1
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Han W, Wei M, Xu F, Niu Z. Aggregation and phase separation of α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:6581-6590. [PMID: 38808534 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc01591f] [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: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
The deposition of α-synuclein (α-Syn) in Lewy bodies serves as a prominent pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent research has revealed that α-Syn can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) during its fibrillization. Over time, the maturation of the resulting condensates leads to a liquid-to-solid phase transition (LSPT) ultimately resulting in the amyloid deposition in cells which is linked to the pathogenesis and development of PD. Herein, we summarize the understanding of α-Syn aggregation which can be described by nucleation and elongation steps to obtain insights into the correlation of protein aggregation, structural polymorphism, and PD progression. Additionally, we discuss the LLPS phenomena of α-Syn and heterotypic cross-amyloid interactions with a focus on aberrant LSPT in the aggregation process. Exploring the underlying mechanisms and interplay between α-Syn aberrant aggregation, pathological phase transitions, and PD pathogenesis will shed light on potential therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanlu Han
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
| | - Mengrui Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
| | - Fei Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
| | - Zheng Niu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.
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2
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Matsui H, Takahashi R. Current trends in basic research on Parkinson's disease: from mitochondria, lysosome to α-synuclein. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:663-674. [PMID: 38613675 PMCID: PMC11192670 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02774-2] [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: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and other brain regions. A key pathological feature of PD is the abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein protein within affected neurons, manifesting as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Despite extensive research efforts spanning several decades, the underlying mechanisms of PD and disease-modifying therapies remain elusive. This review provides an overview of current trends in basic research on PD. Initially, it discusses the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of PD, followed by insights into the role of lysosomal dysfunction and disruptions in the vesicular transport system. Additionally, it delves into the pathological and physiological roles of α-synuclein, a crucial protein associated with PD pathophysiology. Overall, the purpose of this review is to comprehend the current state of elucidating the intricate mechanisms underlying PD and to outline future directions in understanding this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideaki Matsui
- Department of Neuroscience of Disease, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, 1-757, Asahimachidori, Chuoku, Niigata, 951-8585, Japan.
| | - Ryosuke Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54, Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyoku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
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3
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Majumder S, Srivastava M, Alam P, Saha S, Kumari R, Chand AK, Asthana S, Sen S, Maiti TK. Hotspot site microenvironment in the deubiquitinase OTUB1 drives its stability and aggregation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107315. [PMID: 38663827 PMCID: PMC11154711 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Lewy bodies (LB) are aberrant protein accumulations observed in the brain cells of individuals affected by Parkinson's disease (PD). A comprehensive analysis of LB proteome identified over a hundred proteins, many co-enriched with α-synuclein, a major constituent of LB. Within this context, OTUB1, a deubiquitinase detected in LB, exhibits amyloidogenic properties, yet the mechanisms underlying its aggregation remain elusive. In this study, we identify two critical sites in OTUB1-namely, positions 133 and 173-that significantly impact its amyloid aggregation. Substituting alanine at position 133 and lysine at position 173 enhances both thermodynamic and kinetic stability, effectively preventing amyloid aggregation. Remarkably, lysine at position 173 demonstrates the highest stability without compromising enzymatic activity. The increased stability and inhibition of amyloid aggregation are attributed mainly to the changes in the specific microenvironment at the hotspot. In our exploration of the in-vivo co-occurrence of α-synuclein and OTUB1 in LB, we observed a synergistic modulation of each other's aggregation. Collectively, our study unveils the molecular determinants influencing OTUB1 aggregation, shedding light on the role of specific residues in modulating aggregation kinetics and structural transition. These findings contribute valuable insights into the complex interplay of amino acid properties and protein aggregation, with potential implications for understanding broader aspects of protein folding and aggregation phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushanta Majumder
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Mitul Srivastava
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Parvez Alam
- Spectroscopy Laboratory, School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Sandhini Saha
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Raniki Kumari
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Ajay Kumar Chand
- Spectroscopy Laboratory, School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Shailendra Asthana
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Sobhan Sen
- Spectroscopy Laboratory, School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Tushar Kanti Maiti
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India.
