. α-Synuclein: Multiple pathogenic roles in trafficking and proteostasis pathways in Parkinson's disease. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:612-635. [PMID: 38420922 PMCID: PMC11358363 DOI: 10.1177/10738584241232963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain. A hallmark of both familial and sporadic PD is the presence of Lewy body inclusions composed mainly of aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn), a presynaptic protein encoded by the SNCA gene. The mechanisms driving the relationship between α-syn accumulation and neurodegeneration are not completely understood, although recent evidence indicates that multiple branches of the proteostasis pathway are simultaneously perturbed when α-syn aberrantly accumulates within neurons. Studies from patient-derived midbrain cultures that develop α-syn pathology through the endogenous expression of PD-causing mutations show that proteostasis disruption occurs at the level of synthesis/folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), downstream ER-Golgi trafficking, and autophagic-lysosomal clearance. Here, we review the fundamentals of protein transport, highlighting the specific steps where α-syn accumulation may intervene and the downstream effects on proteostasis. Current therapeutic efforts are focused on targeting single pathways or proteins, but the multifaceted pathogenic role of α-syn throughout the proteostasis pathway suggests that manipulating several targets simultaneously will provide more effective disease-modifying therapies for PD and other synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie J Zalon
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Drew J Quiriconi
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Caleb Pitcairn
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joseph R Mazzulli
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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2
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Seo GM, Lee H, Kang YJ, Kim D, Sung JH. Development of in vitro model of exosome transport in microfluidic gut-brain axis-on-a-chip. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:4581-4593. [PMID: 39230477 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00490f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
The gut communicates with the brain in a variety of ways known as the gut-brain axis (GBA), which is known to affect neurophysiological functions as well as neuronal disorders. Exosomes capable of passing through the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) have received attention as a mediator of gut-brain signaling and drug delivery vehicles. In conventional well plate-based experiments, it is difficult to observe the exosome movement in real time. Here, we developed a microfluidic-based GBA chip for co-culturing gut epithelial cells and neuronal cells and simultaneously observing exosome transport. The GBA-chip is aimed to mimic the in vivo situation of convective flow in blood vessels and convective and diffusive transport in the tissue interstitium. Here, fluorescence-labeled exosome was produced by transfection of HEK-293T cells with CD63-GFP plasmid. We observed in real time the secretion of CD63-GFP-exosomes by the transfected HEK-293T cells in the chip, and transport of the exosomes to neuronal cells and analyzed the dynamics of GFP-exosome movement. Our model is expected to enhance understanding of the roles of exosome in GBA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwang Myeong Seo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hongki Lee
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea 03722
| | - Yeon Jae Kang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea.
| | - Donghyun Kim
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea 03722
| | - Jong Hwan Sung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Paulėkas E, Vanagas T, Lagunavičius S, Pajėdienė E, Petrikonis K, Rastenytė D. Navigating the Neurobiology of Parkinson's: The Impact and Potential of α-Synuclein. Biomedicines 2024; 12:2121. [PMID: 39335634 PMCID: PMC11429448 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12092121] [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: 08/04/2024] [Revised: 09/15/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide; therefore, since its initial description, significant progress has been made, yet a mystery remains regarding its pathogenesis and elusive root cause. The widespread distribution of pathological α-synuclein (αSyn) aggregates throughout the body raises inquiries regarding the etiology, which has prompted several hypotheses, with the most prominent one being αSyn-associated proteinopathy. The identification of αSyn protein within Lewy bodies, coupled with genetic evidence linking αSyn locus duplication, triplication, as well as point mutations to familial Parkinson's disease, has underscored the significance of αSyn in initiating and propagating Lewy body pathology throughout the brain. In monogenic and sporadic PD, the presence of early inflammation and synaptic dysfunction leads to αSyn aggregation and neuronal death through mitochondrial, lysosomal, and endosomal functional impairment. However, much remains to be understood about αSyn pathogenesis, which is heavily grounded in biomarkers and treatment strategies. In this review, we provide emerging new evidence on the current knowledge about αSyn's pathophysiological impact on PD, and its presumable role as a specific disease biomarker or main target of disease-modifying therapies, highlighting that this understanding today offers the best potential of disease-modifying therapy in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erlandas Paulėkas
- Department of Neurology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (T.V.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (K.P.); (D.R.)
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4
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Milos T, Vuic B, Balic N, Farkas V, Nedic Erjavec G, Svob Strac D, Nikolac Perkovic M, Pivac N. Cerebrospinal fluid in the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: an update of the literature. Expert Rev Neurother 2024:1-17. [PMID: 39233323 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2400683] [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: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The importance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis is rapidly increasing, and there is a growing interest in the use of CSF biomarkers in monitoring the response to therapy, especially in the light of newly available approaches to the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. AREAS COVERED In this review we discuss the most relevant measures of neurodegeneration that are being used to distinguish patients with AD from healthy controls and individuals with mild cognitive impairment, in order to provide an overview of the latest information available in the scientific literature. We focus on markers related to amyloid processing, markers associated with neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, neuroaxonal injury and degeneration, synaptic loss and dysfunction, and markers of α-synuclein pathology. EXPERT OPINION In addition to neuropsychological evaluation, core CSF biomarkers (Aβ42, t-tau, and p-tau181) have been recommended for improvement of timely, accurate and differential diagnosis of AD, as well as to assess the risk and rate of disease progression. In addition to the core CSF biomarkers, various other markers related to synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and glial activation (neurogranin, SNAP-25, Nfl, YKL-40, TREM2) are now investigated and have yet to be validated for future potential clinical use in AD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Milos
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Barbara Vuic
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nikola Balic
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Farkas
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | | | - Nela Pivac
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- University of Applied Sciences Hrvatsko Zagorje Krapina, Krapina, Croatia
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5
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Bayati A, McPherson PS. Alpha-synuclein, autophagy-lysosomal pathway, and Lewy bodies: Mutations, propagation, aggregation, and the formation of inclusions. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107742. [PMID: 39233232 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107742] [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: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Research into the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is a fast-paced pursuit, with new findings about PD and other synucleinopathies being made each year. The involvement of various lysosomal proteins, such as TFEB, TMEM175, GBA, and LAMP1/2, marks the rising awareness about the importance of lysosomes in PD and other neurodegenerative disorders. This, along with recent developments regarding the involvement of microglia and the immune system in neurodegenerative diseases, has brought about a new era in neurodegeneration: the role of proinflammatory cytokines on the nervous system, and their downstream effects on mitochondria, lysosomal degradation, and autophagy. More effort is needed to understand the interplay between neuroimmunology and disease mechanisms, as many of the mechanisms remain enigmatic. α-synuclein, a key protein in PD and the main component of Lewy bodies, sits at the nexus between lysosomal degradation, autophagy, cellular stress, neuroimmunology, PD pathophysiology, and disease progression. This review revisits some fundamental knowledge about PD while capturing some of the latest trends in PD research, specifically as it relates to α-synuclein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Bayati
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill, University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Peter S McPherson
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill, University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Bhopatkar AA, Bhatt N, Haque MA, Xavier R, Fung L, Jerez C, Kayed R. MAPT mutations associated with familial tauopathies lead to formation of conformationally distinct oligomers that have cross-seeding ability. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5099. [PMID: 39145409 PMCID: PMC11325167 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
The microtubule associated protein, tau, is implicated in a multitude of neurodegenerative disorders that are collectively termed as tauopathies. These disorders are characterized by the presence of tau aggregates within the brain of afflicted individuals. Mutations within the MAPT gene that encodes the tau protein form the genetic backdrop for familial forms of tauopathies, such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), but the molecular consequences of such alterations and their pathological effects are unclear. We sought to investigate the conformational properties of the aggregates of three tau mutants: A152T, P301L, and R406W, all implicated within FTD, and compare them to those of the native form (WT-Tau 2N4R). Our immunochemical analysis reveals that mutants and WT tau oligomers exhibit similar affinity for conformation-specific antibodies but have distinct morphology and secondary structure. Additionally, these oligomers possess different dye-binding properties and varying sensitivity to proteolytic processing. These results point to conformational variety among them. We then tested the ability of the mutant oligomers to cross-seed the aggregation of WT tau monomer. Using similar array of experiments, we found that cross-seeding with mutant aggregates leads to the formation of conformationally unique WT oligomers. The results discussed in this paper provide a novel perspective on the structural properties of oligomeric forms of WT tau 2N4R and its mutant, along with shedding some light on their cross-seeding behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anukool A. Bhopatkar
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell BiologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
- Present address:
Department of Pharmacology and ToxicologyUniversity of Mississippi Medical CenterJacksonMississippiUSA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell BiologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Md Anzarul Haque
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell BiologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Rhea Xavier
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell BiologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Leiana Fung
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell BiologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
- Present address:
Neuroscience Graduate Program, UT Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTexasUSA
| | - Cynthia Jerez
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell BiologyUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
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Coskuner-Weber O. Structures prediction and replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations of α-synuclein: A case study for intrinsically disordered proteins. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 276:133813. [PMID: 38996889 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133813] [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: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, a variety of three-dimensional structure prediction tools, including AlphaFold2, AlphaFold3, I-TASSER, C-I-TASSER, Phyre2, ESMFold, and RoseTTAFold, have been employed in the investigation of intrinsically disordered proteins. However, a comprehensive validation of these tools specifically for intrinsically disordered proteins has yet to be conducted. In this study, we utilize AlphaFold2, AlphaFold3, I-TASSER, C-I-TASSER, Phyre2, ESMFold, and RoseTTAFold to predict the structure of a model intrinsically disordered α-synuclein protein. Additionally, extensive replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations of the intrinsically disordered protein are conducted. The resulting structures from both structure prediction tools and replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations are analyzed for radius of gyration, secondary and tertiary structure properties, as well as Cα and Hα chemical shift values. A comparison of the obtained results with experimental data reveals that replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations provide results in excellent agreement with experimental observations. However, none of the structure prediction tools utilized in this study can fully capture the structural characteristics of the model intrinsically disordered protein. This study shows that a cluster of ensembles are required for intrinsically disordered proteins. Artificial-intelligence based structure prediction tools such as AlphaFold3 and C-I-TASSER could benefit from stochastic sampling or Monte Carlo simulations for generating an ensemble of structures for intrinsically disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orkid Coskuner-Weber
- Turkish-German University, Molecular Biotechnology, Sahinkaya Caddesi, No. 106, Beykoz, Istanbul 34820, Turkey.
