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Leach BI, Ferguson JA, Morgan G, Sun X, Kroon G, Oyen D, Dyson HJ, Wright PE. Conformational Dynamics of an Amyloidogenic Intermediate of Transthyretin: Implications for Structural Remodeling and Amyloid Formation. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168673. [PMID: 38909653 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168673] [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: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
The aggregation pathway of transthyretin (TTR) proceeds through rate-limiting dissociation of the tetramer (a dimer of dimers) and partial misfolding of the resulting monomer, which assembles into amyloid structures through a downhill polymerization mechanism. The structural features of the aggregation-prone monomeric intermediate are poorly understood. NMR relaxation dispersion offers a unique opportunity to characterize amyloidogenic intermediates when they exchange on favorable timescales with NMR-visible ground states. Here we use NMR to characterize the structure and conformational dynamics of the monomeric F87E mutant of human TTR. Chemical shifts derived from analysis of multinuclear relaxation dispersion data provide insights into the structure of a low-lying excited state that exchanges with the ground state of the F87E monomer at a rate of 3800 s-1. Disruption of the subunit interfaces of the TTR tetramer leads to destabilization of edge strands in both β-sheets of the F87E monomer. Conformational fluctuations are propagated through the entire hydrogen bonding network of the DAGH β-sheet, from the inner β-strand H, which forms the strong dimer-dimer interface in the TTR tetramer, to outer strand D which is unfolded in TTR fibrils. Fluctuations are also propagated from the AB loop in the weak dimer-dimer interface to the EF helix, which undergoes structural remodeling in fibrils. The conformational fluctuations in both regions are enhanced at acidic pH where amyloid formation is most favorable. The relaxation dispersion data provide insights into the conformational dynamics of the amyloidogenic state of monomeric TTR that predispose it for structural remodeling and progression to amyloid fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin I Leach
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - James A Ferguson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Gareth Morgan
- Departments of Chemistry and Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Xun Sun
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Gerard Kroon
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - David Oyen
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - H Jane Dyson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Peter E Wright
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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2
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Almeida ZL, Vaz DC, Brito RMM. Transthyretin mutagenesis: impact on amyloidogenesis and disease. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2024:1-25. [PMID: 38850014 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2024.2350379] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR), a homotetrameric protein found in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and the eye, plays a pivotal role in the onset of several amyloid diseases with high morbidity and mortality. Protein aggregation and fibril formation by wild-type TTR and its natural more amyloidogenic variants are hallmarks of ATTRwt and ATTRv amyloidosis, respectively. The formation of soluble amyloid aggregates and the accumulation of insoluble amyloid fibrils and deposits in multiple tissues can lead to organ dysfunction and cell death. The most frequent manifestations of ATTR are polyneuropathies and cardiomyopathies. However, clinical manifestations such as carpal tunnel syndrome, leptomeningeal, and ocular amyloidosis, among several others may also occur. This review provides an up-to-date listing of all single amino-acid mutations in TTR known to date. Of approximately 220 single-point mutations, 93% are considered pathogenic. Aspartic acid is the residue mutated with the highest frequency, whereas tryptophan is highly conserved. "Hot spot" mutation regions are mainly assigned to β-strands B, C, and D. This manuscript also reviews the protein aggregation models that have been proposed for TTR amyloid fibril formation and the transient conformational states that convert native TTR into aggregation-prone molecular species. Finally, it compiles the various in vitro TTR aggregation protocols currently in use for research and drug development purposes. In short, this article reviews and discusses TTR mutagenesis and amyloidogenesis, and their implications in disease onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaida L Almeida
- Chemistry Department and Coimbra Chemistry Centre - Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniela C Vaz
- Chemistry Department and Coimbra Chemistry Centre - Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
- LSRE-LCM - Leiria, Portugal & ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui M M Brito
- Chemistry Department and Coimbra Chemistry Centre - Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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3
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Criddle RS, Hansen LD, Woodfield BF, Tolley HD. Modeling transthyretin (TTR) amyloid diseases, from monomer to amyloid fibrils. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304891. [PMID: 38843135 PMCID: PMC11156392 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
ATTR amyloidosis is caused by deposition of large, insoluble aggregates (amyloid fibrils) of cross-β-sheet TTR protein molecules on the intercellular surfaces of tissues. The process of amyloid formation from monomeric TTR protein molecules to amyloid deposits has not been fully characterized and is therefore modeled in this paper. Two models are considered: 1) TTR monomers in the blood spontaneously fold into a β-sheet conformation, aggregate into short proto-fibrils that then circulate in the blood until they find a complementary tissue where the proto-fibrils accumulate to form the large, insoluble amyloid fibrils found in affected tissues. 2) TTR monomers in the native or β-sheet conformation circulate in the blood until they find a tissue binding site and deposit in the tissue or tissues forming amyloid deposits in situ. These models only differ on where the selection for β-sheet complementarity occurs, in the blood where wt-wt, wt-v, and v-v interactions determine selectivity, or on the tissue surface where tissue-wt and tissure-v interactions also determine selectivity. Statistical modeling in both cases thus involves selectivity in fibril aggregation and tissue binding. Because binding of protein molecules into fibrils and binding of fibrils to tissues occurs through multiple weak non-covalent bonds, strong complementarity between β-sheet molecules and between fibrils and tissues is required to explain the insolubility and tissue selectivity of ATTR amyloidosis. Observation of differing tissue selectivity and thence disease phenotypes from either pure wildtype TTR protein or a mix of wildtype and variant molecules in amyloid fibrils evidences the requirement for fibril-tissue complementarity. Understanding the process that forms fibrils and binds fibrils to tissues may lead to new possibilities for interrupting the process and preventing or curing ATTR amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Criddle
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Lee D Hansen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Brian F Woodfield
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - H Dennis Tolley
- Department of Statistics, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
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Köppen J, Kleinschmidt M, Morawski M, Rahfeld JU, Wermann M, Cynis H, Hegenbart U, Daniel C, Roßner S, Schilling S, Schulze A. Identification of isoaspartate-modified transthyretin as potential target for selective immunotherapy of transthyretin amyloidosis. Amyloid 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38801321 DOI: 10.1080/13506129.2024.2358121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous studies suggest a progressive accumulation of post-translationally modified peptides within amyloid fibrils, including isoaspartate (isoD) modifications. Here, we generated and characterised novel monoclonal antibodies targeting isoD-modified transthyretin (TTR). The antibodies were used to investigate the presence of isoD-modified TTR in deposits from transthyretin amyloidosis patients and to mediate antibody-dependent phagocytosis of TTR fibrils. METHODS Monoclonal antibodies were generated by immunisation of mice using an isoD-modified peptide and subsequent hybridoma generation. The antibodies were characterised in terms of affinity and specificity to isoD-modified TTR using surface plasmon resonance, transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining of human cardiac tissue. The potential to elicit antibody-dependent phagocytosis of TTR fibrils was assessed using THP-1 cells. RESULTS We developed two mouse monoclonal antibodies, 2F2 and 4D4, with high nanomolar affinity for isoD-modified TTR and strong selectivity over the unmodified epitope. Both antibodies show presence of isoD-modified TTR in human cardiac tissue, but not in freshly purified recombinant TTR, suggesting isoD modification only present in aged fibrillar deposits. Likewise, the antibodies only facilitated phagocytosis of TTR fibrils and not TTR monomers by THP-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS These antibodies label aged, non-native TTR deposits, leaving native TTR unattended and thereby potentially enabling new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janett Köppen
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Martin Kleinschmidt
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Markus Morawski
- Paul Flechsig Institute - Center of Neuropathology and Brain Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens-Ulrich Rahfeld
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Michael Wermann
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Holger Cynis
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ute Hegenbart
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Amyloidosis Center, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Daniel
- Department of Nephropathology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steffen Roßner
- Paul Flechsig Institute - Center of Neuropathology and Brain Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Schilling
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Faculty of Applied Biosciences and Bioprocess Technology, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Köthen, Germany
| | - Anja Schulze
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Faculty of Applied Biosciences and Bioprocess Technology, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Köthen, Germany
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5
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Pedretti R, Wang L, Hanna M, Benson M, Grodin JL, Tang WHW, Masri A, Saelices L. Detection of Circulating Transthyretin Amyloid Aggregates in Plasma: A Novel Biomarker for Transthyretin Amyloidosis. Circulation 2024; 149:1696-1699. [PMID: 38768274 PMCID: PMC11107565 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.067225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Rose Pedretti
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lanie Wang
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mazen Hanna
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Merrill Benson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Justin L Grodin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - WH Wilson Tang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart Vascular and Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ahmad Masri
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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6
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Fernandez-Ramirez MDC, Nguyen BA, Singh V, Afrin S, Evers B, Basset P, Wang L, Pękała M, Ahmed Y, Singh P, Canepa J, Wosztyl A, Li Y, Saelices L. Multi-organ structural homogeneity of amyloid fibrils in ATTRv-T60A amyloidosis patients, revealed by Cryo-EM. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.14.594218. [PMID: 38798519 PMCID: PMC11118364 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.14.594218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
ATTR amyloidosis is a degenerative disorder characterized by the systemic deposition of the protein transthyretin. These amyloid aggregates of transthyretin (ATTR) can deposit in different parts of the body causing diverse clinical manifestations. Our laboratory aims to investigate a potential relationship between the different genotypes, organ of deposition, clinical phenotypes, and the structure of ATTR fibrils. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we have recently described how the neuropathic related mutations ATTRv-I84S and ATTRv-V122∆ can drive structural polymorphism in ex vivo fibrils. Here we question whether the mutation ATTRv-T60A, that commonly triggers cardiac and neuropathic symptoms, has a similar effect. To address this question, we extracted and determined the structure of ATTR-T60A fibrils from multiple organs (heart, thyroid, kidney, and liver) from the same patient and from the heart of two additional patients. We have found a consistent conformation among all the fibril structures, acquiring the "closed-gate morphology" previously found in ATTRwt and others ATTRv related to cardiac or mixed manifestations. The closed-gate morphology is composed by two segments of the protein that interact together forming a polar channel, where the residues glycine 57 to isoleucine 68 act as a gate of the polar cavity. Our study indicates that ATTR-T60A fibrils present in peripheral organs adopt the same structural conformation in all patients, regardless of the organ of deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria del Carmen Fernandez-Ramirez
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Binh A. Nguyen
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Virender Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shumaila Afrin
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Bret Evers
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Parker Basset
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lanie Wang
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maja Pękała
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yasmin Ahmed
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Preeti Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob Canepa
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Aleksandra Wosztyl