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4
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Song SS, Liu W, Bao JY, Zhu HT, Wang AJ, Song P, Yuan PX, Feng JJ. Photodynamic-Assisted Electrochemiluminescence Enhancement toward Advanced BODIPY for Precision Diagnosis of Parkinson. Anal Chem 2024; 96:8586-8593. [PMID: 38728058 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00607] [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: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Nowadays, signal enhancement is imperative to increase sensitivity of advanced ECL devices for expediting their promising applications in clinic. In this work, photodynamic-assisted electrochemiluminescence (PDECL) device was constructed for precision diagnosis of Parkinson, where an advanced emitter was prepared by electrostatically linking 2,6-dimethyl-8-(3-carboxyphenyl)4,4'-difluoroboradiazene (BET) with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazole tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm][BF4]). Specifically, protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) can trigger the photodynamic reaction under light irradiation with a wavelength of 450 nm to generate lots of singlet oxygen (1O2), showing a 2.43-fold magnification in the ECL responses. Then, the aptamer (Apt) was assembled on the functional BET-[BMIm] for constructing a "signal off" ECL biosensor. Later on, the PPIX was embedded into the G-quadruplex (G4) of the Apt to magnify the ECL signals for bioanalysis of α-synuclein (α-syn) under light excitation. In the optimized surroundings, the resulting PDECL sensor has a broad linear range of 100.0 aM ∼ 10.0 fM and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 63 aM, coupled by differentiating Parkinson patients from normal individuals according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of actual blood samples. Such research holds great promise for synthesis of other advanced luminophores, combined with achieving an early clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Shu Song
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Wen Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Donghu Road 169, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jing-Yi Bao
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Hao-Tian Zhu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Ai-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Pei Song
- Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua 321000, China
| | - Pei-Xin Yuan
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Jiu-Ju Feng
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
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5
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Karunarathne K, Kee TR, Jeon H, Cazzaro S, Gamage YI, Pan J, Woo JAA, Kang DE, Muschol M. Crystal Violet Selectively Detects Aβ Oligomers but Not Fibrils In Vitro and in Alzheimer's Disease Brain Tissue. Biomolecules 2024; 14:615. [PMID: 38927020 PMCID: PMC11201545 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060615] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Deposition of extracellular Amyloid Beta (Aβ) and intracellular tau fibrils in post-mortem brains remains the only way to conclusively confirm cases of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Substantial evidence, though, implicates small globular oligomers instead of fibrils as relevant biomarkers of, and critical contributors to, the clinical symptoms of AD. Efforts to verify and utilize amyloid oligomers as AD biomarkers in vivo have been limited by the near-exclusive dependence on conformation-selective antibodies for oligomer detection. While antibodies have yielded critical evidence for the role of both Aβ and tau oligomers in AD, they are not suitable for imaging amyloid oligomers in vivo. Therefore, it would be desirable to identify a set of oligomer-selective small molecules for subsequent development into Positron Emission Tomography (PET) probes. Using a kinetics-based screening assay, we confirm that the triarylmethane dye Crystal Violet (CV) is oligomer-selective for Aβ42 oligomers (AβOs) grown under near-physiological solution conditions in vitro. In postmortem brains of an AD mouse model and human AD patients, we demonstrate that A11 antibody-positive oligomers but not Thioflavin S (ThioS)-positive fibrils colocalize with CV staining, confirming in vitro results. Therefore, our kinetic screen represents a robust approach for identifying new classes of small molecules as candidates for oligomer-selective dyes (OSDs). Such OSDs, in turn, provide promising starting points for the development of PET probes for pre-mortem imaging of oligomer deposits in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teresa R. Kee
- Department of Molecular Medicine, USF Health, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Hanna Jeon
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Sara Cazzaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, USF Health, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Yasith I. Gamage
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Jianjun Pan
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Jung-A. A. Woo