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8
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Eijsvogel P, Misra P, Concha-Marambio L, Boyd JD, Ding S, Fedor L, Hsieh YT, Sun YS, Vroom MM, Farris CM, Ma Y, de Kam ML, Radanovic I, Vissers MFJM, Mirski D, Shareghi G, Shahnawaz M, Singer W, Kremer P, Groeneveld GJ, Yu HJ, Dodart JC. Target engagement and immunogenicity of an active immunotherapeutic targeting pathological α-synuclein: a phase 1 placebo-controlled trial. Nat Med 2024; 30:2631-2640. [PMID: 38902546 PMCID: PMC11405261 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03101-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Investigational therapeutics that target toxic species of α-synuclein (αSyn) aim to slow down or halt disease progression in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Here this 44-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-center phase 1 study investigated safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of UB-312, an active immunotherapeutic targeting pathological αSyn, in patients with PD. The primary outcome measures were adverse event frequency and change in anti-αSyn antibody titers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Exploratory outcomes were changes in clinical scales and biomarker-based target engagement as measured by seed amplification assays. Twenty patients were randomized 7:3 (UB-312:placebo) into 300/100/100 μg or 300/300/300 μg (weeks 1, 5 and 13) intramuscular prime-boost dose groups. Safety was similar across groups; adverse events were mostly mild and transient. Two patients experienced three serious adverse events in total, one possibly treatment related; all resolved without sequalae. Anti-αSyn antibodies in serum from 12/13 and CSF from 5/13 patients who received three UB-312 doses confirmed immunogenicity. Mean serum titers (in log-dilution factor) increased from baseline by 1.398 and 1.354, and peaked at week 29 at 2.520 and 2.133, for 300/100/100 μg and 300/300/300 μg, respectively. CSF titers were 0 at baseline and were 0.182 and 0.032 at week 21, respectively. Exploratory analyses showed no statistical differences in clinical scales but a significant reduction of αSyn seeds in CSF of a subset of UB-312-treated patients. These data support further UB-312 development. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04075318 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Pepijn Eijsvogel
- Centre for Human Drug Research and Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Pinaki Misra
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yihua Ma
- R&D Unit, Amprion Inc, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Igor Radanovic
- Centre for Human Drug Research and Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maurits F J M Vissers
- Centre for Human Drug Research and Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ghazal Shareghi
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mohammad Shahnawaz
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Philip Kremer
- Centre for Human Drug Research and Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Jan Groeneveld
- Centre for Human Drug Research and Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Adom MA, Hahn WN, McCaffery TD, Moors TE, Zhang X, Svenningsson P, Selkoe DJ, Fanning S, Nuber S. Reducing the lipase LIPE in mutant α-synuclein mice improves Parkinson-like deficits and reveals sex differences in fatty acid metabolism. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106593. [PMID: 38971480 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Impaired lipid metabolism is a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and can shift the physiological α-synuclein (αS) tetramer-monomer (T:M) ratio toward aggregation prone monomers. A resultant increase in phospho-serine 129+ αS monomers associating with excess mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids contributes to the αS aggregation. We previously reported that decreasing the release of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) by reducing or inhibiting the hormone sensitive lipase (LIPE) reversed pathologic αS phosphorylation and improved soluble αS homeostasis in cultured αS triplication PD neurons and reduced DAergic neurodegeneration in a C.elegans αS model. However, assessing LIPE as a potential therapeutic target for progressive PD motor phenotypes has not been investigated. 3K αS mice, representing a biochemical and neuropathological amplification of the E46K fPD-causing mutation, have decreased αS T:M ratios, lipidic aggregates, and a L-DOPA responsive PD-like motor syndrome. Here, we reduced LIPE by crossings of 3K mice with LIPE null mice, which attenuated motor deficits in male LIPE+/- knockdown (LKD)-3K mice. Heterozygous LIPE reduction was associated with an improved αS T:M ratio, and dopaminergic neurotransmitter levels and fiber densities. In female 3K-LKD mice, an increase in pS129+ and larger lipid droplets (LDs) likely decreased the benefits seen in males. Reducing LIPE decreased MUFA release from neutral lipid storage, thereby reducing MUFA in phospholipid membranes with which αS interacts. Our study highlights fatty acid turnover as a therapeutic target for Lewy body diseases and support LIPE as a promising target in males. LIPE regulation represents a novel approach to mitigate PD and DLB risk and treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Adom
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - W N Hahn
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - T D McCaffery
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - T E Moors
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - X Zhang
- Neuro Svenningsson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - P Svenningsson
- Neuro Svenningsson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - D J Selkoe
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - S Fanning
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
| | - S Nuber
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
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10
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Eubanks E, VanderSleen K, Mody J, Patel N, Sacks B, Farahani MD, Wang J, Elliott J, Jaber N, Akçimen F, Bandres-Ciga S, Helweh F, Liu J, Archakam S, Kimelman R, Sharma B, Socha P, Guntur A, Bartels T, Dettmer U, Mouradian MM, Bahrami AH, Dai W, Baum J, Shi Z, Hardy J, Kara E. Increased burden of rare risk variants across gene expression networks predisposes to sporadic Parkinson's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.30.610195. [PMID: 39257816 PMCID: PMC11384021 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.30.610195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is an intrinsically disordered protein that accumulates in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease and forms intraneuronal inclusions called Lewy Bodies. While the mechanism underlying the dysregulation of αSyn in Parkinson's disease is unclear, it is thought that prionoid cell-to-cell propagation of αSyn has an important role. Through a high throughput screen, we recently identified 38 genes whose knock down modulates αSyn propagation. Follow up experiments were undertaken for two of those genes, TAX1BP1 and ADAMTS19, to study the mechanism with which they regulate αSyn homeostasis. We used a recently developed M17D neuroblastoma cell line expressing triple mutant (E35K+E46K+E61K) "3K" αSyn under doxycycline induction. 3K αSyn spontaneously forms inclusions that show ultrastructural similarities to Lewy Bodies. Experiments using that cell line showed that TAX1BP1 and ADAMTS19 regulate how αSyn interacts with lipids and phase separates into inclusions, respectively, adding to the growing body of evidence implicating those processes in Parkinson's disease. Through RNA sequencing, we identified several genes that are differentially expressed after knock-down of TAX1BP1 or ADAMTS19. Burden analysis revealed that those differentially expressed genes (DEGs) carry an increased frequency of rare risk variants in Parkinson's disease patients versus healthy controls, an effect that was independently replicated across two separate cohorts (GP2 and AMP-PD). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that the DEGs cluster within modules in regions of the brain that develop high degrees of αSyn pathology (basal ganglia, cortex). We propose a novel model for the genetic architecture of sporadic Parkinson's disease: increased burden of risk variants across genetic networks dysregulates pathways underlying αSyn homeostasis, thereby leading to pathology and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Eubanks
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Katelyn VanderSleen
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jiya Mody
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Neha Patel
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Benjamin Sacks
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | | | - Jinying Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jordan Elliott
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Nora Jaber
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience & Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Fulya Akçimen
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sara Bandres-Ciga
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Fadel Helweh
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center and Institute of Materials Science & Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Sanjana Archakam
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Robert Kimelman
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Bineet Sharma
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Philip Socha
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Ananya Guntur
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Tim Bartels
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London W1T 7NF, United Kingdom
| | - Ulf Dettmer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Maral Mouradian
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Amir Houshang Bahrami
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center and Institute of Materials Science & Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
- Living Matter Physics, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wei Dai
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience & Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Jean Baum
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Zheng Shi
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - John Hardy
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London W1T 7NF, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London W1T 7DN, UK
- Institute for Advanced Study, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Eleanna Kara
- Department of Neurology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Institute for Neurological Therapeutics at Rutgers, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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11
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Li B, Dettmer U. Interactions of alpha-synuclein with membranes in Parkinson's disease: Mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 201:106646. [PMID: 39181187 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, is marked by the presence of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, neuronal lesions containing large amounts of the synaptic protein alpha-synuclein (αS). While the underlying mechanisms of disease progression in PD remain unclear, increasing evidence supports the importance of interactions between αS and cellular membranes in PD pathology. Therefore, understanding the αS-membrane interplay in health and disease is crucial for the development of therapeutic strategies. In this review, we (1) discuss key scenarios of pathological αS-membrane interactions; (2) present in detail therapeutic strategies explicitly reported to modify αS-membrane interactions; and (3) introduce additional therapeutic strategies that may involve aspects of interfering with αS-membrane interaction. This way, we aim to provide a holistic perspective on this important aspect of disease-modifying strategies for PD and other α-synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoyi Li
- Wycombe Abbey, Buckinghamshire HP11 1PE, UK
| | - Ulf Dettmer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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12
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Pramotton FM, Spitz S, Kamm RD. Challenges and Future Perspectives in Modeling Neurodegenerative Diseases Using Organ-on-a-Chip Technology. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2403892. [PMID: 38922799 PMCID: PMC11348103 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202403892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) affect more than 50 million people worldwide, posing a significant global health challenge as well as a high socioeconomic burden. With aging constituting one of the main risk factors for some NDDs such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), this societal toll is expected to rise considering the predicted increase in the aging population as well as the limited progress in the development of effective therapeutics. To address the high failure rates in clinical trials, legislative changes permitting the use of alternatives to traditional pre-clinical in vivo models are implemented. In this regard, microphysiological systems (MPS) such as organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platforms constitute a promising tool, due to their ability to mimic complex and human-specific tissue niches in vitro. This review summarizes the current progress in modeling NDDs using OoC technology and discusses five critical aspects still insufficiently addressed in OoC models to date. Taking these aspects into consideration in the future MPS will advance the modeling of NDDs in vitro and increase their translational value in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Michela Pramotton
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Sarah Spitz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
| | - Roger D. Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Biological EngineeringMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMA02139USA
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13
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Li K, Ling H, Huang W, Luo W, Gu C, Tao B, Xie Q, Qiu P. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis reveals α-syn induced astrocyte-neuron crosstalk-mediated neurotoxicity. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 139:112676. [PMID: 39053230 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112676] [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: 05/19/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is a key pathological hallmark of synucleinopathies and has been shown to negatively impact neuronal function and activity. α-syn is an important factor contributing to astrocyte overactivation, though the effect of astrocyte overactivation on neurons remains unclear. Single-cell RNA sequencing data of mouse brain frontal cortex and midbrain from Hua-Syn (A53T) and wild type mice were utilized from the GEO database. Enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction networks, and cell-cell interaction networks all indicated enhanced communication between astrocytes and neurons, along with the involvement of TNF and inflammation-related signaling pathways. In vitro experiments were performed to further explore the mechanism of neurotoxicity in astrocyte-neuron crosstalk. Astrocytes were treated by α-syn, neuronal TNFR1 receptors were antagonized by R-7050, and the cells were co-cultured after 24 h treatment. ELISA results revealed that cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly upregulated in astrocytes following the endocytosis of α-syn. Immunofluorescence (IF) showed neuronal dendritic reduction, axon elongation and increased co-localisation of TNFR1 receptor expression. Western blot showed up-regulation of PKR, P-eIF2α and ATF4 protein expression. Conversely, after antagonizing neuronal TNFR1 receptors with the R-7050 chemical inhibitor, neuronal synaptic structure was significantly restored and the expression of PKR, P-eIF2α and ATF4 was down-regulated. In summary, TNF-α acts as a signaling molecule mediating the up-regulated astrocyte-neuron crosstalk, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of α-syn-related neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Li