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
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Nguyen BA, Afrin S, Yakubovska A, Singh V, Alicea JV, Kunach P, Singh P, Pekala M, Ahmed Y, Fernandez-Ramirez MDC, Hernandez LOC, Pedretti R, Bassett P, Wang L, Lemoff A, Villalon L, Kluve-Beckerman B, Saelices L. ATTRv-V30M Type A amyloid fibrils from heart and nerves exhibit structural homogeneity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.14.594028. [PMID: 38798361 PMCID: PMC11118387 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.14.594028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
ATTR amyloidosis is a systemic disease characterized by the deposition of amyloid fibrils made of transthyretin, a protein integral to transporting retinol and thyroid hormones. Transthyretin is primarily produced by the liver and circulates in blood as a tetramer. The retinal epithelium also secretes transthyretin, which is secreted to the vitreous humor of the eye. Because of mutations or aging, transthyretin can dissociate into amyloidogenic monomers triggering amyloid fibril formation. The deposition of transthyretin amyloid fibrils in the myocardium and peripheral nerves causes cardiomyopathies and neuropathies, respectively. Using cryo-electron microscopy, here we determined the structures of amyloid fibrils extracted from cardiac and nerve tissues of an ATTRv-V30M patient. We found that fibrils from both tissues share a consistent structural conformation, similar to the previously described structure of cardiac fibrils from an individual with the same genotype, but different from the fibril structure obtained from the vitreous humor. Our study hints to a uniform fibrillar architecture across different tissues within the same individual, only when the source of transthyretin is the liver. Moreover, this study provides the first description of ATTR fibrils from the nerves of a patient and enhances our understanding of the role of deposition site and protein production site in shaping the fibril structure in ATTRv-V30M amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binh An Nguyen
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shumaila Afrin
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anna Yakubovska
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Virender Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jaime Vaquer Alicea
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Peter Kunach
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Preeti Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maja Pekala
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yasmin Ahmed
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maria del Carmen Fernandez-Ramirez
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Luis O. Cabrera Hernandez
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rose Pedretti
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Parker Bassett
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lanie Wang
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Andrew Lemoff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Layla Villalon
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Barbara Kluve-Beckerman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
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8
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Ahmed Y, Nguyen BA, Afrin S, Singh V, Evers B, Singh P, Pedretti R, Wang L, Bassett P, del Carmen Fernandez-Ramirez M, Pekala M, Kluve-Beckerman B, Saelices L. Amyloid fibril polymorphism in the heart of an ATTR amyloidosis patient with polyneuropathy attributed to the V122Δ variant. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.09.593396. [PMID: 38766262 PMCID: PMC11100820 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.09.593396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
ATTR amyloidosis is a phenotypically heterogeneous disease characterized by the pathological deposition of transthyretin in the form of amyloid fibrils into various organs. ATTR amyloidosis may stem from mutations in variant (ATTRv) amyloidosis, or aging in wild-type (ATTRwt) amyloidosis. ATTRwt generally manifests as a cardiomyopathy phenotype, whereas ATTRv may present as polyneuropathy, cardiomyopathy, or mixed, in combination with many other symptoms deriving from secondary organ involvement. Over 130 different mutational variants of transthyretin have been identified, many of them being linked to specific disease symptoms. Yet, the role of these mutations in the differential disease manifestation remains elusive. Using cryo-electron microscopy, here we structurally characterized fibrils from the heart of an ATTRv patient carrying the V122Δ mutation, predominantly associated with polyneuropathy. Our results show that these fibrils are polymorphic, presenting as both single and double filaments. Our study alludes to a structural connection contributing to phenotypic variation in ATTR amyloidosis, as polymorphism in ATTR fibrils may manifest in patients with predominantly polyneuropathic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Ahmed
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Binh An Nguyen
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shumaila Afrin
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Virender Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Bret Evers
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Preeti Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rose Pedretti
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lanie Wang
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Parker Bassett
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maria del Carmen Fernandez-Ramirez
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maja Pekala
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Barbara Kluve-Beckerman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
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9
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Sitton J, Ali A, Osborne L, Holman AP, Rodriguez A, Kurouski D. Plasmalogens Alter the Aggregation Rate of Transthyretin and Lower Toxicity of Transthyretin Fibrils. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:4761-4766. [PMID: 38661515 PMCID: PMC11071038 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00868] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Heart tissue can experience a progressive accumulation of transthyretin (TTR), a small four subunit protein that transports holoretinol binding protein and thyroxine. This severe pathology is known as transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy. Numerous experimental studies indicated that the aggregation rate and toxicity of TTR fibrils could be altered by the presence of lipids; however, the role of plasmalogens in this process remains unknown. In this study, we investigate the effect of choline plasmalogens (CPs) with different lengths and saturations of fatty acids (FAs) on TTR aggregation. We found that CPs with saturated and unsaturated FAs strongly suppressed TTR aggregation. We also found that CPs with saturated FAs did not change the morphology of TTR fibrils; however, much thicker fibrillar species were formed in the presence of CPs with unsaturated FAs. Finally, we found that CPs with C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1 FAs substantially lowered the cytotoxicity of TTR fibrils that were formed in their presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jadon Sitton
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Abid Ali
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Luke Osborne
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Aidan P. Holman
- Department
of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Axell Rodriguez
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M
University, College
Station, Texas 77843, United States
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10
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Liang L, Zhang Y, Zhu Y, Bai J, Ni Y, Wan J, Yue H, Zhao Q, Li H. Structures and Dynamics of β-Rich Oligomers of ATTR (105-115) Assembly. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1356-1365. [PMID: 38483181 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00574] [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: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric homologous protein that can dissociate into monomers. Misfolding and aggregation of TTR can lead to amyloid transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR), which can cause many diseases (e.g., senile systemic amyloidosis, familial amyloid cardiomyopathy, and familial amyloid polyneuropathy). Despite growing evidence indicating that small oligomers play a critical role in regulating cytotoxicity, the structures of these oligomeric intermediates and their conformational transformations are still unclear, impeding our understanding of neurodegenerative mechanisms and the development of therapeutics targeting early aggregation species. The TTR monomer protein consists of various fragments prone to self-aggregation, including the residue 105-115 sequence. Therefore, our study investigated the assembly progress of ATTR (105-115) peptides using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. The findings indicate that the probability of β-sheet content increases with increasing numbers of peptides. Additionally, interactions between hydrophobic residues L110 and L111 are crucial for the formation of a β-rich oligomer formation. These β-rich oligomers may adopt β-barrel conformations, potentially toxic oligomer species. Free-energy analysis reveals that β-barrel conformations serve as intermediates for these β-rich oligomers. Our insights into the structural ensemble dynamics of ATTR (105-115) contribute to understanding the physical mechanisms underlying the β-barrel oligomers of ATTR. These findings may shed light on the pathological role of ATTR in neurodegenerative diseases and offer potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Liang
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Yuqi Zhang
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Yanyan Zhu
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Juxia Bai
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Yangyang Ni
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Junfeng Wan
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Haiyan Yue
- Naval Medical Center of PLA, Department of Gastroenterology, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qingjie Zhao
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for TCM Chemical Biology, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Huiyu Li
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China
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11
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Mizuguchi M, Obita T, Yamada S, Nabeshima Y. Trypsin-induced aggregation of transthyretin Valine 30 variants associated with hereditary amyloidosis. FEBS J 2024; 291:1732-1743. [PMID: 38273457 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17070] [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: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils of transthyretin (TTR) consist of full-length TTR and C-terminal fragments starting near residue 50. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the production of the C-terminal fragment remains unclear. Here, we investigated trypsin-induced aggregation and urea-induced unfolding of TTR variants associated with hereditary amyloidosis. Trypsin strongly induced aggregation of variants V30G and V30A, in each of which Val30 in the hydrophobic core of the monomer was mutated to less-bulky amino acids. Variants V30L and V30M, in each of which Val30 was mutated to bulky amino acids, also exhibited trypsin-induced aggregation. On the other hand, pathogenic variant I68L as well as the nonpathogenic V30I did not exhibit trypsin-induced aggregation. The V30G variant was extremely unstable compared with the other variants. The V30G mutation caused the formation of a cavity and the rearrangement of Leu55 in the hydrophobic core of the monomer. These results suggest that highly destabilized transthyretin variants are more susceptible to trypsin digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Takayuki Obita
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Seiya Yamada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Yuko Nabeshima
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
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12
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Sahtoe DD, Andrzejewska EA, Han HL, Rennella E, Schneider MM, Meisl G, Ahlrichs M, Decarreau J, Nguyen H, Kang A, Levine P, Lamb M, Li X, Bera AK, Kay LE, Knowles TPJ, Baker D. Design of amyloidogenic peptide traps. Nat Chem Biol 2024:10.1038/s41589-024-01578-5. [PMID: 38503834 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01578-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Segments of proteins with high β-strand propensity can self-associate to form amyloid fibrils implicated in many diseases. We describe a general approach to bind such segments in β-strand and β-hairpin conformations using de novo designed scaffolds that contain deep peptide-binding clefts. The designs bind their cognate peptides in vitro with nanomolar affinities. The crystal structure of a designed protein-peptide complex is close to the design model, and NMR characterization reveals how the peptide-binding cleft is protected in the apo state. We use the approach to design binders to the amyloid-forming proteins transthyretin, tau, serum amyloid A1 and amyloid β1-42 (Aβ42). The Aβ binders block the assembly of Aβ fibrils as effectively as the most potent of the clinically tested antibodies to date and protect cells from toxic Aβ42 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny D Sahtoe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- HHMI, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Ewa A Andrzejewska
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hannah L Han
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Enrico Rennella
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Georg Meisl
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maggie Ahlrichs
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Justin Decarreau
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hannah Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alex Kang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul Levine
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mila Lamb
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Xinting Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Asim K Bera
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lewis E Kay
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- HHMI, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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13