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - David E. Kang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Martin Muschol
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
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6
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Böken D, Cox D, Burke M, Lam JYL, Katsinelos T, Danial JSH, Fertan E, McEwan WA, Rowe JB, Klenerman D. Single-Molecule Characterization and Super-Resolution Imaging of Alzheimer's Disease-Relevant Tau Aggregates in Human Samples. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202317756. [PMID: 38523073 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202317756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of the protein tau play key roles in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). While the molecular structure of the filamentous tau aggregates has been determined to atomic resolution, there is far less information available about the smaller, soluble aggregates, which are believed to be more toxic. Traditional techniques are limited to bulk measures and struggle to identify individual aggregates in complex biological samples. To address this, we developed a novel single-molecule pull-down-based assay (MAPTau) to detect and characterize individual tau aggregates in AD and control post-mortem brain and biofluids. Using MAPTau, we report the quantity, as well as the size and circularity of tau aggregates measured using super-resolution microscopy, revealing AD-specific differences in tau aggregate morphology. By adapting MAPTau to detect multiple phosphorylation markers in individual aggregates using two-color coincidence detection, we derived compositional profiles of the individual aggregates. We find an AD-specific phosphorylation profile of tau aggregates with more than 80 % containing multiple phosphorylations, compared to 5 % in age-matched non-AD controls. Our results show that MAPTau is able to identify disease-specific subpopulations of tau aggregates phosphorylated at different sites, that are invisible to other methods and enable the study of disease mechanisms and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Böken
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Dezerae Cox
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Melanie Burke
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Jeff Y L Lam
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Taxiarchis Katsinelos
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - John S H Danial
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Emre Fertan
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - William A McEwan
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - James B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - David Klenerman
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
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7
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Kula J, Kuter KZ. MUFA synthesis and stearoyl-CoA desaturase as a new pharmacological target for modulation of lipid and alpha-synuclein interaction against Parkinson's disease synucleinopathy. Neuropharmacology 2024; 249:109865. [PMID: 38342377 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109865] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Protein pathology spreading within the nervous system, accompanies neurodegeneration and a spectrum of motor and cognitive dysfunctions. Currently available therapies against Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies are mostly symptomatic and fail to slow the disease progression in the long term. Modification of α-synuclein (αS) aggregation and toxicity of its pathogenic forms is one of the main goals in neuroprotective approach. Since the discovery of lipid component of Lewy bodies, fatty acids became a crucial, yet little explored target for research. MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids) are substrates for lipids, such as phospholipids, triglycerides and cholesteryl esters. They regulate membrane fluidity, take part in signal transduction, cellular differentiation and other fundamental processes. αS and MUFA interactions are essential for Lewy body pathology. αS increases levels of MUFAs, mainly oleic acid, which in turn can enhance αS toxicity and aggregation. Thus, reduction of MUFAs synthesis by inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity could be the new way to prevent aggravation of αS pathology. Due to the limited distribution in peripheral tissues, SCD5 is a potential target in novel therapies and therefore could be an important starting point in search for disease-modifying neuroprotective therapy. Here we summarize facts about physiology and pathology of αS, explain recently discovered lipid-αS interactions, review SCD function and involved mechanisms, present available SCD inhibitors and discuss their pharmacological potential in disease management. Modulation of MUFA synthesis, decreasing αS and lipid toxicity is clearly essential, but unexplored avenue in pharmacotherapy of Parkinson's disease and synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kula
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna St., 31-343 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Z Kuter
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smetna St., 31-343 Krakow, Poland.