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haosen Ling
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenyu Luo
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cihang Gu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bowen Tao
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiqian Xie
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pingming Qiu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Thyroid Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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14
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Fu C, Yang N, Chuang JZ, Nakajima N, Iraha S, Roy N, Wu Z, Jiang Z, Otsu W, Radu RA, Yang HH, Lee MP, Worgall TS, Xiong WC, Sung CH. Mutant mice with rod-specific VPS35 deletion exhibit retinal α-synuclein pathology-associated degeneration. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5970. [PMID: 39043666 PMCID: PMC11266608 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50189-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35), the core component of the retromer complex which regulates endosomal trafficking, is genetically linked with Parkinson's disease (PD). Impaired vision is a common non-motor manifestation of PD. Here, we show mouse retinas with VPS35-deficient rods exhibit synapse loss and visual deficit, followed by progressive degeneration concomitant with the emergence of Lewy body-like inclusions and phospho-α-synuclein (P-αSyn) aggregation. Ultrastructural analyses reveal VPS35-deficient rods accumulate aggregates in late endosomes, deposited as lipofuscins bound to P-αSyn. Mechanistically, we uncover a protein network of VPS35 and its interaction with HSC70. VPS35 deficiency promotes sequestration of HSC70 and P-αSyn aggregation in late endosomes. Microglia which engulf lipofuscins and P-αSyn aggregates are activated, displaying autofluorescence, observed as bright dots in fundus imaging of live animals, coinciding with pathology onset and progression. The Rod∆Vps35 mouse line is a valuable tool for further mechanistic investigation of αSyn lesions and retinal degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Nan Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jen-Zen Chuang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Nakajima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Urology, Tokai University School of Medicipne, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Iraha
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University; Department of Ophthalmology, National Sanatorium Kikuchi Keifuen, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Neeta Roy
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Zhenquan Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Zhichun Jiang
- UCLA Stein Eye Institute, and Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Wataru Otsu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Biomedical Research Laboratory, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Roxana A Radu
- UCLA Stein Eye Institute, and Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Howard Hua Yang
- The Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maxwell Ping Lee
- The Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tilla S Worgall
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wen-Cheng Xiong
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ching-Hwa Sung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Margaret M. Dyson Vision Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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15
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Bergasa-Caceres F, Rabitz HA. A Perspective on Interdicting in Protein Misfolding for Therapeutic Drug Design: Modulating the Formation of Nonlocal Contacts in α-Synuclein as a Strategy against Parkinson's Disease. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:6439-6448. [PMID: 38940731 PMCID: PMC11247489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
In recent work we proposed that interdiction in the earliest contact-formation events along the folding pathway of key viral proteins could provide a novel avenue for therapeutic drug design. In this Perspective we explore the potential applicability of the protein folding interdiction strategy in the realm of neurodegenerative diseases with a specific focus on synucleinopathies. In order to fulfill this goal we review the interdiction proposal and its practical challenges, and we present new results concerning design strategies for possible peptide drugs that could be useful in preventing α-synuclein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Herschel A. Rabitz
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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16
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Gatzemeier LM, Meyer F, Outeiro TF. Synthesis and Semi-Synthesis of Alpha-Synuclein: Insight into the Chemical Complexity of Synucleinopathies. Chembiochem 2024:e202400253. [PMID: 38965889 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The chemical rules governing protein folding have intrigued generations of researchers for decades. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), prediction of protein structure has improved tremendously. However, there is still a level of analysis that is only possible through wet laboratory experiments, especially in respect to the investigation of the pathological effect of mutations and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) on proteins of interest. This requires the availability of pure peptides and proteins in sufficient quantities for biophysical, biochemical, and functional studies. In this context, chemical protein synthesis and semi-synthesis are powerful tools in protein research, which help to enlighten the role of protein modification in the physiology and pathology of proteins. A protein of high interest in the field of biomedicine is alpha-synuclein (aSyn), a protein deeply associated with several devastating neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), or multiple systems atrophy (MSA). Here, we describe several methods and pathways to synthesize native or modified aSyn, and discuss how these approaches enable us to address pathological mechanisms that may open novel perspectives for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Maria Gatzemeier
- Institute of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstraße 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Franc Meyer
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstraße 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
- Scientific employee with an honorary contract at Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Von Siebold-Straße 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
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17
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Xian M, Li J, Liu T, Hou K, Sun L, Wei J. β-Synuclein Intermediates α-Synuclein Neurotoxicity in Parkinson's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2445-2453. [PMID: 38905183 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disease in the world, and synuclein is closely related to the onset and progression of PD. Synuclein is considered a therapeutic target for PD. Recent studies have found that abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) in the brains of PD patients leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation. Research in the field of neuroscience has confirmed that β-synuclein (β-Syn) also plays a role in Parkinson's disease. However, there has been little research on the role mechanisms and interactions between β-Syn and α-Syn in PD. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between α-Syn, β-Syn, and PD and to explore the roles and interactions of β-Syn and α-Syn in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiyan Xian
- Institute for Brain Sciences Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, P.R. China
| | - Jingwen Li
- Institute for Brain Sciences Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, P.R. China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Institute for Brain Sciences Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, P.R. China
| | - Kaiying Hou
- Institute for Brain Sciences Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, P.R. China
| | - Lin Sun
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, P.R. China
| | - Jianshe Wei
- Institute for Brain Sciences Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, P.R. China
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18
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Yadav S, Deepika, Moar K, Kumar A, Khola N, Pant A, Kakde GS, Maurya PK. Reconsidering red blood cells as the diagnostic potential for neurodegenerative disorders. Biol Cell 2024; 116:e2400019. [PMID: 38822416 DOI: 10.1111/boc.202400019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Red blood cells (RBCs) are usually considered simple cells and transporters of gases to tissues. HYPOTHESIS However, recent research has suggested that RBCs may have diagnostic potential in major neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). RESULTS This review summarizes the current knowledge on changes in RBC in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other NDDs. It discusses the deposition of neuronal proteins like amyloid-β, tau, and α-synuclein, polyamines, changes in the proteins of RBCs like band-3, membrane transporter proteins, heat shock proteins, oxidative stress biomarkers, and altered metabolic pathways in RBCs during neurodegeneration. It also highlights the comparison of RBC diagnostic markers to other in-market diagnoses and discusses the challenges in utilizing RBCs as diagnostic tools, such as the need for standardized protocols and further validation studies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The evidence suggests that RBCs have diagnostic potential in neurodegenerative disorders, and this study can pave the foundation for further research which may lead to the development of novel diagnostic approaches and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somu Yadav
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India
| | - Deepika
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India
| | - Kareena Moar
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India
| | - Akshay Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India
| | - Nikhila Khola
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India
| | - Anuja Pant
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India
| | - Ganseh S Kakde
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India
| | - Pawan Kumar Maurya
- Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India
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19
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de Boni L, Wallis A, Hays Watson A, Ruiz-Riquelme A, Leyland LA, Bourinaris T, Hannaway N, Wüllner U, Peters O, Priller J, Falkenburger BH, Wiltfang J, Bähr M, Zerr I, Bürger K, Perneczky R, Teipel S, Löhle M, Hermann W, Schott BH, Brockmann K, Spottke A, Haustein K, Breuer P, Houlden H, Weil RS, Bartels T. Aggregation-resistant alpha-synuclein tetramers are reduced in the blood of Parkinson's patients. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:1657-1674. [PMID: 38839930 PMCID: PMC11250827 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00083-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease (PD) are defined by the accumulation and aggregation of the α-synuclein protein in neurons, glia and other tissues. We have previously shown that destabilization of α-synuclein tetramers is associated with familial PD due to SNCA mutations and demonstrated brain-region specific alterations of α-synuclein multimers in sporadic PD patients following the classical Braak spreading theory. In this study, we assessed relative levels of disordered and higher-ordered multimeric forms of cytosolic α-synuclein in blood from familial PD with G51D mutations and sporadic PD patients. We used an adapted in vitro-cross-linking protocol for human EDTA-whole blood. The relative levels of higher-ordered α-synuclein tetramers were diminished in blood from familial PD and sporadic PD patients compared to controls. Interestingly, the relative amount of α-synuclein tetramers was already decreased in asymptomatic G51D carriers, supporting the hypothesis that α-synuclein multimer destabilization precedes the development of clinical PD. Our data, therefore suggest that measuring α-synuclein tetramers in blood may have potential as a facile biomarker assay for early detection and quantitative tracking of PD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura de Boni
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, W1T 7NF, UK
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Amber Wallis
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, W1T 7NF, UK
| | - Aurelia Hays Watson
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, W1T 7NF, UK
| | | | - Louise-Ann Leyland
- Dementia Research Center, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Thomas Bourinaris
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Naomi Hannaway
- Dementia Research Center, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Ullrich Wüllner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, Germany
- Departments of Neurology and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Oliver Peters
- Institute of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12203, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josef Priller
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- University of Edinburgh and UK DRI, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Björn H Falkenburger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 01307, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Mathias Bähr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Bürger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert Perneczky
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, W6 8RP, UK
| | - Stefan Teipel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock-Greifswald, 17489, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, 18147, Rostock, Germany
| | - Matthias Löhle
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock-Greifswald, 17489, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Wiebke Hermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock-Greifswald, 17489, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Björn-Hendrik Schott
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 37075, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Göttingen, Georg August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Brockmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Annika Spottke
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katrin Haustein
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Breuer
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Rimona S Weil
- Dementia Research Center, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Tim Bartels
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, W1T 7NF, UK.