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Grelich-Mucha M, Bachelart T, Torbeev V, Ożga K, Berlicki Ł, Olesiak-Bańska J. Amyloid engineering - how terminal capping modifies morphology and secondary structure of supramolecular peptide aggregates. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:1590-1602. [PMID: 38323504 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm01641b] [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: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The effects of peptide N- and C-termini on aggregation behavior have been scarcely studied. Herein, we examine (105-115) peptide fragments of transthyretin (TTR) containing various functional groups at both termini and study their impact on the morphology and the secondary structure. We synthesized TTR(105-115) peptides functionalized with α-amino (H-), N-acetyl-α-amino (Ac-) or N,N-dimethyl-α-amino (DiMe-) groups at the N-terminus, and with amide (-NH2) or carboxyl (-OH) functions at the C-terminus. We also investigated quasi-racemic mixtures by mixing the L-enantiomers with the D-enantiomer capped by H- and -NH2 groups. We observed that fibril formation is promoted by the sufficient number of hydrogen bonds at peptides' termini. Moreover, the final morphology of the aggregates can be controlled by the functional groups at the N-terminus. Remarkably, all quasi-racemic mixtures resulted in the robust formation of fibrils. Overall, this work illustrates how modifications of peptide termini may help to engineer supramolecular aggregates with a predicted morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Grelich-Mucha
- Institute of Advanced Materials, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Thomas Bachelart
- École Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (ESBS), CNRS UMR 7242 Biotechnology and Cellular Signalling, University of Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Vladimir Torbeev
- École Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (ESBS), CNRS UMR 7242 Biotechnology and Cellular Signalling, University of Strasbourg, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Katarzyna Ożga
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Łukasz Berlicki
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Olesiak-Bańska
- Institute of Advanced Materials, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
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14
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Nguyen BA, Singh V, Afrin S, Singh P, Pekala M, Ahmed Y, Pedretti R, Canepa J, Lemoff A, Kluve-Beckerman B, Wydorski P, Chhapra F, Saelices L. Cryo-EM confirms a common fibril fold in the heart of four patients with ATTRwt amyloidosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.08.582936. [PMID: 38496656 PMCID: PMC10942412 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.08.582936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
ATTR amyloidosis results from the conversion of transthyretin into amyloid fibrils that deposit in tissues causing organ failure and death. This conversion is facilitated by mutations in ATTRv amyloidosis, or aging in ATTRwt amyloidosis. ATTRv amyloidosis exhibits extreme phenotypic variability, whereas ATTRwt amyloidosis presentation is consistent and predictable. Previously, we found an unprecedented structural variability in cardiac amyloid fibrils from polyneuropathic ATTRv-I84S patients. In contrast, cardiac fibrils from five genotypically-different patients with cardiomyopathy or mixed phenotypes are structurally homogeneous. To understand fibril structure's impact on phenotype, it is necessary to study the fibrils from multiple patients sharing genotype and phenotype. Here we show the cryo-electron microscopy structures of fibrils extracted from four cardiomyopathic ATTRwt amyloidosis patients. Our study confirms that they share identical conformations with minimal structural variability, consistent with their homogenous clinical presentation. Our study contributes to the understanding of ATTR amyloidosis biopathology and calls for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binh An Nguyen
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Virender Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shumaila Afrin
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Preeti Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maja Pekala
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yasmin Ahmed
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rose Pedretti
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob Canepa
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Andrew Lemoff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Barbara Kluve-Beckerman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Pawel Wydorski
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Farzeen Chhapra
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
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15
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Thurber KR, Yau WM, Tycko R. Structure of Amyloid Peptide Ribbons Characterized by Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:1711-1723. [PMID: 38348474 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07867] [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: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Polypeptides often self-assemble to form amyloid fibrils, which contain cross-β structural motifs and are typically 5-15 nm in width and micrometers in length. In many cases, short segments of longer amyloid-forming protein or peptide sequences also form cross-β assemblies but with distinctive ribbon-like morphologies that are characterized by a well-defined thickness (on the order of 5 nm) in one lateral dimension and a variable width (typically 10-100 nm) in the other. Here, we use a novel combination of data from solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR), dark-field transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) to investigate the structures within amyloid ribbons formed by residues 14-23 and residues 11-25 of the Alzheimer's disease-associated amyloid-β peptide (Aβ14-23 and Aβ11-25). The ssNMR data indicate antiparallel β-sheets with specific registries of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Mass-per-area values are derived from dark-field TEM data. The ribbon thickness is determined from AFM images. For Aβ14-23 ribbons, averaged cryoEM images show a periodic spacing of β-sheets. The combined data support structures in which the amyloid ribbon growth direction is the direction of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between β-strands, the ribbon thickness corresponds to the width of one β-sheet (i.e., approximately the length of one molecule), and the variable ribbon width is a variable multiple of the thickness of one β-sheet (i.e., a multiple of the repeat distance in a stack of β-sheets). This architecture for a cross-β assembly may generally exist within amyloid ribbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent R Thurber
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, United States
| | - Wai-Ming Yau
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, United States
| | - Robert Tycko
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0520, United States
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16
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Rinauro DJ, Chiti F, Vendruscolo M, Limbocker R. Misfolded protein oligomers: mechanisms of formation, cytotoxic effects, and pharmacological approaches against protein misfolding diseases. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:20. [PMID: 38378578 PMCID: PMC10877934 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00651-2] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The conversion of native peptides and proteins into amyloid aggregates is a hallmark of over 50 human disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Increasing evidence implicates misfolded protein oligomers produced during the amyloid formation process as the primary cytotoxic agents in many of these devastating conditions. In this review, we analyze the processes by which oligomers are formed, their structures, physicochemical properties, population dynamics, and the mechanisms of their cytotoxicity. We then focus on drug discovery strategies that target the formation of oligomers and their ability to disrupt cell physiology and trigger degenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon J Rinauro
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- Section of Biochemistry, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Ryan Limbocker
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, 10996, USA.
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17
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Nguyen BA, Singh V, Afrin S, Yakubovska A, Wang L, Ahmed Y, Pedretti R, Fernandez-Ramirez MDC, Singh P, Pękała M, Cabrera Hernandez LO, Kumar S, Lemoff A, Gonzalez-Prieto R, Sawaya MR, Eisenberg DS, Benson MD, Saelices L. Structural polymorphism of amyloid fibrils in ATTR amyloidosis revealed by cryo-electron microscopy. Nat Commun 2024; 15:581. [PMID: 38233397 PMCID: PMC10794703 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44820-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
ATTR amyloidosis is caused by the deposition of transthyretin in the form of amyloid fibrils in virtually every organ of the body, including the heart. This systemic deposition leads to a phenotypic variability that has not been molecularly explained yet. In brain amyloid conditions, previous studies suggest an association between clinical phenotype and the molecular structures of their amyloid fibrils. Here we investigate whether there is such an association in ATTRv amyloidosis patients carrying the mutation I84S. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we determined the structures of cardiac fibrils extracted from three ATTR amyloidosis patients carrying the ATTRv-I84S mutation, associated with a consistent clinical phenotype. We found that in each ATTRv-I84S patient, the cardiac fibrils exhibited different local conformations, and these variations can co-exist within the same fibril. Our finding suggests that one amyloid disease may associate with multiple fibril structures in systemic amyloidoses, calling for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binh An Nguyen
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Virender Singh
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shumaila Afrin
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anna Yakubovska
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lanie Wang
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yasmin Ahmed
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rose Pedretti
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maria Del Carmen Fernandez-Ramirez
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Preeti Singh
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maja Pękała
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Luis O Cabrera Hernandez
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Siddharth Kumar
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Andrew Lemoff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Roman Gonzalez-Prieto
- Andalusian Center for Molecular Biology and regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad-Pablo de Olavide, Departmento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Michael R Sawaya
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David S Eisenberg
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Merrill Douglas Benson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
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18
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Poonsiri T, Dell’Accantera D, Loconte V, Casnati A, Cervoni L, Arcovito A, Benini S, Ferrari A, Cipolloni M, Cacioni E, De Franco F, Giacchè N, Rinaldo S, Folli C, Sansone F, Berni R, Cianci M. 3-O-Methyltolcapone and Its Lipophilic Analogues Are Potent Inhibitors of Transthyretin Amyloidogenesis with High Permeability and Low Toxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:479. [PMID: 38203650 PMCID: PMC10779086 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010479] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) is an amyloidogenic homotetramer involved in the transport of thyroxine in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. To date, more than 130 TTR point mutations are known to destabilise the TTR tetramer, leading to its extracellular pathological aggregation accumulating in several organs, such as heart, peripheral and autonomic nerves, and leptomeninges. Tolcapone is an FDA-approved drug for Parkinson's disease that has been repurposed as a TTR stabiliser. We characterised 3-O-methyltolcapone and two newly synthesized lipophilic analogues, which are expected to be protected from the metabolic glucuronidation that is responsible for the lability of tolcapone in the organism. Immunoblotting assays indicated the high degree of TTR stabilisation, coupled with binding selectivity towards TTR in diluted plasma of 3-O-methyltolcapone and its lipophilic analogues. Furthermore, in vitro toxicity data showed their several-fold improved neuronal and hepatic safety compared to tolcapone. Calorimetric and structural data showed that both T4 binding sites of TTR are occupied by 3-O-methyltolcapone and its lipophilic analogs, consistent with an effective TTR tetramer stabilisation. Moreover, in vitro permeability studies showed that the three compounds can effectively cross the blood-brain barrier, which is a prerequisite for the inhibition of TTR amyloidogenesis in the cerebrospinal fluid. Our data demonstrate the relevance of 3-O-methyltolcapone and its lipophilic analogs as potent inhibitors of TTR amyloidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanalai Poonsiri
- Bioorganic Chemistry and Bio-Crystallography Laboratory (B2Cl), Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; (T.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Davide Dell’Accantera
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.D.); (A.C.); (F.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Valentina Loconte
- Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA;
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Alessandro Casnati
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.D.); (A.C.); (F.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Laura Cervoni
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Alessandro Arcovito
- Department of Biotechnological Sciences and Intensive Care, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli—IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Benini
- Bioorganic Chemistry and Bio-Crystallography Laboratory (B2Cl), Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; (T.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Alberto Ferrari
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (A.F.); (C.F.)