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8
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Santos J, Pallarès I, Ventura S. A glimpse into the structural properties of α-synuclein oligomers. Biofactors 2024; 50:439-449. [PMID: 38063360 DOI: 10.1002/biof.2021] [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: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (αS) aggregation is the main neurological hallmark of a group of debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, collectively referred to as synucleinopathies, of which Parkinson's disease is the most prevalent. αS oligomers formed during the initial stages of aggregation are considered key pathogenic drivers of disease onset and progression, standing as privileged targets for therapeutic intervention and diagnosis. However, the structure of αS oligomers and the mechanistic basis of oligomer to fibril conversion are yet poorly understood, thereby precluding the rational formulation of strategies aimed at targeting oligomeric species. In this review, we delve into the recent advances in the structural and mechanistic characterization of αS oligomers. We also discuss how these advances are transforming our understanding of these elusive species and paving the way for oligomer-targeting therapeutics and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Santos
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irantzu Pallarès
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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9
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Fu B, Brock EE, Andrews R, Breiter JC, Tian R, Toomey CE, Lachica J, Lashley T, Ryten M, Wood NW, Vendruscolo M, Gandhi S, Weiss LE, Beckwith JS, Lee SF. RASP: Optimal Single Puncta Detection in Complex Cellular Backgrounds. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:3585-3597. [PMID: 38593280 PMCID: PMC11033865 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00174] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Super-resolution and single-molecule microscopies have been increasingly applied to complex biological systems. A major challenge of these approaches is that fluorescent puncta must be detected in the low signal, high noise, heterogeneous background environments of cells and tissue. We present RASP, Radiality Analysis of Single Puncta, a bioimaging-segmentation method that solves this problem. RASP removes false-positive puncta that other analysis methods detect and detects features over a broad range of spatial scales: from single proteins to complex cell phenotypes. RASP outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in precision and speed using image gradients to separate Gaussian-shaped objects from the background. We demonstrate RASP's power by showing that it can extract spatial correlations between microglia, neurons, and α-synuclein oligomers in the human brain. This sensitive, computationally efficient approach enables fluorescent puncta and cellular features to be distinguished in cellular and tissue environments, with sensitivity down to the level of the single protein. Python and MATLAB codes, enabling users to perform this RASP analysis on their own data, are provided as Supporting Information and links to third-party repositories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Fu
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield
Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
| | - Emma E. Brock
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield
Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
| | - Rebecca Andrews
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield
Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
| | - Jonathan C. Breiter
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield
Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Ru Tian
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield
Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Christina E. Toomey
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
- The
Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of
Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL
Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, U.K.
- Department
of Neurodegenerative Diseases, UCL Queen
Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, U.K.
| | - Joanne Lachica
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
- The
Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of
Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL
Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, U.K.
- The
Francis Crick Institute, King’s Cross, London NW1 1AT, U.K.
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
- The
Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of
Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL
Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, U.K.
- Department
of Neurodegenerative Diseases, UCL Queen
Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, U.K.
| | - Mina Ryten
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
- Great
Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
- UK
Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, U.K.
- Department
of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SP, U.K.
| | - Nicholas W. Wood
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
- Department
of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, U.K.
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Sonia Gandhi
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
- Department
of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, U.K.
- The
Francis Crick Institute, King’s Cross, London NW1 1AT, U.K.
| | - Lucien E. Weiss
- Department of Engineering Physics, Polytechnique
Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Joseph S. Beckwith
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield
Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
| | - Steven F. Lee
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield
Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Aligning
Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, United States
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10