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20
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Bezrukova AI, Basharova KS, Baydakova GV, Zakharova EY, N Pchelina S, Usenko TS. Dose-Dependent Alterations of Lysosomal Activity and Alpha-Synuclein in Peripheral Blood Monocyte-Derived Macrophages and SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cell Line by upon Inhibition of MTOR Protein Kinase - Assessment of the Prospects of Parkinson's Disease Therapy. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:1300-1312. [PMID: 39218026 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924070113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
To date, the molecular mechanisms of the common neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease (PD) are unknown and, as a result, there is no neuroprotective therapy that may stop or slow down the process of neuronal cell death. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the prospects of using the mTOR molecule as a potential target for PD therapy due to the dose-dependent effect of mTOR kinase activity inhibition on cellular parameters associated with, PD pathogenesis. The study used peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. As a result, we have for the first time showed that inhibition of mTOR by Torin1 only at a concentration of 100 nM affects the level of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase), encoded by the GBA1 gene. Mutations in GBA1 are considered a high-risk factor for PD development. This concentration led a decrease in pathological phosphorylated alpha-synuclein (Ser129), an increase in its stable tetrameric form with no changes in the lysosomal enzyme activities and concentrations of lysosphingolipids. Our findings suggest that inhibition of the mTOR protein kinase could be a promising approach for developing therapies for PD, particularly for GBA1-associated PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia I Bezrukova
- Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Gatchina, Leningrad Region, 188300, Russia.
- Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, 197022, Russia
| | - Katerina S Basharova
- Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Gatchina, Leningrad Region, 188300, Russia
| | | | | | - Sofya N Pchelina
- Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Gatchina, Leningrad Region, 188300, Russia
- Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, 197022, Russia
| | - Tatiana S Usenko
- Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Gatchina, Leningrad Region, 188300, Russia
- Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg, 197022, Russia
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21
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Burré J, Edwards RH, Halliday G, Lang AE, Lashuel HA, Melki R, Murayama S, Outeiro TF, Papa SM, Stefanis L, Woerman AL, Surmeier DJ, Kalia LV, Takahashi R. Research Priorities on the Role of α-Synuclein in Parkinson's Disease Pathogenesis. Mov Disord 2024. [PMID: 38946200 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29897] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Various forms of Parkinson's disease, including its common sporadic form, are characterized by prominent α-synuclein (αSyn) aggregation in affected brain regions. However, the role of αSyn in the pathogenesis and evolution of the disease remains unclear, despite vast research efforts of more than a quarter century. A better understanding of the role of αSyn, either primary or secondary, is critical for developing disease-modifying therapies. Previous attempts to hone this research have been challenged by experimental limitations, but recent technological advances may facilitate progress. The Scientific Issues Committee of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) charged a panel of experts in the field to discuss current scientific priorities and identify research strategies with potential for a breakthrough. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Burré
- Appel Institute for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert H Edwards
- Department of Physiology and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Glenda Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ronald Melki
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS, Fontenay-Aux-Roses, France
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
- The Brain Bank for Neurodevelopmental, Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Stella M Papa
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, and Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Leonidas Stefanis
- First Department of Neurology, Eginitio Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Amanda L Woerman
- Department of Biology, Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Prion Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Dalton James Surmeier
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Lorraine V Kalia
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryosuke Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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22
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Calis S, Gevaert K. The role of Nα-terminal acetylation in protein conformation. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38923676 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Especially in higher eukaryotes, the N termini of proteins are subject to enzymatic modifications, with the acetylation of the alpha-amino group of nascent polypeptides being a prominent one. In recent years, the specificities and substrates of the enzymes responsible for this modification, the Nα-terminal acetyltransferases, have been mapped in several proteomic studies. Aberrant expression of, and mutations in these enzymes were found to be associated with several human diseases, explaining the growing interest in protein Nα-terminal acetylation. With some enzymes, such as the Nα-terminal acetyltransferase A complex having thousands of possible substrates, researchers are now trying to decipher the functional outcome of Nα-terminal protein acetylation. In this review, we zoom in on one possible functional consequence of Nα-terminal protein acetylation; its effect on protein folding. Using selected examples of proteins associated with human diseases such as alpha-synuclein and huntingtin, here, we discuss the sometimes contradictory findings of the effects of Nα-terminal protein acetylation on protein (mis)folding and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Calis
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
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23
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Sanluca C, Spagnolo P, Mancinelli R, De Bartolo MI, Fava M, Maccarrone M, Carotti S, Gaudio E, Leuti A, Vivacqua G. Interaction between α-Synuclein and Bioactive Lipids: Neurodegeneration, Disease Biomarkers and Emerging Therapies. Metabolites 2024; 14:352. [PMID: 39057675 PMCID: PMC11278689 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14070352] [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: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The present review provides a comprehensive examination of the intricate dynamics between α-synuclein, a protein crucially involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy, and endogenously-produced bioactive lipids, which play a pivotal role in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The interaction of α-synuclein with bioactive lipids is emerging as a critical factor in the development and progression of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases, offering new insights into disease mechanisms and novel perspectives in the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. We delve into the molecular pathways through which α-synuclein interacts with biological membranes and bioactive lipids, influencing the aggregation of α-synuclein and triggering neuroinflammatory responses, highlighting the potential of bioactive lipids as biomarkers for early disease detection and progression monitoring. Moreover, we explore innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the interaction between α-synuclein and bioactive lipids, including the development of small molecules and nutritional interventions. Finally, the review addresses the significance of the gut-to-brain axis in mediating the effects of bioactive lipids on α-synuclein pathology and discusses the role of altered gut lipid metabolism and microbiota composition in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The present review aims to underscore the potential of targeting α-synuclein-lipid interactions as a multifaceted approach for the detection and treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Sanluca
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Microscopic and Ultrastructural Anatomy, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy (S.C.)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Spagnolo
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Microscopic and Ultrastructural Anatomy, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy (S.C.)
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Romina Mancinelli
- Department of Anatomic, Histologic, Forensic and Locomotor Apparatus Sciences, Sapienza University of Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy (E.G.)
| | | | - Marina Fava
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy;
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Simone Carotti
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Microscopic and Ultrastructural Anatomy, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy (S.C.)
| | - Eugenio Gaudio
- Department of Anatomic, Histologic, Forensic and Locomotor Apparatus Sciences, Sapienza University of Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy (E.G.)
| | - Alessandro Leuti
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
- European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giorgio Vivacqua
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Microscopic and Ultrastructural Anatomy, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy (S.C.)
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24
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Barbuti PA. A-Syn(ful) MAM: A Fresh Perspective on a Converging Domain in Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6525. [PMID: 38928232 PMCID: PMC11203789 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disease of an unknown origin. Despite that, decades of research have provided considerable evidence that alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is central to the pathogenesis of disease. Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs) are functional domains formed at contact sites between the ER and mitochondria, with a well-established function of MAMs being the control of lipid homeostasis within the cell. Additionally, there are numerous proteins localized or enriched at MAMs that have regulatory roles in several different molecular signaling pathways required for cellular homeostasis, such as autophagy and neuroinflammation. Alterations in several of these signaling pathways that are functionally associated with MAMs are found in PD. Taken together with studies that find αSyn localized at MAMs, this has implicated MAM (dys)function as a converging domain relevant to PD. This review will highlight the many functions of MAMs and provide an overview of the literature that finds αSyn, in addition to several other PD-related proteins, localized there. This review will also detail the direct interaction of αSyn and αSyn-interacting partners with specific MAM-resident proteins. In addition, recent studies exploring new methods to investigate MAMs will be discussed, along with some of the controversies regarding αSyn, including its several conformations and subcellular localizations. The goal of this review is to highlight and provide insight on a domain that is incompletely understood and, from a PD perspective, highlight those complex interactions that may hold the key to understanding the pathomechanisms underlying PD, which may lead to the targeted development of new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Barbuti
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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25
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Zhao C, Tu J, Wang C, Liu W, Gu J, Yin Y, Zhang S, Li D, Diao J, Zhu ZJ, Liu C. Lysophosphatidylcholine binds α-synuclein and prevents its pathological aggregation. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwae182. [PMID: 38962715 PMCID: PMC11221426 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn) in Lewy bodies is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Genetic mutations in lipid metabolism are causative for a subset of patients with Parkinsonism. The role of α-syn's lipid interactions in its function and aggregation is recognized, yet the specific lipids involved and how lipid metabolism issues trigger α-syn aggregation and neurodegeneration remain unclear. Here, we found that α-syn shows a preference for binding to lysophospholipids (LPLs), particularly targeting lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) without relying on electrostatic interactions. LPC is capable of maintaining α-syn in a compact conformation, significantly reducing its propensity to aggregate both in vitro and within cellular environments. Conversely, a reduction in the production of cellular LPLs is associated with an increase in α-syn accumulation. Our work underscores the critical role of LPLs in preserving the natural conformation of α-syn to inhibit improper aggregation, and establishes a potential connection between lipid metabolic dysfunction and α-syn aggregation in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Zhao
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jia Tu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chuchu Wang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jinge Gu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yandong Yin
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Dan Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Jiajie Diao
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Zheng-Jiang Zhu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
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26
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Li Y, Yu C, Jiang X, Fu J, Sun N, Zhang D. The mechanistic view of non-coding RNAs as a regulator of inflammatory pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 258:155349. [PMID: 38772115 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms. Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PD, with the NLRP3 inflammasome implicated as a key mediator. Nfon-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), have recently garnered attention for their regulatory roles in various biological processes, including inflammation. This review aims to provide a mechanistic insight into how ncRNAs function as regulators of inflammatory pathways in PD, with a specific focus on the NLRP3 inflammasome. We discuss the dysregulation of miRNAs and lncRNAs in PD pathogenesis and their impact on neuroinflammation through modulation of NLRP3 activation, cytokine production, and microglial activation. Additionally, we explore the crosstalk between ncRNAs, alpha-synuclein pathology, and mitochondrial dysfunction, further elucidating the intricate network underlying PD-associated inflammation. Understanding the mechanistic roles of ncRNAs in regulating inflammatory pathways may offer novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of PD and provide insights into the broader implications of ncRNA-mediated regulation in neuroinflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu'an Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jilin Province FAW General Hospital, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Chunlei Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jilin Province FAW General Hospital, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Xiaobing Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jilin Province FAW General Hospital, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Jia Fu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jilin Province FAW General Hospital, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Ning Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jilin Province FAW General Hospital, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Daquan Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jilin Province FAW General Hospital, Changchun 130000, China.