| | - Marco Cipolloni
- TES Pharma S.r.l., Via P. Togliatti 20, Corciano, 06073 Perugia, Italy; (M.C.); (E.C.); (F.D.F.); (N.G.)
| | - Elisa Cacioni
- TES Pharma S.r.l., Via P. Togliatti 20, Corciano, 06073 Perugia, Italy; (M.C.); (E.C.); (F.D.F.); (N.G.)
| | - Francesca De Franco
- TES Pharma S.r.l., Via P. Togliatti 20, Corciano, 06073 Perugia, Italy; (M.C.); (E.C.); (F.D.F.); (N.G.)
| | - Nicola Giacchè
- TES Pharma S.r.l., Via P. Togliatti 20, Corciano, 06073 Perugia, Italy; (M.C.); (E.C.); (F.D.F.); (N.G.)
| | - Serena Rinaldo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.C.); (S.R.)
| | - Claudia Folli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (A.F.); (C.F.)
| | - Francesco Sansone
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.D.); (A.C.); (F.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Rodolfo Berni
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/a, 43124 Parma, Italy; (D.D.); (A.C.); (F.S.); (R.B.)
| | - Michele Cianci
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
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19
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Louros N, Schymkowitz J, Rousseau F. Mechanisms and pathology of protein misfolding and aggregation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:912-933. [PMID: 37684425 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00647-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Despite advances in machine learning-based protein structure prediction, we are still far from fully understanding how proteins fold into their native conformation. The conventional notion that polypeptides fold spontaneously to their biologically active states has gradually been replaced by our understanding that cellular protein folding often requires context-dependent guidance from molecular chaperones in order to avoid misfolding. Misfolded proteins can aggregate into larger structures, such as amyloid fibrils, which perpetuate the misfolding process, creating a self-reinforcing cascade. A surge in amyloid fibril structures has deepened our comprehension of how a single polypeptide sequence can exhibit multiple amyloid conformations, known as polymorphism. The assembly of these polymorphs is not a random process but is influenced by the specific conditions and tissues in which they originate. This observation suggests that, similar to the folding of native proteins, the kinetics of pathological amyloid assembly are modulated by interactions specific to cells and tissues. Here, we review the current understanding of how intrinsic protein conformational propensities are modulated by physiological and pathological interactions in the cell to shape protein misfolding and aggregation pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Louros
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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20
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Rodriguez A, Ali A, Holman AP, Dou T, Zhaliazka K, Kurouski D. Nanoscale structural characterization of transthyretin aggregates formed at different time points of protein aggregation using atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4838. [PMID: 37967043 PMCID: PMC10683371 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4838] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is a progressive disease characterized by an abrupt aggregation of misfolded protein in multiple organs and tissues TTR is a tetrameric protein expressed in the liver and choroid plexus. Protein misfolding triggers monomerization of TTR tetramers. Next, monomers assemble forming oligomers and fibrils. Although the secondary structure of TTR fibrils is well understood, there is very little if anything is known about the structural organization of TTR oligomers. To end this, we used nano-infrared spectroscopy, also known as atomic force microscopy infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy. This emerging technique can be used to determine the secondary structure of individual amyloid oligomers and fibrils. Using AFM-IR, we examined the secondary structure of TTR oligomers formed at the early (3-6 h), middle (9-12 h), and late (28 h) of protein aggregation. We found that aggregating, TTR formed oligomers (Type 1) that were dominated by α-helix (40%) and β-sheet (~30%) together with unordered protein (30%). Our results showed that fibril formation was triggered by another type of TTR oligomers (Type 2) that appeared at 9 h. These new oligomers were primarily composed of parallel β-sheet (55%), with a small amount of antiparallel β-sheet, α-helix, and unordered protein. We also found that Type 1 oligomers were not toxic to cells, whereas TTR fibrils formed at the late stages of protein aggregation were highly cytotoxic. These results show the complexity of protein aggregation and highlight the drastic difference in the protein oligomers that can be formed during such processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axell Rodriguez
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Aidan P. Holman
- Department of EntomologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Tianyi Dou
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Kiryl Zhaliazka
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTexasUSA
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21
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Steinebrei M, Baur J, Pradhan A, Kupfer N, Wiese S, Hegenbart U, Schönland SO, Schmidt M, Fändrich M. Common transthyretin-derived amyloid fibril structures in patients with hereditary ATTR amyloidosis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7623. [PMID: 37993462 PMCID: PMC10665346 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43301-3] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic ATTR amyloidosis is an increasingly important protein misfolding disease that is provoked by the formation of amyloid fibrils from transthyretin protein. The pathological and clinical disease manifestations and the number of pathogenic mutational changes in transthyretin are highly diverse, raising the question whether the different mutations may lead to different fibril morphologies. Using cryo-electron microscopy, however, we show here that the fibril structure is remarkably similar in patients that are affected by different mutations. Our data suggest that the circumstances under which these fibrils are formed and deposited inside the body - and not only the fibril morphology - are crucial for defining the phenotypic variability in many patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Steinebrei
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 8/1, Ulm, D-89081, Germany.
| | - Julian Baur
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 8/1, Ulm, D-89081, Germany
| | - Anaviggha Pradhan
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 8/1, Ulm, D-89081, Germany
| | - Niklas Kupfer
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 8/1, Ulm, D-89081, Germany
| | - Sebastian Wiese
- Core Unit Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Medical Faculty, Ulm University, Ulm, D-89081, Germany
| | - Ute Hegenbart
- Medical Department V, Amyloidosis Center, Heidelberg, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, Heidelberg, D-69120, Germany
| | - Stefan O Schönland
- Medical Department V, Amyloidosis Center, Heidelberg, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, Heidelberg, D-69120, Germany
| | - Matthias Schmidt
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 8/1, Ulm, D-89081, Germany
| | - Marcus Fändrich
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry, Ulm University, Helmholtzstrasse 8/1, Ulm, D-89081, Germany
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22
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Richards LS, Flores MD, Zink S, Schibrowsky NA, Sawaya MR, Rodriguez JA. Cryo-EM structure of a human LECT2 amyloid fibril reveals a network of polar ladders at its core. Structure 2023; 31:1386-1393.e3. [PMID: 37657439 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.08.007] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
ALECT2 systemic amyloidosis is associated with deposition of the leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (LECT2) protein in the form of fibrils. In ALECT2 amyloidosis, ALECT2 fibrils deposit in the glomerulus, resulting in renal failure. Patients lack effective treatment options outside of renal transplant or dialysis. The structure of globular LECT2 has been determined but structures of ALECT2 amyloid fibrils remain unknown. Using single-particle cryo-EM, we find that recombinant human LECT2 forms robust twisting fibrils with canonical amyloid features. ALECT2 fibrils contain two mating protofilaments spanning residues 55-75 of the LECT2 sequence. The geometry of the ALECT2 fibril displays features in line with other pathogenic amyloids. Its core is tightly packed and stabilized by both hydrophobic contacts and hydrogen-bonded uncharged polar residues. The robustness of ALECT2 fibril cores is illustrated by their resistance to denaturants and proteases. This ALECT2 fibril structure presents a potential new target for treatments against ALECT2 systemic amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan S Richards
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Maria D Flores
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Samantha Zink
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Natalie A Schibrowsky
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michael R Sawaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jose A Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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23
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Abskharon R, Pan H, Sawaya MR, Seidler PM, Olivares EJ, Chen Y, Murray KA, Zhang J, Lantz C, Bentzel M, Boyer DR, Cascio D, Nguyen BA, Hou K, Cheng X, Pardon E, Williams CK, Nana AL, Vinters HV, Spina S, Grinberg LT, Seeley WW, Steyaert J, Glabe CG, Ogorzalek Loo RR, Loo JA, Eisenberg DS. Structure-based design of nanobodies that inhibit seeding of Alzheimer's patient-extracted tau fibrils. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300258120. [PMID: 37801475 PMCID: PMC10576031 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300258120] [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: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite much effort, antibody therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have shown limited efficacy. Challenges to the rational design of effective antibodies include the difficulty of achieving specific affinity to critical targets, poor expression, and antibody aggregation caused by buried charges and unstructured loops. To overcome these challenges, we grafted previously determined sequences of fibril-capping amyloid inhibitors onto a camel heavy chain antibody scaffold. These sequences were designed to cap fibrils of tau, known to form the neurofibrillary tangles of AD, thereby preventing fibril elongation. The nanobodies grafted with capping inhibitors blocked tau aggregation in biosensor cells seeded with postmortem brain extracts from AD and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients. The tau capping nanobody inhibitors also blocked seeding by recombinant tau oligomers. Another challenge to the design of effective antibodies is their poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. In this study, we also designed a bispecific nanobody composed of a nanobody that targets a receptor on the BBB and a tau capping nanobody inhibitor, conjoined by a flexible linker. We provide evidence that the bispecific nanobody improved BBB penetration over the tau capping inhibitor alone after intravenous administration in mice. Our results suggest that the design of synthetic antibodies that target sequences that drive protein aggregation may be a promising approach to inhibit the prion-like seeding of tau and other proteins involved in AD and related proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romany Abskharon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Hope Pan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Michael R. Sawaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Paul M. Seidler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | | | - Yu Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Molecular Instrumentation Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Kevin A. Murray
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Jeffrey Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Carter Lantz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Megan Bentzel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - David R. Boyer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Duilio Cascio