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Li Q, Ding X, Chang Z, Fan X, Pan J, Yang Y, Li X, Jiang W, Fan K. Metal-Organic Framework Based Nanozyme System for NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Neuroinflammatory Regulation in Parkinson's Disease. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303454. [PMID: 38031989 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is associated with a series of pathological symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), including α-synuclein aggregation and dopaminergic neuronal death. The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a crucial role in neuroinflammation at the lesion site and is a promising target for PD treatment. In this study, a nanoscale metal-organic framework (Zr-FeP MOF) based nanozyme is fabricated using Fe-5,10,15,20-tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (Fe-TCPP) and Zr6 cluster as ligands. The Zr-FeP MOF is subsequently encapsulated with mannitol (Man)-liposome, resulting in the formation of Zr-FeP MOF@Man liposome (MOF@Man Liposome) nanozyme system. The in vitro studies show that this nanozyme system is effective in relieving the formation of NLRP3 inflammasome and mitochondrial dysfunction. In mouse models of PD, the nanozyme system demonstrates a significant blood-brain barrier-crossing capability attributed to the Man-mediated brain targeting. Additionally, transcriptomic and biochemical studies show that the nanozyme system effectively inhibits the formation and assembly of inflammasome components, mitigating the activation of glial cells and neuroinflammatory response, and ultimately regulating the pathological symptoms of PD effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Li
- The Application Center for Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Xin Ding
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Zhaohui Chang
- The Application Center for Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Xiaowan Fan
- Nanozyme Medical Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jiangpeng Pan
- Nanozyme Medical Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Nanozyme Medical Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Xin Li
- The Application Center for Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- The Application Center for Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
- Nanozyme Medical Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Kelong Fan
- Nanozyme Medical Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Nanozyme, Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
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11
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Liang X, Andrikopoulos N, Tang H, Wang Y, Ding F, Ke PC. Nanoplastic Stimulates the Amyloidogenesis of Parkinson's Alpha-Synuclein NACore. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308753. [PMID: 37988678 PMCID: PMC10994764 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Environmental plastic wastes are potential health hazards due to their prevalence as well as their versatility in initiating physical, chemical, and biological interactions and transformations. Indeed, recent research has implicated the adverse effects of micro- and nano-plastics, including their neurotoxicity, yet how plastic particulates may impact the aggregation pathway and toxicity of amyloid proteins pertinent to the pathologies of neurological diseases remains unknown. Here, electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) is employed to reveal the polymorphic oligomerization of NACore, a surrogate of alpha-synuclein that is associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. These data indicate that the production rate and population of the NACore oligomers are modulated by their exposure to a polystyrene nanoplastic, and these cellular assays further reveal an elevated NACore toxicity in microglial cells elicited by the nanoplastic. These simulations confirm that the nanoplastic-NACore association is promoted by their hydrophobic interactions. These findings are corroborated by an impairment in zebrafish hatching, survival, and development in vivo upon their embryonic exposure to the nanoplastic. Together, this study has uncovered the dynamics and mechanism of amyloidogenesis elevated by a nanoplastic trigger, shedding a new light on the neurological burden of plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufang Liang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Nanomedicine Center, The Great Bay Area National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, 136 Kaiyuan Avenue, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Nicholas Andrikopoulos
- Nanomedicine Center, The Great Bay Area National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, 136 Kaiyuan Avenue, Guangzhou, 510700, China
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Huayuan Tang
- College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing, 211100, China
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Yue Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Guangzhou International Campus, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Nanomedicine Center, The Great Bay Area National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, 136 Kaiyuan Avenue, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Pu Chun Ke
- Nanomedicine Center, The Great Bay Area National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, 136 Kaiyuan Avenue, Guangzhou, 510700, China
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
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12
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Kon T, Lee S, Martinez-Valbuena I, Yoshida K, Tanikawa S, Lang AE, Kovacs GG. Molecular Behavior of α-Synuclein Is Associated with Membrane Transport, Lipid Metabolism, and Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathways in Lewy Body Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2676. [PMID: 38473923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Lewy body diseases (LBDs) feature α-synuclein (α-syn)-containing Lewy bodies, with misfolded α-syn potentially propagating as seeds. Using a seeding amplification assay, we previously reported distinct α-syn seeding in LBD cases based on the area under seeding curves. This study revealed that LBD cases showing different α-syn seeding kinetics have distinct proteomics profiles, emphasizing disruptions in mitochondria and lipid metabolism in high-seeder cases. Though the mechanisms underlying LBD development are intricate, the factors influencing α-syn seeding activity remain elusive. To address this and complement our previous findings, we conducted targeted transcriptome analyses in the substantia nigra using the nanoString nCounter assay together with histopathological evaluations in high (n = 4) and low (n = 3) nigral α-syn seeders. Neuropathological findings (particularly the substantia nigra) were consistent between these groups and were characterized by neocortical LBD associated with Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change. Among the 1811 genes assessed, we identified the top 20 upregulated and downregulated genes and pathways in α-syn high seeders compared with low seeders. Notably, alterations were observed in genes and pathways related to transmembrane transporters, lipid metabolism, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the high α-syn seeders. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the molecular behavior of α-syn is the driving force in the neurodegenerative process affecting the substantia nigra through these identified pathways. These insights highlight their potential as therapeutic targets for attenuating LBD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan