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27
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Yan X, Kuster D, Mohanty P, Nijssen J, Pombo-García K, Rizuan A, Franzmann TM, Sergeeva A, Passos PM, George L, Wang SH, Shenoy J, Danielson HL, Honigmann A, Ayala YM, Fawzi NL, Mittal J, Alberti S, Hyman AA. Intra-condensate demixing of TDP-43 inside stress granules generates pathological aggregates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.23.576837. [PMID: 38328053 PMCID: PMC10849624 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.23.576837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Cytosolic aggregation of the nuclear protein TDP-43 is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, but the triggers for TDP-43 aggregation are still debated. Here, we demonstrate that TDP-43 aggregation requires a double event. One is up-concentration in stress granules beyond a threshold, and the other is oxidative stress. These two events collectively induce intra-condensate demixing, giving rise to a dynamic TDP-43 enriched phase within stress granules, which subsequently transitions into pathological aggregates. Mechanistically, intra-condensate demixing is triggered by local unfolding of the RRM1 domain for intermolecular disulfide bond formation and by increased hydrophobic patch interactions in the C-terminal domain. By engineering TDP-43 variants resistant to intra-condensate demixing, we successfully eliminate pathological TDP-43 aggregates in cells. We conclude that up-concentration inside condensates and simultaneous exposure to environmental stress could be a general pathway for protein aggregation, with intra-condensate demixing constituting a key intermediate step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yan
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - David Kuster
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Priyesh Mohanty
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Jik Nijssen
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Karina Pombo-García
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Azamat Rizuan
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
| | - Titus M. Franzmann
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - Aleksandra Sergeeva
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - Patricia M. Passos
- Edward Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University; St. Louis, MO 63104; USA
| | - Leah George
- Edward Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University; St. Louis, MO 63104; USA
| | - Szu-Huan Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University; Providence, RI 02912; USA
| | - Jayakrishna Shenoy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University; Providence, RI 02912; USA
| | - Helen L. Danielson
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University; Providence, RI 02912; USA
| | - Alf Honigmann
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - Yuna M. Ayala
- Edward Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University; St. Louis, MO 63104; USA
| | - Nicolas L. Fawzi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University; Providence, RI 02912; USA
| | - Jeetain Mittal
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
| | - Simon Alberti
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - Anthony A. Hyman
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- Lead contact
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28
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Anastasiadi AT, Arvaniti VZ, Hudson KE, Kriebardis AG, Stathopoulos C, D’Alessandro A, Spitalnik SL, Tzounakas VL. Exploring unconventional attributes of red blood cells and their potential applications in biomedicine. Protein Cell 2024; 15:315-330. [PMID: 38270470 PMCID: PMC11074998 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alkmini T Anastasiadi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Vasiliki-Zoi Arvaniti
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Krystalyn E Hudson
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City, NY 10032, USA
| | - Anastasios G Kriebardis
- Laboratory of Reliability and Quality Control in Laboratory Hematology (HemQcR), Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health & Caring Sciences, University of West Attica (UniWA), 12243 Egaleo, Greece
| | | | - Angelo D’Alessandro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Steven L Spitalnik
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City, NY 10032, USA
| | - Vassilis L Tzounakas
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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29
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Huettemann P, Mahadevan P, Lempart J, Tse E, Dehury B, Edwards BFP, Southworth DR, Sahoo BR, Jakob U. Amyloid Accelerator Polyphosphate Implicated as the Mystery Density in α-Synuclein Fibrils. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.01.592011. [PMID: 38746133 PMCID: PMC11092616 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.01.592011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Aberrant aggregation of α-Synuclein is the pathological hallmark of a set of neurodegenerative diseases termed synucleinopathies. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy have led to the structural determination of the first synucleinopathy-derived α-Synuclein fibrils, which contain a non-proteinaceous, "mystery density" at the core of the protofilaments, hypothesized to be highly negatively charged. Guided by previous studies that demonstrated that polyphosphate (polyP), a universally conserved polyanion, significantly accelerates α-Synuclein fibril formation, we conducted blind docking and molecular dynamics simulation experiments to model the polyP binding site in α-Synuclein fibrils. Here we demonstrate that our models uniformly place polyP into the lysine-rich pocket, which coordinates the mystery density in patient-derived fibrils. Subsequent in vitro studies and experiments in cells revealed that substitution of the two critical lysine residues K43 and K45 leads to a loss of all previously reported effects of polyP binding on α-Synuclein, including stimulation of fibril formation, change in filament conformation and stability as well as alleviation of cytotoxicity. In summary, our study demonstrates that polyP fits the unknown electron density present in in vivo α-Synuclein fibrils and suggests that polyP exerts its functions by neutralizing charge repulsion between neighboring lysine residues.
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Abioye A, Akintade D, Mitchell J, Olorode S, Adejare A. Nonintuitive Immunogenicity and Plasticity of Alpha-Synuclein Conformers: A Paradigm for Smart Delivery of Neuro-Immunotherapeutics. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:609. [PMID: 38794271 PMCID: PMC11124533 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050609] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the extensive research successes and continuous developments in modern medicine in terms of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, the lack of clinically useful disease-modifying drugs or immunotherapeutic agents that can successfully treat or prevent neurodegenerative diseases is an ongoing challenge. To date, only one of the 244 drugs in clinical trials for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases has been approved in the past decade, indicating a failure rate of 99.6%. In corollary, the approved monoclonal antibody did not demonstrate significant cognitive benefits. Thus, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is increasing rapidly. Therefore, there is an urgent need for creative approaches to identifying and testing biomarkers for better diagnosis, prevention, and disease-modifying strategies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Overexpression of the endogenous α-synuclein has been identified as the driving force for the formation of the pathogenic α-synuclein (α-Syn) conformers, resulting in neuroinflammation, hypersensitivity, endogenous homeostatic responses, oxidative dysfunction, and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the conformational plasticity of α-Syn proffers that a certain level of α-Syn is essential for the survival of neurons. Thus, it exerts both neuroprotective and neurotoxic (regulatory) functions on neighboring neuronal cells. Furthermore, the aberrant metastable α-Syn conformers may be subtle and difficult to detect but may trigger cellular and molecular events including immune responses. It is well documented in literature that the misfolded α-Syn and its conformers that are released into the extracellular space from damaged or dead neurons trigger the innate and adaptive immune responses in PD. Thus, in this review, we discuss the nonintuitive plasticity and immunogenicity of the α-Syn conformers in the brain immune cells and their physiological and pathological consequences on the neuroimmune responses including neuroinflammation, homeostatic remodeling, and cell-specific interactions that promote neuroprotection in PD. We also critically reviewed the novel strategies for immunotherapeutic delivery interventions in PD pathogenesis including immunotherapeutic targets and potential nanoparticle-based smart drug delivery systems. It is envisioned that a greater understanding of the nonintuitive immunogenicity of aberrant α-Syn conformers in the brain's microenvironment would provide a platform for identifying valid therapeutic targets and developing smart brain delivery systems for clinically effective disease-modifying immunotherapeutics that can aid in the prevention and treatment of PD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amos Abioye
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Belmont University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Damilare Akintade
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK; (D.A.); (J.M.); (S.O.)
| | - James Mitchell
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK; (D.A.); (J.M.); (S.O.)
| | - Simisade Olorode
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds LS1 3HE, UK; (D.A.); (J.M.); (S.O.)
| | - Adeboye Adejare
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA;
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Sharma K, Chib S, Gupta A, Singh R, Chalotra R. Interplay between α-synuclein and parkin genes: Insights of Parkinson's disease. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:586. [PMID: 38683365 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09520-7] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The pathogenesis of PD is intimately linked to the roles of two key molecular players, α-synuclein (α-syn) and Parkin. Understanding the intricate interplay between α-syn and Parkin is essential for unravelling the molecular underpinnings of PD. Their roles in synaptic function and protein quality control underscore their significance in neuronal health. Dysregulation of these processes, as seen in PD, highlights the potential for targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring normal protein homeostasis and mitigating neurodegeneration. Investigating the connections between α-syn, Parkin, and various pathological mechanisms provides insights into the complex web of factors contributing to PD pathogenesis and offers hope for the development of more effective treatments for this devastating neurological disorder. The present compilation provides an overview of their structures, regional and cellular locations, associations, physiological functions, and pathological roles in the context of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajal Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
| | - Shivani Chib
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
| | - Aniket Gupta
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
| | - Randhir Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India.