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Binh A. Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Ke Hou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Xinyi Cheng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Els Pardon
- VIB-Vrije Universiteit Brussel Center for Structural Biology, VIB and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, BrusselsB-1050, Belgium
| | - Christopher K. Williams
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Alissa L. Nana
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Harry V. Vinters
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Salvatore Spina
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Lea T. Grinberg
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - William W. Seeley
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Jan Steyaert
- VIB-Vrije Universiteit Brussel Center for Structural Biology, VIB and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, BrusselsB-1050, Belgium
| | - Charles G. Glabe
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
| | - Rachel R. Ogorzalek Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Joseph A. Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - David S. Eisenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
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24
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Zou H, Zhou S. EGCG-Mediated Protection of Transthyretin Amyloidosis by Stabilizing Transthyretin Tetramers and Disrupting Transthyretin Aggregates. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14146. [PMID: 37762449 PMCID: PMC10531593 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814146] [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: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a progressive and systemic disease caused by the misfolding and amyloid aggregation of transthyretin (TTR). Stabilizing the TTR tetramers and disrupting the formed TTR aggregation are treated as a promising strategy for the treatment of ATTR. Previous studies have reported that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) can participate in the whole process of TTR aggregation to prevent ATTR. However, the interaction mechanism of EGCG in this process is still obscure. In this work, we performed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interactions between EGCG and TTR tetramers, and between EGCG and TTR aggregates formed by the V30M mutation. The obtained results suggest that EGCG at the binding site of the V30M TTR tetramer can form stable hydrogen bonds with residues in the flexible AB-loop and EF-helix-loop, which reduces the structural mobility of these regions significantly. Additionally, the polyaromatic property of EGCG contributes to the increasement of hydrophobicity at the binding site and thus makes the tetramer difficult to be solvated and dissociated. For V30M-TTR-generated aggregates, EGCG can promote the dissociation of boundary β-strands by destroying key residue interactions of TTR aggregates. Moreover, EGCG is capable of inserting into the side-chain of residues of neighboring β-strands and disrupting the highly structured aggregates. Taken together, this study elucidates the role of EGCG in preventing TTR amyloidosis, which can provide important theoretical support for the future of drug design for ATTR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shuangyan Zhou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China;
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25
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Shintani-Domoto Y, Ode KL, Nomura S, Abe H, Ueda HR, Sakatani T, Ohashi R. Elucidation of the mechanism of amyloid A and transthyretin formation using mass spectrometry-based absolute quantification. Virchows Arch 2023:10.1007/s00428-023-03591-w. [PMID: 37452846 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-023-03591-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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Amyloidosis is triggered by the truncation of amyloid precursor proteins, causing organ damages. While previous studies found the truncation of amyloid A (AA) and amyloid transthyretin (ATTR) occurs in C- and N-terminal, respectively, the detailed mechanism of the fibril formation remains unclear. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry is usually applied for a qualitative purpose, and thus quantification of tryptic peptide residue is difficult. We therefore employed a mass spectrometry-based quantification by isotope-labeled cell-free (MS-QBIC) to analyze the truncation processes in amyloid fibrillogenesis of AA and ATTR using the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of autopsy cases. In this study, the process of transthyretin from an 'early fibril state' consisting of full-length ATTR to a 'mature ATTR amyloid fibril' with a truncated low-amyloidogenic segment has been mathematically revealed. The amount of full-length ATTR was nine times higher than in mature fibers. Large cohort studies using MS-QBIC may shed light on the clinical significance of amyloid fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukako Shintani-Domoto
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Nippon Medical School Hospital, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan.
| | - Koji L Ode
- Department of Systems Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seitaro Nomura
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Abe
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki R Ueda
- Department of Systems Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory for Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takashi Sakatani
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Nippon Medical School Hospital, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan
| | - Ryuji Ohashi
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Nippon Medical School Hospital, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8603, Japan
- Department of Integrated Diagnostic Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
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26
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Björk L, Klingstedt T, Nilsson KPR. Thiophene-Based Ligands: Design, Synthesis and Their Utilization for Optical Assignment of Polymorphic-Disease-Associated Protein Aggregates. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300044. [PMID: 36891883 PMCID: PMC10404026 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300044] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
The development of ligands for detecting protein aggregates is of great interest, as these aggregated proteinaceous species are the pathological hallmarks of several devastating diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. In this regard, thiophene-based ligands have emerged as powerful tools for fluorescent assessment of these pathological entities. The intrinsic conformationally sensitive photophysical properties of poly- and oligothiophenes have allowed optical assignment of disease-associated protein aggregates in tissue sections, as well as real-time in vivo imaging of protein deposits. Herein, we recount the chemical evolution of different generations of thiophene-based ligands, and exemplify their use for the optical distinction of polymorphic protein aggregates. Furthermore, the chemical determinants for achieving a superior fluorescent thiophene-based ligand, as well as the next generation of thiophene-based ligands targeting distinct aggregated species are described. Finally, the directions for future research into the chemical design of thiophene-based ligands that can aid in resolving the scientific challenges around protein aggregation diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea Björk
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Therése Klingstedt
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
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27
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Chatterjee S, Salimi A, Lee JY. Histidine tautomerism-mediated transthyretin amyloidogenesis: A molecular insight. Arch Biochem Biophys 2023; 742:109618. [PMID: 37172673 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109618] [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: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Characterization of the conformational alterations involved in monomer misfolding is essential for elucidating the molecular basis of the initial stage of protein accumulation. Here, we report the first structural analyses of transthyretin (TTR) (26-57) fragments with two histidine tautomeric states (δ; Nδ1H and ε; Nε2H) using replica-exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations. Explaining the organizational properties and misfolding procedure is challenging because the δ and ε configurations can occur in the free neutral state. REMD revealed that β-sheet generation is favored for the δδ (16.8%) and εδ (6.7%) tautomeric isomers, showing frequent main-chain contacts between the stable regions near the head (N-terminus) and central (middle) part compared to the εε (4.8%) and δε (2.8%) isomers. The presence of smaller and wider local energy minima may be related to the structural stability and toxicity of δδ/εδ and εε/δε. Histidines31 and 56 were the parts of regular (such as β-strand) and nonregular (such as coil) secondary structures within the highly toxic TTR isomer. For TTR amyloidosis, focusing on hazardous isomeric forms with high sheet contents may be a potent treatment strategy. Overall, our findings support the tautomerism concept and aid in our comprehension of the basic tautomeric actions of neutral histidine throughout the misfolding process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sompriya Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 440-746, South Korea
| | - Abbas Salimi
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 440-746, South Korea
| | - Jin Yong Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 440-746, South Korea.
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28
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Sun X, Dyson HJ, Wright PE. Role of conformational dynamics in pathogenic protein aggregation. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 73:102280. [PMID: 36878172 PMCID: PMC10033434 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102280] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of pathogenic protein oligomers and aggregates is associated with several devastating amyloid diseases. As protein aggregation is a multi-step nucleation-dependent process beginning with unfolding or misfolding of the native state, it is important to understand how innate protein dynamics influence aggregation propensity. Kinetic intermediates composed of heterogeneous ensembles of oligomers are frequently formed on the aggregation pathway. Characterization of the structure and dynamics of these intermediates is critical to the understanding of amyloid diseases since oligomers appear to be the main cytotoxic agents. In this review, we highlight recent biophysical studies of the roles of protein dynamics in driving pathogenic protein aggregation, yielding new mechanistic insights that can be leveraged for design of aggregation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Sun
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - H Jane Dyson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Peter E Wright
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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29
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Belfeki N, Ghriss N, Monchi M, Moini C. State of the Art of Cardiac Amyloidosis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041045. [PMID: 37189662 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac amyloidosis is defined by extracellular deposition of misfolded proteins in the heart. The most frequent cases of cardiac amyloidosis are caused by transthyretin and light chain amyloidosis. This condition is underdiagnosed, and its incidence has been continuously rising in recent studies because of the aging of the population and the development of noninvasive multimodal diagnostic tools. Amyloid infiltration affects all cardiac tunics and causes heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, aortic stenosis, arrythmia, and conductive disorder. Innovative, specific therapeutic approaches have demonstrated an improvement in affected organs and the global survival of patients. This condition is no longer considered rare and incurable. Thus, better knowledge of the disease is mandatory. This review will provide a digest of the clinical signs and symptoms of cardiac amyloidosis, the diagnostic tools used to confirm the diagnosis, and current symptomatic and etiopathogenic management considerations according to guidelines and recommendations.