| | - Seojin Lee
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Koji Yoshida
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tanikawa
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
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13
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Hegde M, Vasquez V, Kodavati M, Mitra J, Vendula I, Hamilton D, Garruto R, Rao KS. Mitochondria-Targeted Oligomeric α-Synuclein Induces TOM40 Degradation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism-Dementia of Guam. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3970470. [PMID: 38464024 PMCID: PMC10925433 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3970470/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a central aspect of Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study investigates the link between α-Synuclein (α-Syn) pathology and the loss of translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane 40 (TOM40), unraveling its implications for mitochondrial dysfunctions in neurons. We discovered that TOM40 protein depletion occurs in the brains of patients with Guam Parkinsonism Dementia (Guam PD) and cultured neurons expressing α-Syn proteinopathy, notably, without corresponding changes in TOM40 mRNA levels. Cultured neurons expressing α-Syn mutants, with or without a mitochondria-targeting signal (MTS) underscore the role of α-Syn's mitochondrial localization in inducing TOM40 degradation. Parkinson's Disease related etiological factors, such as 6-hydroxy dopamine or ROS/metal ions stress, which promote α-Syn oligomerization, exacerbate TOM40 depletion in PD patient-derived cells with SNCA gene triplication. Although α-Syn interacts with both TOM40 and TOM20 in the outer mitochondrial membrane, degradation is selective for TOM40, which occurs via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) pathway. Our comprehensive analyses using Seahorse technology, mitochondrial DNA sequencing, and damage assessments, demonstrate that mutant α-Syn-induced TOM40 loss results in mitochondrial dysfunction, characterized by reduced membrane potential, accumulation of mtDNA damage, deletion/insertion mutations, and altered oxygen consumption rates. Notably, ectopic supplementation of TOM40 or reducing pathological forms of α-Syn using ADP-ribosylation inhibitors ameliorate these mitochondrial defects, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues. In conclusion, our findings provide crucial mechanistic insights into how α-Syn accumulation leads to TOM40 degradation and mitochondrial dysfunction, offering insights for targeted interventions to alleviate mitochondrial defects in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Joy Mitra
- Houston Methodist Research Institute
| | | | - Dale Hamilton
- Center for Bioenergetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute
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14
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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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15
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Röntgen A, Toprakcioglu Z, Tomkins JE, Vendruscolo M. Modulation of α-synuclein in vitro aggregation kinetics by its alternative splice isoforms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2313465121. [PMID: 38324572 PMCID: PMC10873642 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2313465121] [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: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The misfolding and aggregation of α-synuclein is linked to a family of neurodegenerative disorders known as synucleinopathies, the most prominent of which is Parkinson's disease (PD). Understanding the aggregation process of α-synuclein from a mechanistic point of view is thus of key importance. SNCA, the gene encoding α-synuclein, comprises six exons and produces various isoforms through alternative splicing. The most abundant isoform is expressed as a 140-amino acid protein (αSyn-140), while three other isoforms, αSyn-126, αSyn-112, and αSyn-98, are generated by skipping exon 3, exon 5, or both exons, respectively. In this study, we performed a detailed biophysical characterization of the aggregation of these four isoforms. We found that αSyn-112 and αSyn-98 exhibit accelerated aggregation kinetics compared to αSyn-140 and form distinct aggregate morphologies, as observed by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, we observed that the presence of relatively small amounts of αSyn-112 accelerates the aggregation of αSyn-140, significantly reducing the aggregation half-time. These results indicate a potential role of alternative splicing in the pathological aggregation of α-synuclein and provide insights into how this process could be associated with the development of synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Röntgen
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf HamiedDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Zenon Toprakcioglu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf HamiedDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - James E. Tomkins
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf HamiedDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD20815
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf HamiedDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD20815
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16