| | - Rishabh Chalotra
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, India
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Hatano T, Okuzumi A, Matsumoto G, Tsunemi T, Hattori N. α-Synuclein: A Promising Biomarker for Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders. J Mov Disord 2024; 17:127-137. [PMID: 38589016 PMCID: PMC11082597 DOI: 10.14802/jmd.24075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the SNCA gene, which encodes α-synuclein (α-syn), play a key role in the development of genetic Parkinson's disease (PD). α-Syn is a major component of Lewy bodies in PD and glial cytoplasmic inclusions in multiple system atrophy (MSA). Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder patients often progress to PD, dementia with Lewy bodies, or MSA, which are collectively known as α-synucleinopathies. The loss of dopaminergic neurons with Lewy bodies precedes motor dysfunction in these diseases, but the mechanisms of neurodegeneration due to α-syn aggregation are poorly understood. Monitoring α-syn aggregation in vivo could serve as a diagnostic biomarker and help elucidate pathogenesis, necessitating a simple and accurate detection method. Seed amplification assays (SAAs), such as real-time quaking-induced conversion and protein misfolding cyclic amplification, are used to detect small amounts of abnormally structured α-syn protofibrils, which are central to aggregation. These methods are promising for the early diagnosis of α-synucleinopathy. Differences in α-syn filament structures between α-synucleinopathies, as observed through transmission electron microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy, suggest their role in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. SAAs may differentiate between subtypes of α-synucleinopathy and other diseases. Efforts are also being made to identify α-syn from blood using various methods. This review introduces body fluid α-syn biomarkers based on pathogenic α-syn seeds, which are expected to redefine α-synucleinopathy diagnosis and staging, improving clinical research accuracy and facilitating biomarker development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taku Hatano
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayami Okuzumi
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gen Matsumoto
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Taiji Tsunemi
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Neurodegenerative Disorders Collaboration Laboratory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
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33
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Jin M, Wang S, Gao X, Zou Z, Hirotsune S, Sun L. Pathological and physiological functional cross-talks of α-synuclein and tau in the central nervous system. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:855-862. [PMID: 37843221 PMCID: PMC10664117 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.382231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein and tau are abundant multifunctional brain proteins that are mainly expressed in the presynaptic and axonal compartments of neurons, respectively. Previous works have revealed that intracellular deposition of α-synuclein and/or tau causes many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Despite intense investigation, the normal physiological functions and roles of α-synuclein and tau are still unclear, owing to the fact that mice with knockout of either of these proteins do not present apparent phenotypes. Interestingly, the co-occurrence of α-synuclein and tau aggregates was found in post-mortem brains with synucleinopathies and tauopathies, some of which share similarities in clinical manifestations. Furthermore, the direct interaction of α-synuclein with tau is considered to promote the fibrillization of each of the proteins in vitro and in vivo. On the other hand, our recent findings have revealed that α-synuclein and tau are cooperatively involved in brain development in a stage-dependent manner. These findings indicate strong cross-talk between the two proteins in physiology and pathology. In this review, we provide a summary of the recent findings on the functional roles of α-synuclein and tau in the physiological conditions and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. A deep understanding of the interplay between α-synuclein and tau in physiological and pathological conditions might provide novel targets for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic strategies to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Jin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
- Department of Genetic Disease Research, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shengming Wang
- Department of Genetic Disease Research, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Xiaodie Gao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zhenyou Zou
- Department of Scientific Research, Brain Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Shinji Hirotsune
- Department of Genetic Disease Research, Osaka Metropolitan University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Liyuan Sun
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
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Amartumur S, Nguyen H, Huynh T, Kim TS, Woo RS, Oh E, Kim KK, Lee LP, Heo C. Neuropathogenesis-on-chips for neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2219. [PMID: 38472255 PMCID: PMC10933492 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46554-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing diagnostics and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is challenging due to multifactorial pathogenesis that progresses gradually. Advanced in vitro systems that recapitulate patient-like pathophysiology are emerging as alternatives to conventional animal-based models. In this review, we explore the interconnected pathogenic features of different types of ND, discuss the general strategy to modelling NDs using a microfluidic chip, and introduce the organoid-on-a-chip as the next advanced relevant model. Lastly, we overview how these models are being applied in academic and industrial drug development. The integration of microfluidic chips, stem cells, and biotechnological devices promises to provide valuable insights for biomedical research and developing diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarnai Amartumur
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Huong Nguyen
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Thuy Huynh
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Testaverde S Kim
- Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics (CINAP), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Ran-Sook Woo
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, 34824, Korea
| | - Eungseok Oh
- Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, 35015, Korea
| | - Kyeong Kyu Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Graduate School of Basic Medical Science (GSBMS), Institute for Anti-microbial Resistance Research and Therapeutics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, 16419, Korea
| | - Luke P Lee
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea.
- Harvard Medical School, Division of Engineering in Medicine and Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Chaejeong Heo
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Korea.
- Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics (CINAP), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon, 16419, Korea.
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35
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Huang W, Liu J, Le S, Yao M, Shi Y, Yan J. In situ single-molecule investigations of the impacts of biochemical perturbations on conformational intermediates of monomeric α-synuclein. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:016114. [PMID: 38435467 PMCID: PMC10908564 DOI: 10.1063/5.0188714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein aggregation is a common trait in synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease. Being an unstructured protein, α-synuclein exists in several distinct conformational intermediates, contributing to both its function and pathogenesis. However, the regulation of these monomer conformations by biochemical factors and potential drugs has remained elusive. In this study, we devised an in situ single-molecule manipulation approach to pinpoint kinetically stable conformational intermediates of monomeric α-synuclein and explore the effects of various biochemical factors and drugs. We uncovered a partially folded conformation located in the non-amyloid-β component (NAC) region of monomeric α-synuclein, which is regulated by a preNAC region. This conformational intermediate is sensitive to biochemical perturbations and small-molecule drugs that influencing α-synuclein's aggregation tendency. Our findings reveal that this partially folded intermediate may play a role in α-synuclein aggregation, offering fresh perspectives for potential treatments aimed at the initial stage of higher-order α-synuclein aggregation. The single-molecule approach developed here can be broadly applied to the study of disease-related intrinsically disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenmao Huang
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
| | - Jingzhun Liu
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | | | | | - Yi Shi
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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36
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Heravi S, Power JVD, Yethiraj A, Booth V. The effects of biological crowders on fibrillization, structure, diffusion, and conformational dynamics of α-synuclein. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4894. [PMID: 38358134 PMCID: PMC10868423 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
α-synuclein is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) whose aggregation in presynaptic neuronal cells is a pathological hallmark of Lewy body formation and Parkinson's disease. This aggregation process is likely affected by the crowded macromolecular cellular environment. In this study, α-synuclein was studied in the presence of both a synthetic crowder, Ficoll70, and a biological crowder composed of lysed cells that better mimics the biocomplexity of the cellular environment. 15 N-1 H HSQC NMR results show similar α-synuclein chemical shifts in non-crowded and all crowded conditions implying that it remains similarly unstructured in all conditions. Nevertheless, both HSQC NMR and fluorescence measurements indicate that, only in the cell lysate, α-synuclein forms aggregates over a timescale of 48 h. 15 N-edited diffusion measurements indicate that all crowders slow down the α-synuclein's diffusivity. Interestingly, at high concentrations, α-synuclein diffuses faster in cell lysate than in Ficoll70, possibly due to additional soft (e.g., electrostatic or hydrophobic) interactions. 15 N-edited relaxation measurements show that some residues are more mobile in cell lysate than in Ficoll70; the rates that are most different are predominantly in hydrophobic residues. We thus examined cell lysates with reduced hydrophobicity and found slower dynamics (higher relaxation rates) in several α-synuclein residues. Taken together, these experiments suggest that while cell lysate does not substantially affect α-synuclein structure (HSQC spectra), it does affect chain dynamics and translational diffusion, and strongly affects aggregation over a timescale of days, in a manner that is different from either no crowder or an artificial crowder: soft hydrophobic interactions are implicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Heravi
- Department of BiochemistryMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Jude Vincent Dobbin Power
- Department of BiochemistryMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Anand Yethiraj
- Department of Physics and Physical OceanographyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
| | - Valerie Booth
- Department of BiochemistryMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
- Department of Physics and Physical OceanographyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland and LabradorCanada
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37
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Nuber S, Zhang X, McCaffery TD, Moors TE, Adom MA, Hahn WN, Martin D, Ericsson M, Tripathi A, Dettmer U, Svenningsson P, Selkoe DJ. Generation of G51D and 3D mice reveals decreased α-synuclein tetramer-monomer ratios promote Parkinson's disease phenotypes. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:47. [PMID: 38424059 PMCID: PMC10904737 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00662-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the α-Synuclein (αS) gene promote αS monomer aggregation that causes neurodegeneration in familial Parkinson's disease (fPD). However, most mouse models expressing single-mutant αS transgenes develop neuronal aggregates very slowly, and few have dopaminergic cell loss, both key characteristics of PD. To accelerate neurotoxic aggregation, we previously generated fPD αS E46K mutant mice with rationally designed triple mutations based on the α-helical repeat motif structure of αS (fPD E46K→3 K). The 3 K variant increased αS membrane association and decreased the physiological tetramer:monomer ratio, causing lipid- and vesicle-rich inclusions and robust tremor-predominant, L-DOPA responsive PD-like phenotypes. Here, we applied an analogous approach to the G51D fPD mutation and its rational amplification (G51D → 3D) to generate mutant mice. In contrast to 3 K mice, G51D and 3D mice accumulate monomers almost exclusively in the cytosol while also showing decreased αS tetramer:monomer ratios. Both 1D and 3D mutant mice gradually accumulate insoluble, higher-molecular weight αS oligomers. Round αS neuronal deposits at 12 mos immunolabel for ubiquitin and pSer129 αS, with limited proteinase K resistance. Both 1D and 3D mice undergo loss of striatal TH+ fibers and midbrain dopaminergic neurons by 12 mos and a bradykinesia responsive to L-DOPA. The 3D αS mice have decreased tetramer:monomer equilibria and recapitulate major features of PD. These fPD G51D and 3D mutant mice should be useful models to study neuronal αS-toxicity associated with bradykinetic motor phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Nuber
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Xiaoqun Zhang
- Neuro Svenningsson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas D McCaffery
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tim E Moors
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Marie-Alexandre Adom
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Wolf N Hahn
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Dylan Martin
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Maria Ericsson
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Arati Tripathi
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ulf Dettmer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Per Svenningsson
- Neuro Svenningsson, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dennis J Selkoe