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Liu J, Wu XL, Zeng YT, Hu ZH, Lu JX. Solid-state NMR studies of amyloids. Structure 2023; 31:230-243. [PMID: 36750098 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.01.005] [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: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Amyloids have special structural properties and are involved in many aspects of biological function. In particular, amyloids are the cause or hallmarks of a group of notorious and incurable neurodegenerative diseases. The extraordinary high molecular weight and aggregation states of amyloids have posed a challenge for researchers studying them. Solid-state NMR (SSNMR) has been extensively applied to study the structures and dynamics of amyloids for the past 20 or more years and brought us tremendous progress in understanding their structure and related diseases. These studies, at the same time, helped to push SSNMR technical developments in sensitivity and resolution. In this review, some interesting research studies and important technical developments are highlighted to give the reader an overview of the current state of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xia-Lian Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yu-Teng Zeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zhi-Heng Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jun-Xia Lu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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31
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Monteiro C, Mesgarzadeh JS, Anselmo J, Fernandes J, Novais M, Rodrigues C, Powers DL, Powers ET, Coelho T, Kelly JW. Tafamidis polyneuropathy amelioration requires modest increases in transthyretin stability even though increases in plasma native TTR and decreases in non-native TTR do not predict response. Amyloid 2023; 30:81-95. [PMID: 36178172 PMCID: PMC9992127 DOI: 10.1080/13506129.2022.2126308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND TTR aggregation causes hereditary transthyretin (TTR) polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) in individuals with destabilised TTR variants. ATTRv-PN can be treated with ligands that bind TTR and prevent aggregation. One such ligand, tafamidis, is widely approved to treat ATTRv-PN. We explore how TTR stabilisation markers relate to clinical efficacy in 210 ATTRv-PN patients taking tafamidis. METHODS TTR concentration in patient plasma was measured before and after tafamidis treatment using assays for native or combined native + non-native TTR. TTR tetramer dissociation kinetics, which are slowed by tafamidis binding, were also measured. RESULTS Native TTR levels increased by 56.8% while combined native + non-native TTR levels increased by 3.1% after 24 months of tafamidis treatment, implying that non-native TTR decreased. Accordingly, the fraction of native TTR increased from 0.54 to 0.71 with tafamidis administration. Changes in native and non-native TTR levels were uncorrelated with clinical response to tafamidis. TTR tetramer dissociation generally slowed to an extent consistent with ∼40% of TTR being tafamidis-bound. Male non-responders had a lower extent of binding. CONCLUSIONS Native and non-native TTR concentration changes cannot be used as surrogate measures for therapeutic efficacy. Also, successful tafamidis therapy requires only moderate TTR stabilisation. Male patients may benefit from higher tafamidis doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecília Monteiro
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute,
10550 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jaleh S. Mesgarzadeh
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute,
10550 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - João Anselmo
- Unidade Corino de Andrade, Centro Hospitalar do Porto,
Largo do Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Fernandes
- Unidade Corino de Andrade, Centro Hospitalar do Porto,
Largo do Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Novais
- Unidade Corino de Andrade, Centro Hospitalar do Porto,
Largo do Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Rodrigues
- Unidade Corino de Andrade, Centro Hospitalar do Porto,
Largo do Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
| | - David L. Powers
- Department of Mathematics, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
13676, USA
| | - Evan T. Powers
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute,
10550 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Teresa Coelho
- Unidade Corino de Andrade, Centro Hospitalar do Porto,
Largo do Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Neurophysiology, Centro Hospitalar do Porto,
Largo do Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal
| | - Jeffery W. Kelly
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute,
10550 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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32
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Richards LS, Flores MD, Zink S, Schibrowsky NA, Sawaya MR, Rodriguez JA. Cryo-EM Structure of a Human LECT2 Amyloid Fibril Reveals a Network of Polar Ladders at its Core. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.08.527771. [PMID: 36798409 PMCID: PMC9934627 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.08.527771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
ALECT2 is a type of systemic amyloidosis caused by deposition of the leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (LECT2) protein in the form of fibrils. In ALECT2, LECT2 fibril deposits can be found in the glomerulus, resulting in renal failure. Affected patients lack effective treatment options outside of renal transplant or dialysis. While the structure of LECT2 in its globular form has been determined by X-ray crystallography, structures of LECT2 amyloid fibrils remain unknown. Using single particle cryo-EM, we now find that human LECT2 forms robust twisting fibrils with canonical amyloid features. At their core, LECT2 fibrils contain two mating protofilaments, the ordered core of each protofilament spans residues 55-75 of the LECT2 sequence. The overall geometry of the LECT2 fibril displays features in line with other pathogenic amyloids. Its core is tightly packed and stabilized by a network of hydrophobic contacts and hydrogen-bonded uncharged polar residues, while its outer surface displays several charged residues. The robustness of LECT2 fibril cores is illustrated by their limited dissolution in 3M urea and their persistence after treatment with proteinase K. As such, the LECT2 fibril structure presents a potential new target for treatments against ALECT2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan S. Richards
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Maria D. Flores
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Samantha Zink
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Natalie A. Schibrowsky
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michael R. Sawaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jose A. Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics; STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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33
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Chandrasekhar G, Rajasekaran R. Theoretical investigations of TTR derived aggregation-prone peptides’ potential to biochemically attenuate the amyloidogenic propensities of V30 M TTR amyloid fibrils. J INDIAN CHEM SOC 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jics.2023.100892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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34
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Acquasaliente L, De Filippis V. The Role of Proteolysis in Amyloidosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010699. [PMID: 36614141 PMCID: PMC9820691 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloidoses are a group of diseases associated with deposits of amyloid fibrils in different tissues. So far, 36 different types of amyloidosis are known, each due to the misfolding and accumulation of a specific protein. Amyloid deposits can be found in several organs, including the heart, brain, kidneys, and spleen, and can affect single or multiple organs. Generally, amyloid-forming proteins become prone to aggregate due to genetic mutations, acquired environmental factors, excessive concentration, or post-translational modifications. Interestingly, amyloid aggregates are often composed of proteolytic fragments, derived from the degradation of precursor proteins by yet unidentified proteases, which display higher amyloidogenic tendency compared to precursor proteins, thus representing an important mechanism in the onset of amyloid-based diseases. In the present review, we summarize the current knowledge on the proteolytic susceptibility of three of the main human amyloidogenic proteins, i.e., transthyretin, β-amyloid precursor protein, and α-synuclein, in the onset of amyloidosis. We also highlight the role that proteolytic enzymes can play in the crosstalk between intestinal inflammation and amyloid-based diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Acquasaliente
- Correspondence: (L.A.); (V.D.F.); Tel.: +39-0498275703 (L.A.); +39-0498275698 (V.D.F.)
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Correspondence: (L.A.); (V.D.F.); Tel.: +39-0498275703 (L.A.); +39-0498275698 (V.D.F.)
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35
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Secondary Structure in Amyloids in Relation to Their Wild Type Forms. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010154. [PMID: 36613597 PMCID: PMC9820225 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The amyloid structures and their wild type forms, available in the PDB database, provide the basis for comparative analyses. Globular proteins are characterised by a 3D spatial structure, while a chain in any amyloid fibril has a 2D structure. Another difference lies in the structuring of the hydrogen bond network. Amyloid forms theoretically engage all the NH and C=O groups of the peptide bonds in a chain with two hydrogen bonds each. In addition, the hydrogen bond network is highly ordered-as perpendicular to the plane of the chain. The β-structure segments provide the hydrogen bond system with an anti-parallel system. The folds appearing in the rectilinear propagation of the segment with the β-structure are caused by just by one of the residues in the sequence-residues with a Rα-helical or Lα-helical conformation. The antiparallel system of the hydrogen bonds in the β-structure sections at the site of the amino acid with a Rα- or Lα-helical conformation changes into a parallel system locally. This system also ensures that the involvement of the C=O and H-N groups in the construction of the interchain hydrogen bond, while maintaining a perpendicular orientation towards the plane of the chain. Conformational analysis at the level of the Phi and Psi angles indicates the presence of the conditions for the structures observed in the amyloids. The specificity of amyloid structures with the dominant conformation expressed as |Psi| = |Phi| reveals the system of organisation present in amyloid fibrils. The Phi, Psi angles, as present in this particular structure, transformed to form |Psi| = |Phi| appear to be ordered co-linearly. Therefore, the calculation of the correlation coefficient may express the distribution around this idealised localisation on the Ramachandran map. Additionally, when the outstanding points are eliminated, the part of amyloid chain can be classified as fulfilling the defined conditions. In addition, the presentation of the chain structure using geometric parameters, V-angle-the angle between the planes of the adjacent peptide bonds (angle versus the virtual axis Cα-Cα) and the radius of the curvature R, depending on the size of the angle V, allows for a quantitative assessment of changes during amyloid transformation.
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36
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Almeida ZL, Brito RMM. Amyloid Disassembly: What Can We Learn from Chaperones? Biomedicines 2022; 10:3276. [PMID: 36552032 PMCID: PMC9776232 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123276] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation and subsequent accumulation of insoluble amyloid fibrils with cross-β structure is an intrinsic characteristic of amyloid diseases, i.e., amyloidoses. Amyloid formation involves a series of on-pathway and off-pathway protein aggregation events, leading to mature insoluble fibrils that eventually accumulate in multiple tissues. In this cascade of events, soluble oligomeric species are formed, which are among the most cytotoxic molecular entities along the amyloid cascade. The direct or indirect action of these amyloid soluble oligomers and amyloid protofibrils and fibrils in several tissues and organs lead to cell death in some cases and organ disfunction in general. There are dozens of different proteins and peptides causing multiple amyloid pathologies, chief among them Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and several other neurodegenerative diseases. Amyloid fibril disassembly is among the disease-modifying therapeutic strategies being pursued to overcome amyloid pathologies. The clearance of preformed amyloids and consequently the arresting of the progression of organ deterioration may increase patient survival and quality of life. In this review, we compiled from the literature many examples of chemical and biochemical agents able to disaggregate preformed amyloids, which have been classified as molecular chaperones, chemical chaperones, and pharmacological chaperones. We focused on their mode of action, chemical structure, interactions with the fibrillar structures, morphology and toxicity of the disaggregation products, and the potential use of disaggregation agents as a treatment option in amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rui M. M. Brito
- Chemistry Department and Coimbra Chemistry Centre—Institute of Molecular Sciences (CQC-IMS), University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
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37
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Buxbaum JN, Dispenzieri A, Eisenberg DS, Fändrich M, Merlini G, Saraiva MJM, Sekijima Y, Westermark P. Amyloid nomenclature 2022: update, novel proteins, and recommendations by the International Society of Amyloidosis (ISA) Nomenclature Committee. Amyloid 2022; 29:213-219. [PMID: 36420821 DOI: 10.1080/13506129.2022.2147636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The Nomenclature Committee of the International Society of Amyloidosis met at the XVIII International Symposium on Amyloidosis in September and virtually in October 2022 with discussions resulting in this upgraded nomenclature recommendation. The nomenclature principles remain unchanged but there is an ongoing discussion regarding the importance and varying nature of intracellular protein aggregates, particularly those associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Six novel proteins were added to the list of human amyloid fibril proteins. Of these, three are polypeptide hormones and two currently utilised peptide drugs, making the number of known iatrogenic amyloid forms four, all appearing as subcutaneous nodules at the injection site. The sixth novel amyloid fibril protein is the transmembrane 106B protein, forming intracellular amyloid fibrils in disorders associated with frontotemporal dementia. The number of known human amyloid fibril proteins is now 42.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel N Buxbaum
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, Protego Biopharma San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - David S Eisenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marcus Fändrich