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Fertan E, Böken D, Murray A, Danial JSH, Lam JYL, Wu Y, Goh PA, Alić I, Cheetham MR, Lobanova E, Zhang YP, Nižetić D, Klenerman D. Cerebral organoids with chromosome 21 trisomy secrete Alzheimer's disease-related soluble aggregates detectable by single-molecule-fluorescence and super-resolution microscopy. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:369-386. [PMID: 38102482 PMCID: PMC11116105 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02333-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the role of small, soluble aggregates of beta-amyloid (Aβ) and tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is of great importance for the rational design of preventative therapies. Here we report a set of methods for the detection, quantification, and characterisation of soluble aggregates in conditioned media of cerebral organoids derived from human iPSCs with trisomy 21, thus containing an extra copy of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. We detected soluble beta-amyloid (Aβ) and tau aggregates secreted by cerebral organoids from both control and the isogenic trisomy 21 (T21) genotype. We developed a novel method to normalise measurements to the number of live neurons within organoid-conditioned media based on glucose consumption. Thus normalised, T21 organoids produced 2.5-fold more Aβ aggregates with a higher proportion of larger (300-2000 nm2) and more fibrillary-shaped aggregates than controls, along with 1.3-fold more soluble phosphorylated tau (pTau) aggregates, increased inflammasome ASC-specks, and a higher level of oxidative stress inducing thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). Importantly, all this was detectable prior to the appearance of histological amyloid plaques or intraneuronal tau-pathology in organoid slices, demonstrating the feasibility to model the initial pathogenic mechanisms for AD in-vitro using cells from live genetically pre-disposed donors before the onset of clinical disease. Then, using different iPSC clones generated from the same donor at different times in two independent experiments, we tested the reproducibility of findings in organoids. While there were differences in rates of disease progression between the experiments, the disease mechanisms were conserved. Overall, our results show that it is possible to non-invasively follow the development of pathology in organoid models of AD over time, by monitoring changes in the aggregates and proteins in the conditioned media, and open possibilities to study the time-course of the key pathogenic processes taking place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Fertan
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Dorothea Böken
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Aoife Murray
- The Blizard Institute, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - John S H Danial
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Jeff Y L Lam
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Yunzhao Wu
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Pollyanna A Goh
- The Blizard Institute, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Ivan Alić
- The Blizard Institute, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Matthew R Cheetham
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Evgeniia Lobanova
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Yu P Zhang
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Dean Nižetić
- The Blizard Institute, Barts & The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Klenerman
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK.
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17
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Aubrey LD, Ninkina N, Ulamec SM, Abramycheva NY, Vasili E, Devine OM, Wilkinson M, Mackinnon E, Limorenko G, Walko M, Muwanga S, Amadio L, Peters OM, Illarioshkin SN, Outeiro TF, Ranson NA, Brockwell DJ, Buchman VL, Radford SE. Substitution of Met-38 to Ile in γ-synuclein found in two patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis induces aggregation into amyloid. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2309700120. [PMID: 38170745 PMCID: PMC10786281 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309700120] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
α-, β-, and γ-Synuclein are intrinsically disordered proteins implicated in physiological processes in the nervous system of vertebrates. α-synuclein (αSyn) is the amyloidogenic protein associated with Parkinson's disease and certain other neurodegenerative disorders. Intensive research has focused on the mechanisms that cause αSyn to form amyloid structures, identifying its NAC region as being necessary and sufficient for amyloid assembly. Recent work has shown that a 7-residue sequence (P1) is necessary for αSyn amyloid formation. Although γ-synuclein (γSyn) is 55% identical in sequence to αSyn and its pathological deposits are also observed in association with neurodegenerative conditions, γSyn is resilient to amyloid formation in vitro. Here, we report a rare single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the SNCG gene encoding γSyn, found in two patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The SNP results in the substitution of Met38 with Ile in the P1 region of the protein. These individuals also had a second, common and nonpathological, SNP in SNCG resulting in the substitution of Glu110 with Val. In vitro studies demonstrate that the Ile38 variant accelerates amyloid fibril assembly. Contrastingly, Val110 retards fibril assembly and mitigates the effect of Ile38. Substitution of residue 38 with Leu had little effect, while Val retards, and Ala increases the rate of amyloid formation. Ile38 γSyn also results in the formation of γSyn-containing inclusions in cells. The results show how a single point substitution can enhance amyloid formation of γSyn and highlight the P1 region in driving amyloid formation in another synuclein family member.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam D. Aubrey
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Ninkina
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod308015, Russian Federation
| | - Sabine M. Ulamec
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Y. Abramycheva
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Tissue Engineering, Brain Science Institute, Research Center of Neurology, Moscow125367, Russia
| | - Eftychia Vasili
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, LausanneCH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Oliver M. Devine
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Wilkinson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Eilish Mackinnon
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Galina Limorenko
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, LausanneCH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Martin Walko
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Muwanga
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Leonardo Amadio