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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Kon T, Lee S, Martinez-Valbuena I, Yoshida K, Tanikawa S, Lang AE, Kovacs GG. Molecular Behavior of α-Synuclein Is Associated with Membrane Transport, Lipid Metabolism, and Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathways in Lewy Body Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2676. [PMID: 38473923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Lewy body diseases (LBDs) feature α-synuclein (α-syn)-containing Lewy bodies, with misfolded α-syn potentially propagating as seeds. Using a seeding amplification assay, we previously reported distinct α-syn seeding in LBD cases based on the area under seeding curves. This study revealed that LBD cases showing different α-syn seeding kinetics have distinct proteomics profiles, emphasizing disruptions in mitochondria and lipid metabolism in high-seeder cases. Though the mechanisms underlying LBD development are intricate, the factors influencing α-syn seeding activity remain elusive. To address this and complement our previous findings, we conducted targeted transcriptome analyses in the substantia nigra using the nanoString nCounter assay together with histopathological evaluations in high (n = 4) and low (n = 3) nigral α-syn seeders. Neuropathological findings (particularly the substantia nigra) were consistent between these groups and were characterized by neocortical LBD associated with Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change. Among the 1811 genes assessed, we identified the top 20 upregulated and downregulated genes and pathways in α-syn high seeders compared with low seeders. Notably, alterations were observed in genes and pathways related to transmembrane transporters, lipid metabolism, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the high α-syn seeders. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the molecular behavior of α-syn is the driving force in the neurodegenerative process affecting the substantia nigra through these identified pathways. These insights highlight their potential as therapeutic targets for attenuating LBD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan
| | - Seojin Lee
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Koji Yoshida
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tanikawa
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
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Galkin M, Priss A, Kyriukha Y, Shvadchak V. Navigating α-Synuclein Aggregation Inhibition: Methods, Mechanisms, and Molecular Targets. CHEM REC 2024; 24:e202300282. [PMID: 37919046 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202300282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a yet incurable, age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the aggregation of small neuronal protein α-synuclein into amyloid fibrils. Inhibition of this process is a prospective strategy for developing a disease-modifying treatment. We overview here small molecule, peptide, and protein inhibitors of α-synuclein fibrillization reported to date. Special attention was paid to the specificity of inhibitors and critical analysis of their action mechanisms. Namely, the importance of oxidation of polyphenols and cross-linking of α-synuclein into inhibitory dimers was highlighted. We also compared strategies of targeting monomeric, oligomeric, and fibrillar α-synuclein species, thoroughly discussed the strong and weak sides of different approaches to testing the inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksym Galkin
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anastasiia Priss
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yevhenii Kyriukha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
| | - Volodymyr Shvadchak
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
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Daly RE, Myasnikov I, Gaglia MM. N-terminal acetylation separately promotes nuclear localization and host shutoff activity of the influenza A virus ribonuclease PA-X. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.01.569683. [PMID: 38076881 PMCID: PMC10705558 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.01.569683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
To counteract host antiviral responses, influenza A virus triggers a global reduction of cellular gene expression, a process termed "host shutoff." A key effector of influenza A virus host shutoff is the viral endoribonuclease PA-X, which degrades host mRNAs. While many of the molecular determinants of PA-X activity remain unknown, a previous study found that N-terminal acetylation of PA-X is required for its host shutoff activity. However, it remains unclear how this co-translational modification promotes PA-X activity. Here, we report that PA-X N-terminal acetylation has two functions that can be separated based on the position of the acetylation, i.e. on the first amino acid, the initiator methionine, or the second amino acid following initiator methionine excision. Modification at either site is sufficient to ensure PA-X localization to the nucleus. However, modification of the second amino acid is not sufficient for host shutoff activity of ectopically expressed PA-X, which specifically requires N-terminal acetylation of the initiator methionine. Interestingly, during infection N-terminal acetylation of PA-X at any position results in host shutoff activity, which is in part due to a functional interaction with the influenza protein NS1. This result reveals an unexpected role for another viral protein in PA-X activity. Our studies uncover a multifaceted role for PA-X N-terminal acetylation in regulation of this important immunomodulatory factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raecliffe E Daly
- Program in Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology, Tufts University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA, 02111, United States
- Institute for Molecular Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
| | - Idalia Myasnikov
- Institute for Molecular Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
| | - Marta Maria Gaglia
- Institute for Molecular Virology and Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
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41
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Savva L, Platts JA. Computational investigation of copper-mediated conformational changes in α-synuclein dimer. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:2926-2935. [PMID: 38193190 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp04697d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
We report molecular dynamics simulation of dimers of α-synuclein, the peptide closely associated with onset of Parkinson's disease, both as metal-free dimer and with inter-chain bridging provided by Cu(II) ions. Our investigation reveals that the presence of copper-induced inter-chain bridging not only stabilizes α-synuclein dimers, but also leads to enhanced β-sheet formation at critical regions within the N-terminal and NAC regions of the protein. These contacts are larger and longer-lived in the presence of copper, and as a result each peptide chain is more extended and less flexible than in the metal-free dimer. The persistence of these inter-peptide contacts underscores their significance in stabilising the dimers, potentially influencing the aggregation pathway. Moreover, the increased flexibility in the two termini, as well as the absence of persistent contacts in the metal-free dimer, correlates with the presence of amorphous aggregates. This phenomenon is known to mitigate fibrillation, while their absence in the metal-bound dimer suggests an increased propensity to form fibrils in the presence of copper ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loizos Savva
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK.
| | - James A Platts
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK.
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Limanaqi F, Zecchini S, Saulle I, Strizzi S, Vanetti C, Garziano M, Cappelletti G, Parolin D, Caccia S, Trabattoni D, Fenizia C, Clerici M, Biasin M. Alpha-synuclein dynamics bridge Type-I Interferon response and SARS-CoV-2 replication in peripheral cells. Biol Res 2024; 57:2. [PMID: 38191441 PMCID: PMC10775536 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00482-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence suggests a double-faceted role of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) following infection by a variety of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Although α-syn accumulation is known to contribute to cell toxicity and the development and/or exacerbation of neuropathological manifestations, it is also a key to sustaining anti-viral innate immunity. Consistently with α-syn aggregation as a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, most studies investigating the biological function of α-syn focused on neural cells, while reports on the role of α-syn in periphery are limited, especially in SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS Results herein obtained by real time qPCR, immunofluorescence and western blot indicate that α-syn upregulation in peripheral cells occurs as a Type-I Interferon (IFN)-related response against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Noteworthy, this effect mostly involves α-syn multimers, and the dynamic α-syn multimer:monomer ratio. Administration of excess α-syn monomers promoted SARS-CoV-2 replication along with downregulation of IFN-Stimulated Genes (ISGs) in epithelial lung cells, which was associated with reduced α-syn multimers and α-syn multimer:monomer ratio. These effects were prevented by combined administration of IFN-β, which hindered virus replication and upregulated ISGs, meanwhile increasing both α-syn multimers and α-syn multimer:monomer ratio in the absence of cell toxicity. Finally, in endothelial cells displaying abortive SARS-CoV-2 replication, α-syn multimers, and multimer:monomer ratio were not reduced following exposure to the virus and exogenous α-syn, suggesting that only productive viral infection impairs α-syn multimerization and multimer:monomer equilibrium. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides novel insights into the biology of α-syn, showing that its dynamic conformations are implicated in the innate immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection in peripheral cells. In particular, our results suggest that promotion of non-toxic α-syn multimers likely occurs as a Type-I IFN-related biological response which partakes in the suppression of viral replication. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings in neuronal cells as well as animal models, and to ascertain the nature of such α-syn conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Limanaqi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy.
| | - Silvia Zecchini
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Irma Saulle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio Strizzi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Vanetti
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Micaela Garziano
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, Milan, Italy
| | - Gioia Cappelletti
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Debora Parolin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Caccia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Trabattoni
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Fenizia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 20148, Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy.
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Sethiya NK, Ghiloria N, Srivastav A, Bisht D, Chaudhary SK, Walia V, Alam MS. Therapeutic Potential of Myricetin in the Treatment of Neurological, Neuropsychiatric, and Neurodegenerative Disorders. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2024; 23:865-882. [PMID: 37461364 DOI: 10.2174/1871527322666230718105358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Myricetin (MC), 3,5,7,3',4',5'-hexahydroxyflavone, chemically belongs to a flavonoid category known to confer antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective effects. MC is known to suppress the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and inflammatory markers. It has been reported to improve insulin function in the human brain and periphery. Besides this, it modulates several neurochemicals including glutamate, GABA, serotonin, etc. MC has been shown to reduce the expression of the enzyme Mono Amine Oxidase (MAO), which is responsible for the metabolism of monoamines. MC treatment reduces levels of plasma corticosterone and restores hippocampal BDNF (full form) protein in stressed animals. Further, MC has shown its protective effect against amyloid-beta, MPTP, rotenone, 6-OHDA, etc. suggesting its potential role against neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of the present review is to highlight the therapeutic potential of MC in the treatment of several neurological, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neha Ghiloria
- Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini, New Delhi 110085, India
| | | | - Dheeraj Bisht
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sir J.C. Bose Technical Campus, Bhimtal, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand 263002, India
| | | | - Vaibhav Walia
- Department of Pharmacology, SGT College of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana 122505, India
| | - Md Sabir Alam
- Department of Pharmaceutics, SGT College of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana 122505, India
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Guo T, Xiong J, Feng H, Bu L, Xiao T, Zhou L, He J, Deng M, Liu Y, Zhang Z, Zhang Z. L116 Deletion in CSPα Promotes α-Synuclein Aggregation and Neurodegeneration. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:15-27. [PMID: 37566176 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03552-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Parkinsonism is a clinical syndrome that is caused by Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we report a patient who exhibited progressive parkinsonism, epilepsy, and cognitive impairment and was diagnosed with adult-onset neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (ANCLs). The patient carries a mutation (p.Leu116 del) in the DNAJC5 gene that encodes cysteine string protein (CSPα). Since the patient shows typical parkinsonism and loss of dopamine transporter in the striatum, we investigated the effect of wild-type and L116del mutant CSPα on the aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) and neurotoxicity in vitro. Overexpression of wild-type CSPα attenuated the phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and aggregation of α-syn induced by α-syn fibrils. Moreover, wild-type CSPα inhibits oxidative stress and cell apoptosis and rescues inefficient SNARE complex formation induced by α-syn fibrils in SH-SY5Y cells. However, these protective effects of CSPα were abolished by the L116del mutation. Collectively, these results indicate that L116 deletion in CSPα promotes α-syn pathology and neurotoxicity. Boosting CSPα may be therapeutically useful for treating synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Guo
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jing Xiong
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Hongyan Feng
- PET-CT/MRI Center, Faculty of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Lihong Bu
- PET-CT/MRI Center, Faculty of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Tingting Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Lingyan Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Juanfeng He
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Min Deng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Nursing, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Zhaohui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430000, China.