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Giampaolo Merlini
- Amyloid Research and Treatment Center, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, and University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria J M Saraiva
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Porto, Molecular Neurobiology, Porto, Portugal
| | - Yoshiki Sekijima
- Department of Medicine (Neurology and Rheumatology), Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Per Westermark
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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38
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Alraawi Z, Banerjee N, Mohanty S, Kumar TKS. Amyloidogenesis: What Do We Know So Far? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213970. [PMID: 36430450 PMCID: PMC9695042 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of protein aggregation, and amyloidosis in particular, has gained considerable interest in recent times. Several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) show a characteristic buildup of proteinaceous aggregates in several organs, especially the brain. Despite the enormous upsurge in research articles in this arena, it would not be incorrect to say that we still lack a crystal-clear idea surrounding these notorious aggregates. In this review, we attempt to present a holistic picture on protein aggregation and amyloids in particular. Using a chronological order of discoveries, we present the case of amyloids right from the onset of their discovery, various biophysical techniques, including analysis of the structure, the mechanisms and kinetics of the formation of amyloids. We have discussed important questions on whether aggregation and amyloidosis are restricted to a subset of specific proteins or more broadly influenced by the biophysiochemical and cellular environment. The therapeutic strategies and the significant failure rate of drugs in clinical trials pertaining to these neurodegenerative diseases have been also discussed at length. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the globe hard, the review also discusses the plausibility of the far-reaching consequences posed by the virus, such as triggering early onset of amyloidosis. Finally, the application(s) of amyloids as useful biomaterials has also been discussed briefly in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeina Alraawi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Fulbright College of Art and Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Nayan Banerjee
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A & 2B Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Srujana Mohanty
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata 741246, India
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Björk L, Bäck M, Lantz L, Ghetti B, Vidal R, Klingstedt T, Nilsson KPR. Proteophenes - Amino Acid Functionalized Thiophene-based Fluorescent Ligands for Visualization of Protein Deposits in Tissue Sections with Alzheimer's Disease Pathology. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202201557. [PMID: 35950816 PMCID: PMC9643645 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Protein deposits composed of specific proteins or peptides are associated with several neurodegenerative diseases and fluorescent ligands able to detect these pathological hallmarks are vital. Here, we report the synthesis of a class of thiophene-based ligands, denoted proteophenes, with different amino acid side-chain functionalities along the conjugated backbone, which display selectivity towards specific disease-associated protein aggregates in tissue sections with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. The selectivity of the ligands towards AD associated pathological hallmarks, such as aggregates of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide or tau filamentous inclusions, was highly dependent on the chemical nature of the amino acid functionality, as well as on the location of the functionality along the pentameric thiophene backbone. Finally, the concept of synthesizing donor-acceptor-donor proteophenes with distinct photophysical properties was shown. Our findings provide the structural and functional basis for the development of new thiophene-based ligands that can be utilized for optical assignment of different aggregated proteinaceous species in tissue sections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea Björk
- Department of PhysicsChemistry and BiologyLinköping University581 83LinköpingSweden
| | - Marcus Bäck
- Department of PhysicsChemistry and BiologyLinköping University581 83LinköpingSweden
| | - Linda Lantz
- Department of PhysicsChemistry and BiologyLinköping University581 83LinköpingSweden
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolis46202IndianaUSA
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolis46202IndianaUSA
| | - Therése Klingstedt
- Department of PhysicsChemistry and BiologyLinköping University581 83LinköpingSweden
| | - K. Peter R. Nilsson
- Department of PhysicsChemistry and BiologyLinköping University581 83LinköpingSweden
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40
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Dasari AKR, Yi S, Coats MF, Wi S, Lim KH. Toxic Misfolded Transthyretin Oligomers with Different Molecular Conformations Formed through Distinct Oligomerization Pathways. Biochemistry 2022; 61:2358-2365. [PMID: 36219173 PMCID: PMC9665167 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00390] [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] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is initiated by structural changes from native polypeptides to cytotoxic oligomers, which form cross-β structured amyloid. Identification and characterization of oligomeric intermediates are critically important for understanding not only the molecular mechanism of aggregation but also the cytotoxic nature of amyloid oligomers. Preparation of misfolded oligomers for structural characterization is, however, challenging because of their transient, heterogeneous nature. Here, we report two distinct misfolded transthyretin (TTR) oligomers formed through different oligomerization pathways. A pathogenic TTR variant with a strong aggregation propensity (L55P) was used to prepare misfolded oligomers at physiological pH. Our mechanistic studies showed that the full-length TTR initially forms small oligomers, which self-assemble into short protofibrils at later stages. Enzymatic cleavage of the CD loop was also used to induce the formation of N-terminally truncated oligomers, which was detected in ex vivo cardiac TTR aggregates extracted from the tissues of patients. Structural characterization of the oligomers using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and circular dichroism revealed that the two TTR misfolded oligomers have distinct molecular conformations. In addition, the proteolytically cleaved TTR oligomers exhibit a higher surface hydrophobicity, suggesting the presence of distinct oligomerization pathways for TTR oligomer formation. Cytotoxicity assays also revealed that the cytotoxicity of cleaved oligomers is stronger than that of the full-length TTR oligomers, indicating that hydrophobicity might be an important property of toxic oligomers. These comparative biophysical analyses suggest that the toxic cleaved TTR oligomers formed through a different misfoling pathway may adopt distinct structural features that produce higher surface hydrophobicity, leading to the stronger cytotoxic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anvesh K. R. Dasari
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Sujung Yi
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Matthew F. Coats
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Sungsool Wi
- Interdisciplinary Magnetic Resonance (CIMAR), National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), 1800 East, Paul Dirac Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
| | - Kwang Hun Lim
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
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Cryo-EM structure of an ATTRwt amyloid fibril from systemic non-hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6398. [PMID: 36302762 PMCID: PMC9613903 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33591-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild type transthyretin-derived amyloid (ATTRwt) is the major component of non-hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Its accumulation in the heart of elderly patients is life threatening. A variety of genetic variants of transthyretin can lead to hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, which shows different clinical symptoms, like age of onset and pattern of organ involvement. However, in the case of non-hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis ATTRwt fibril deposits are located primarily in heart tissue. In this structural study we analyzed ATTRwt amyloid fibrils from the heart of a patient with non-hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. We present a 2.78 Å reconstructed density map of these ATTRwt fibrils using cryo electron microscopy and compare it with previously published V30M variants of ATTR fibrils extracted from heart and eye of different patients. All structures show a remarkably similar spearhead like shape in their cross section, formed by the same N- and C-terminal fragments of transthyretin with some minor differences. This demonstrates common features for ATTR fibrils despite differences in mutations and patients.
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Prokaeva T, Klimtchuk ES, Feschenko P, Spencer B, Cui H, Burks EJ, Aslebagh R, Muneeruddin K, Shaffer SA, Varghese E, Berk JL, Connors LH. An additive destabilising effect of compound T60I and V122I substitutions in ATTRv amyloidosis. Amyloid 2022:1-12. [PMID: 36286264 DOI: 10.1080/13506129.2022.2135988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amyloidogenic transthyretin (TTR) variant, V122I, occurs in 4% of the African American population and frequently presents as a restricted cardiomyopathy. While heterozygosity for TTR V122I predominates, several compound heterozygous cases have been previously described. Herein, we detail features of ATTRv amyloidosis associated with novel compound heterozygous TTR mutation, T60I/V122I and provide evidence supporting the amyloidogenecity of T60I. METHODS A 63-year-old African American female presented with atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, autonomic and peripheral neuropathy. In vitro studies of TTR T60I and V122I were undertaken to compare the biophysical properties of the proteins. RESULTS Congophilic deposits in a rectal biopsy were immunohistochemically positive for TTR. Serum screening by isoelectric focussing revealed two TTR variants in the absence of wild-type protein. DNA sequencing identified compound heterozygous TTR gene mutations, c.239C > T and c.424G > A. Adipose amyloid deposits were composed of both T60I and V122I. While kinetic stabilities of T60I and V122I variants were similar, distinct thermodynamic stabilities and amyloid growth kinetics were observed. CONCLUSIONS This report provides clinical and experimental results supporting the amyloidogenic nature of a novel TTR T60I variant. In vitro data indicate that the destabilising effect of individual T60I and V122I variants appears to be additive rather than synergistic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Prokaeva
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elena S Klimtchuk
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Polina Feschenko
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian Spencer
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Haili Cui
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric J Burks
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roshanak Aslebagh
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Khaja Muneeruddin
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Scott A Shaffer
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Varghese
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John L Berk
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lawreen H Connors
- Amyloidosis Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Roterman I, Stapor K, Fabian P, Konieczny L. New insights into disordered proteins and regions according to the FOD-M model. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275300. [PMID: 36215254 PMCID: PMC9550084 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A collection of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) having regions with the status of intrinsically disordered (IDR) according to the Disprot database was analyzed from the point of view of the structure of hydrophobic core in the structural unit (chain / domain). The analysis includes all the Homo Sapiens as well as Mus Musculus proteins present in the DisProt database for which the structure is available. In the analysis, the fuzzy oil drop modified model (FOD-M) was used, taking into account the external force field, modified by the presence of other factors apart from polar water, influencing protein structuring. The paper presents an alternative to secondary-structure-based classification of intrinsically disordered regions (IDR). The basis of our classification is the ordering of hydrophobic core as calculated by the FOD-M model resulting in FOD-ordered or FOD-unordered IDRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Roterman
- Department of Bioinformatics and Telemedicine, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Kraków, Poland,* E-mail:
| | - Katarzyna Stapor
- Faculty of Automatic, Department of Applied Informatics, Electronics and Computer Science, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Piotr Fabian
- Faculty of Automatic, Electronics and Computer Science, Department of Algorithmics and Software, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Leszek Konieczny
- Chair of Medical Biochemistry, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Kraków, Poland
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The hydrophobic residue Leu73 is crucial for the high stability and low aggregation properties of murine transthyretin. Biochem J 2022; 479:1999-2011. [PMID: 36098398 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Destabilization of human transthyretin leads to its aggregation into amyloid fibrils, which causes a rare, progressive and fatal systemic disorder called ATTR amyloidosis. By contrast, murine transthyretin is known to be very stable and therefore does not aggregate into amyloid fibrils in vivo or in vitro. We examined the hydrophobic residues responsible for the high-stability and low-aggregation properties of murine transthyretin using site-directed mutagenesis. Urea-induced unfolding and thioflavin T fluorescence aggregation assay revealed that Leu73 of murine transthyretin largely contributes to its high stability and low aggregation properties: the I73L mutation stabilized human transthyretin, while the L73I mutation destabilized murine transthyretin. In addition, the I26V/I73L mutation stabilized the amyloidogenic V30M mutant of human transthyretin to the same degree as the suppressor mutation T119M, which protects transthyretin against amyloid fibril aggregation. The I73L mutation resulted in no significant differences in the overall structure of the transthyretin tetramer or the contacts of side-chains in the hydrophobic core of the monomer. We also found that Leu73 of murine transthyretin is conserved in many mammals, while Ile73 of human transthyretin is conserved in monkeys and cats. These studies will provide new insights into the stability and aggregation properties of transthyretin from various mammals.
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45
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Targeting Amyloid Fibrils by Passive Immunotherapy in Systemic Amyloidosis. BioDrugs 2022; 36:591-608. [PMID: 36094752 PMCID: PMC9466354 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-022-00550-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Systemic amyloidoses are characterized by the unrelenting deposition of autologous proteins as highly ordered fibrils in target organs. The ensuing, potentially fatal organ dysfunction is the result of the combined damage caused by the proteotoxic effect of prefibrillar species and by the cytotoxicity and the structural alterations produced by the amyloid fibrils. Current therapy is focused on eliminating the amyloid protein, thus extinguishing the amyloid cascade at its origin. While this approach may end the cell damage caused by prefibrillar aggregates and prevent further amyloid accumulation, the noxious effects of the amyloid fibrils persist and may hamper the recovery of organ function, which is the ultimate goal of therapy as it is necessary to improve the quality of life and extend survival. Preclinical studies indicate that the clearance of amyloid deposits can be accelerated by specific antibodies targeting amyloid fibrils that activate complement-mediated macrophages and giant cell phagocytosis, possibly promoting the recovery of organ function. Measuring the therapeutic effect of anti-amyloid agents is still a matter of research. In recent years, several monoclonal antibodies targeting amyloid deposits have been tested in clinical trials with mixed outcomes. Recent encouraging results from phase I/II trials, new anti-amyloid agents, and new antibody engineering offer hope that effective amyloid removal will be accomplished in the near future, accelerating organ recovery and improving quality of life and survival.
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46
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Zhang Y, Zhu Y, Yue H, Zhao Q, Li H. Exploring the misfolding and self-assembly mechanism of TTR (105–115) peptides by all-atom molecular dynamics simulation. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:982276. [PMID: 36120541 PMCID: PMC9473747 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.982276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological aggregation of essentially dissociative Transthyretin (TTR) monomers protein, driven by misfolded and self-interaction, is connected with Amyloid Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) disease. The TTR monomers protein contains several fragments that tend to self-aggregate, such as residue 105–115 sequence [TTR (105–115)]. However, the misfolding and aggregation mechanisms of TTR are still unknown. In this study, we explored the misfolding and self-assembly of TTR (105–115) peptides by all-atom molecular dynamics simulation. Our results indicated that the conformation of the two-peptides appears unstable. In the tetramerization and hexamerization simulations, the results are reversed. When the number of peptides increases, the probability and the length of β-Sheet contents increase. Our results show that that the four- and six-peptides both can form β-Barrel intermediates and then aggregate into fibers. The critical nucleation for the formation of fibril should be larger than four-peptides. The interactions between hydrophobic residues I107-L111 play an important role in the formation of stable fibrils at an early stage. Our results on the structural ensembles and early aggregation dynamics of TTR (105–115) will be useful to comprehend the nucleation and fibrillization of TTR (105–115).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Zhang
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanyan Zhu
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiyan Yue
- Naval Medical Center of PLA, Department of Digestive Diseases, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingjie Zhao
- Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Qingjie Zhao, ; Huiyu Li,
| | - Huiyu Li
- College of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Qingjie Zhao, ; Huiyu Li,
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The Possible Mechanism of Amyloid Transformation Based on the Geometrical Parameters of Early-Stage Intermediate in Silico Model for Protein Folding. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169502. [PMID: 36012765 PMCID: PMC9409474 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The specificity of the available experimentally determined structures of amyloid forms is expressed primarily by the two- and not three-dimensional forms of a single polypeptide chain. Such a flat structure is possible due to the β structure, which occurs predominantly. The stabilization of the fibril in this structure is achieved due to the presence of the numerous hydrogen bonds between the adjacent chains. Together with the different forms of twists created by the single R- or L-handed α-helices, they form the hydrogen bond network. The specificity of the arrangement of these hydrogen bonds lies in their joint orientation in a system perpendicular to the plane formed by the chain and parallel to the fibril axis. The present work proposes the possible mechanism for obtaining such a structure based on the geometric characterization of the polypeptide chain constituting the basis of our early intermediate model for protein folding introduced formerly. This model, being the conformational subspace of Ramachandran plot (the ellipse path), was developed on the basis of the backbone conformation, with the side-chain interactions excluded. Our proposal is also based on the results from molecular dynamics available in the literature leading to the unfolding of α-helical sections, resulting in the β-structural forms. Both techniques used provide a similar suggestion in a search for a mechanism of conformational changes leading to a formation of the amyloid form. The potential mechanism of amyloid transformation is presented here using the fragment of the transthyretin as well as amyloid Aβ.
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48
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Hartmann J, Zacharias M. Analysis of amyloidogenic transthyretin mutations using continuum solvent free energy calculations. Proteins 2022; 90:2080-2090. [PMID: 35841533 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Many proteins can undergo pathological conformational changes that result in the formation of amyloidogenic fibril structures. Various neurodegenerative diseases are associated with such pathological fibril formation of specific proteins. Transthyretin (TTR) is a tetrameric globular transport protein in the blood plasma that can dissociate, unfold, and form long and stable fibrils. Many TTR mutations are known that promote (TTR) amyloidosis and cause severe diseases. TTR amyloidosis has been studied extensively using biochemical methods and structures of various mutations in the globular form have been characterized. Recently, also the structure of a TTR fibril has been determined. In an effort to better understand why some mutations increase or decrease the tendency of amyloid formation, we have applied a combined molecular dynamics and continuum solvent approach to calculate the energetic influence of residue changes in the globular versus fibril form. For 29 out of 36 tested TTR single residue mutations, the approach correctly predicts the increased or decreased tendency for amyloidosis allowing us also to elucidate the origins of the tendency. We find that indeed the destabilization of the globular monomer or changes in dimer and tetramer stability due to mutation has a dominant influence on the amyloidogenic tendency. The continuum solvent model predicts a significantly more favorable mean energy per residue of the fibril form compared to the globular form. This effect is only slightly modulated by single-point mutations preserving the energetic preference for fibril formation upon protein unfolding. It explains why no correlation between experimental amyloidosis and calculated change in fibril stability was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Hartmann
- Physics Department and Center of Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Martin Zacharias
- Physics Department and Center of Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Bavaria, Germany
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Golan N, Engelberg Y, Landau M. Structural Mimicry in Microbial and Antimicrobial Amyloids. Annu Rev Biochem 2022; 91:403-422. [PMID: 35729071 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-032620-105157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The remarkable variety of microbial species of human pathogens and microbiomes generates significant quantities of secreted amyloids, which are structured protein fibrils that serve diverse functions related to virulence and interactions with the host. Human amyloids are associated largely with fatal neurodegenerative and systemic aggregation diseases, and current research has put forward the hypothesis that the interspecies amyloid interactome has physiological and pathological significance. Moreover, functional and molecular-level connections between antimicrobial activity and amyloid structures suggest a neuroimmune role for amyloids that are otherwise known to be pathological. Compared to the extensive structural information that has been accumulated for human amyloids, high-resolution structures of microbial and antimicrobial amyloids are only emerging. These recent structures reveal both similarities and surprising departures from the typical amyloid motif, in accordance with their diverse activities, and advance the discovery of novel antivirulence and antimicrobial agents. In addition, the structural information has led researchers to postulate that amyloidogenic sequences are natural targets for structural mimicry, for instance in host-microbe interactions. Microbial amyloid research could ultimately be used to fight aggressive infections and possibly processes leading to autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimrod Golan
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel;
| | - Yizhaq Engelberg
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel;
| | - Meytal Landau
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; .,European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), Hamburg, Germany
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50
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Sun X, Ferguson JA, Dyson HJ, Wright PE. A transthyretin monomer intermediate undergoes local unfolding and transient interaction with oligomers in a kinetically concerted aggregation pathway. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102162. [PMID: 35724960 PMCID: PMC9293765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is associated with tissue deposition of TTR aggregates. TTR aggregation is initiated by dissociation of the native tetramer to form a monomeric intermediate, which locally unfolds and assembles into soluble oligomers and higher-order aggregates. However, a detailed mechanistic understanding requires kinetic and structural characterization of the low-population intermediates formed. Here we show that the monomeric intermediate exchanges with an ensemble of oligomers on the millisecond timescale. This transient and reversible exchange causes broadening of the 19F resonance of a trifluoromethyl probe coupled to the monomeric intermediate at S85C. We show the 19F linewidth and R2 relaxation rate increase in a linear manner with increasing concentration of the oligomer. Furthermore, introduction of 19F probes at additional TTR sites yielded distinct 19F chemical shifts for the TTR tetramer and monomer when the trifluoromethyl probe was attached at S100C, located near the same subunit interface as S85C, but not with probes attached at S46C or E63C, which are distant from any interfaces. The 19F probe at E63C shows that part of the DE loop, which is solvent-accessible in the tetramer, becomes more buried in the NMR-visible oligomers. Finally, using backbone amides as probes, we show that parts of the EF helix and H strand become highly flexible in the otherwise structured monomeric intermediate at acidic pH. We further find that TTR aggregation can be reversed by increasing pH. Taken together, this work provides insights into location-dependent conformational changes in the reversible early steps of a kinetically-concerted TTR aggregation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Sun
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - James A Ferguson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - H Jane Dyson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Peter E Wright
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.
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