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Sanyal A, Scanavachi G, Somerville E, Saminathan A, Nair A, Oikonomou A, Hatzakis NS, Kirchhausen T. Constitutive Endolysosomal Perforation in Neurons allows Induction of α-Synuclein Aggregation by Internalized Pre-Formed Fibrils. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.30.573738. [PMID: 38260258 PMCID: PMC10802249 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.30.573738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The endocytic pathway is both an essential route of molecular uptake in cells and a potential entry point for pathology-inducing cargo. The cell-to-cell spread of cytotoxic aggregates, such as those of α-synuclein (α-syn) in Parkinson's Disease (PD), exemplifies this duality. Here we used a human iPSC-derived induced neuronal model (iNs) prone to death mediated by aggregation in late endosomes and lysosomes of endogenous α-syn, seeded by internalized pre-formed fibrils of α-syn (PFFs). This PFF-mediated death was not observed with parental iPSCs or other non-neuronal cells. Using live-cell optical microscopy to visualize the read out of biosensors reporting endo-lysosome wounding, we discovered that up to about 10% of late endosomes and lysosomes in iNs exhibited spontaneous constitutive perforations, regardless of the presence of internalized PFFs. This wounding, absent in parental iPSCs and non-neuronal cells, corresponded to partial damage by nanopores in the limiting membranes of a subset of endolysosomes directly observed by volumetric focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) in iNs and in CA1 pyramidal neurons from mouse brain, and not found in iPSCs or in other non-neuronal cells in culture or in mouse liver and skin. We suggest that the compromised limiting membranes in iNs and neurons in general are the primary conduit for cytosolic α-syn to access PFFs entrapped within endo-lysosomal lumens, initiating PFF-mediated α-syn aggregation. Significantly, eradicating the intrinsic endolysosomal perforations in iNs by inhibiting the endosomal Phosphatidylinositol-3-Phosphate/Phosphatidylinositol 5-Kinase (PIKfyve kinase) using Apilimod or Vacuolin-1 markedly reduced PFF-induced α-syn aggregation, despite PFFs continuing to enter the endolysosomal compartment. Crucially, this intervention also diminished iN death associated with PFF incubation. Our results reveal the surprising presence of intrinsically perforated endo-lysosomes in neurons, underscoring their crucial early involvement in the genesis of toxic α-syn aggregates induced by internalized PFFs. This discovery offers a basis for employing PIKfyve kinase inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy to counteract synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwesha Sanyal
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Gustavo Scanavachi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elliott Somerville
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anand Saminathan
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Athul Nair
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Nikos S. Hatzakis
- Department of Chemistry University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tom Kirchhausen
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 200 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Saramowicz K, Siwecka N, Galita G, Kucharska-Lusina A, Rozpędek-Kamińska W, Majsterek I. Alpha-Synuclein Contribution to Neuronal and Glial Damage in Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:360. [PMID: 38203531 PMCID: PMC10778752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the widespread accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) protein aggregates. αSyn aggregation disrupts critical cellular processes, including synaptic function, mitochondrial integrity, and proteostasis, which culminate in neuronal cell death. Importantly, αSyn pathology extends beyond neurons-it also encompasses spreading throughout the neuronal environment and internalization by microglia and astrocytes. Once internalized, glia can act as neuroprotective scavengers, which limit the spread of αSyn. However, they can also become reactive, thereby contributing to neuroinflammation and the progression of PD. Recent advances in αSyn research have enabled the molecular diagnosis of PD and accelerated the development of targeted therapies. Nevertheless, despite more than two decades of research, the cellular function, aggregation mechanisms, and induction of cellular damage by αSyn remain incompletely understood. Unraveling the interplay between αSyn, neurons, and glia may provide insights into disease initiation and progression, which may bring us closer to exploring new effective therapeutic strategies. Herein, we provide an overview of recent studies emphasizing the multifaceted nature of αSyn and its impact on both neuron and glial cell damage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ireneusz Majsterek
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (K.S.); (N.S.); (G.G.); (A.K.-L.); (W.R.-K.)
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47
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Bayandina SV, Mukha DV. Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a Model for Studying Human Neurodegenerative Disorders: Viral Capsid Protein Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17213. [PMID: 38139041 PMCID: PMC10743263 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we briefly describe human neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and the experimental models used to study them. The main focus is the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an experimental model used to study neurodegenerative processes. We review recent experimental data on the aggregation of human neurodegenerative disease-related proteins in yeast cells. In addition, we describe the results of studies that were designed to investigate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the aggregation of reporter proteins. The advantages and disadvantages of the experimental approaches that are currently used to study the formation of protein aggregates are described. Special attention is given to the similarity between aggregates that form as a result of protein misfolding and viral factories-special structural formations in which viral particles are formed inside virus-infected cells. A separate part of the review is devoted to our previously published study on the formation of aggregates upon expression of the insect densovirus capsid protein in yeast cells. Based on the reviewed results of studies on NDs and related protein aggregation, as well as viral protein aggregation, a new experimental model system for the study of human NDs is proposed. The core of the proposed system is a comparative transcriptomic analysis of changes in signaling pathways during the expression of viral capsid proteins in yeast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dmitry V. Mukha
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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Rai S, Bharti PS, Singh R, Rastogi S, Rani K, Sharma V, Gorai PK, Rani N, Verma BK, Reddy TJ, Modi GP, Inampudi KK, Pandey HC, Yadav S, Rajan R, Nikolajeff F, Kumar S. Circulating plasma miR-23b-3p as a biomarker target for idiopathic Parkinson's disease: comparison with small extracellular vesicle miRNA. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1174951. [PMID: 38033547 PMCID: PMC10684698 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1174951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is an increasingly common neurodegenerative condition, which causes movement dysfunction and a broad range of non-motor symptoms. There is no molecular or biochemical diagnosis test for PD. The miRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs and are extensively studied owing to their altered expression in pathological states and facile harvesting and analysis techniques. Methods A total of 48 samples (16 each of PD, aged-matched, and young controls) were recruited. The small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) were isolated and validated using Western blot, transmission electron microscope, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Small RNA isolation, library preparation, and small RNA sequencing followed by differential expression and targeted prediction of miRNA were performed. The real-time PCR was performed with the targeted miRNA on PD, age-matched, and young healthy control of plasma and plasma-derived sEVs to demonstrate their potential as a diagnostic biomarker. Results In RNA sequencing, we identified 14.89% upregulated (fold change 1.11 to 11.04, p < 0.05) and 16.54% downregulated (fold change -1.04 to -7.28, p < 0.05) miRNAs in PD and controls. Four differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-23b-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-19b-3p, and miR-150-3p) were selected. The expression of miR-23b-3p was "upregulated" (p = 0.002) in plasma, whereas "downregulated" (p = 0.0284) in plasma-derived sEVs in PD than age-matched controls. The ROC analysis of miR-23b-3p revealed better AUC values in plasma (AUC = 0.8086, p = 0.0029) and plasma-derived sEVs (AUC = 0.7278, p = 0.0483) of PD and age-matched controls. Conclusion We observed an opposite expression profile of miR-23b-3p in PD and age-matched healthy control in plasma and plasma-derived sEV fractions, where the expression of miR-23b-3p is increased in PD plasma while decreased in plasma-derived sEV fractions. We further observed the different miR-23b-3p expression profiles in young and age-matched healthy control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanskriti Rai
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Rishabh Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Simran Rastogi
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Komal Rani
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bibinagar, Hyderabad, India
| | - Vaibhav Sharma
- Department of Health, Education and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Priya Kumari Gorai
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Neerja Rani
- Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Bhupendra Kumar Verma
- Department of Biotechnology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Gyan Prakash Modi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, India
| | | | - Hem Chandra Pandey
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sanjay Yadav
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Roopa Rajan
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Fredrik Nikolajeff
- Department of Health, Education and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Saroj Kumar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
- Department of Health, Education and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
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Abdelmoaty MM, Lu E, Kadry R, Foster EG, Bhattarai S, Mosley RL, Gendelman HE. Clinical biomarkers for Lewy body diseases. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:209. [PMID: 37964309 PMCID: PMC10644566 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01152-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by pathologic aggregates of neural and glial α-synuclein (α-syn) in the form of Lewy bodies (LBs), Lewy neurites, and cytoplasmic inclusions in both neurons and glia. Two major classes of synucleinopathies are LB disease and multiple system atrophy. LB diseases include Parkinson's disease (PD), PD with dementia, and dementia with LBs. All are increasing in prevalence. Effective diagnostics, disease-modifying therapies, and therapeutic monitoring are urgently needed. Diagnostics capable of differentiating LB diseases are based on signs and symptoms which might overlap. To date, no specific diagnostic test exists despite disease-specific pathologies. Diagnostics are aided by brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid evaluations, but more accessible biomarkers remain in need. Mechanisms of α-syn evolution to pathologic oligomers and insoluble fibrils can provide one of a spectrum of biomarkers to link complex neural pathways to effective therapies. With these in mind, we review promising biomarkers linked to effective disease-modifying interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai M Abdelmoaty
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Eugene Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Rana Kadry
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Emma G Foster
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Shaurav Bhattarai
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - R Lee Mosley
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Howard E Gendelman
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
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Allen SG, Meade RM, White Stenner LL, Mason JM. Peptide-based approaches to directly target alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:80. [PMID: 37940962 PMCID: PMC10633918 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00675-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptides and their mimetics are increasingly recognised as drug-like molecules, particularly for intracellular protein-protein interactions too large for inhibition by small molecules, and inaccessible to larger biologics. In the past two decades, evidence associating the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein strongly implicates this protein in disease onset and progression of Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies. The subsequent formation of toxic, intracellular, Lewy body deposits, in which alpha-synuclein is a major component, is a key diagnostic hallmark of the disease. To reach their therapeutic site of action, peptides must both cross the blood-brain barrier and enter dopaminergic neurons to prevent the formation of these intracellular inclusions. In this review, we describe and summarise the current efforts made in the development of peptides and their mimetics to directly engage with alpha-synuclein with the intention of modulating aggregation, and importantly, toxicity. This is a rapidly expanding field with great socioeconomic impact; these molecules harbour significant promise as therapeutics, or as early biomarkers during prodromal disease stages, or both. As these are age-dependent conditions, an increasing global life expectancy means disease prevalence is rising. No current treatments exist to either prevent or slow disease progression. It is therefore crucial that drugs are developed for these conditions before health care and social care capacities become overrun.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott G Allen
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Richard M Meade
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Lucy L White Stenner
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Jody M Mason
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
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