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Owen M. Peters
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Sergey N. Illarioshkin
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Tissue Engineering, Brain Science Institute, Research Center of Neurology, Moscow125367, Russia
| | - Tiago F. Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen37075, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen37075, Germany
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon TyneNE2 4HH, United Kingdom
- Scientific employee with a honorary contract at Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Göttingen37075, Germany
| | - Neil A. Ranson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Brockwell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Vladimir L. Buchman
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AX, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod308015, Russian Federation
| | - Sheena E. Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom
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18
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Yang ZX, Zhang Y, Wang Q, Zhang L, Liu YF, Zhang Y, Ren Y, Zhou C, Gao HW, Zhang NX, Feng LY. Addition of α-synuclein aggregates to the intestinal environment recapitulates Parkinsonian symptoms in model systems. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:36-51. [PMID: 37684382 PMCID: PMC10770087 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-023-01150-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut-brain axis plays a vital role in Parkinson's disease (PD). The mechanisms of gut-brain transmission mainly focus on α-synuclein deposition, intestinal inflammation and microbiota function. A few studies have shown the trigger of PD pathology in the gut. α-Synuclein is highly conserved in food products, which was able to form β-folded aggregates and to infect the intestinal mucosa. In this study we investigated whether α-synuclein-preformed fibril (PFF) exposure could modulate the intestinal environment and induce rodent models replicating PD pathology. We first showed that PFF could be internalized into co-cultured Caco-2/HT29/Raji b cells in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PFF perfusion caused the intestinal inflammation and activation of enteric glial cells in an ex vivo intestinal organ culture and in an in vivo intestinal mouse coloclysis model. Moreover, we found that PFF exposure through regular coloclysis induced PD pathology in wild-type (WT) and A53T α-synuclein transgenic mice with various phenotypes. Particularly in A53T mice, PFF induced significant behavioral disorders, intestinal inflammation, α-synuclein deposition, microbiota dysbiosis, glial activation as well as degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. In WT mice, however, the PFF induced only mild behavioral abnormalities, intestinal inflammation, α-synuclein deposition, and glial activation, without significant changes in microbiota and dopaminergic neurons. Our results reveal the possibility of α-synuclein aggregates binding to the intestinal mucosa and modeling PD in mice. This study may shed light on the investigation and early intervention of the gut-origin hypothesis in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Xian Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Center for Neurological and Psychiatric Research and Drug Discovery (CNPRDD), Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Center for Neurological and Psychiatric Research and Drug Discovery (CNPRDD), Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong, 264117, China.
| | - Qing Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Center for Neurological and Psychiatric Research and Drug Discovery (CNPRDD), Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Center for Neurological and Psychiatric Research and Drug Discovery (CNPRDD), Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yi-Fei Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Center for Neurological and Psychiatric Research and Drug Discovery (CNPRDD), Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Center for Neurological and Psychiatric Research and Drug Discovery (CNPRDD), Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu Ren
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Center for Neurological and Psychiatric Research and Drug Discovery (CNPRDD), Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Chen Zhou
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hui-Wen Gao
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong, 264117, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Nai-Xia Zhang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Analytical Research Center for Organic and Biological Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Lin-Yin Feng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Center for Neurological and Psychiatric Research and Drug Discovery (CNPRDD), Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China.
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19
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Saramowicz K, Siwecka N, Galita G, Kucharska-Lusina A, Rozpędek-Kamińska W, Majsterek I. Alpha-Synuclein Contribution to Neuronal and Glial Damage in Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:360. [PMID: 38203531 PMCID: PMC10778752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the widespread accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) protein aggregates. αSyn aggregation disrupts critical cellular processes, including synaptic function, mitochondrial integrity, and proteostasis, which culminate in neuronal cell death. Importantly, αSyn pathology extends beyond neurons-it also encompasses spreading throughout the neuronal environment and internalization by microglia and astrocytes. Once internalized, glia can act as neuroprotective scavengers, which limit the spread of αSyn. However, they can also become reactive, thereby contributing to neuroinflammation and the progression of PD. Recent advances in αSyn research have enabled the molecular diagnosis of PD and accelerated the development of targeted therapies. Nevertheless, despite more than two decades of research, the cellular function, aggregation mechanisms, and induction of cellular damage by αSyn remain incompletely understood. Unraveling the interplay between αSyn, neurons, and glia may provide insights into disease initiation and progression, which may bring us closer to exploring new effective therapeutic strategies. Herein, we provide an overview of recent studies emphasizing the multifaceted nature of αSyn and its impact on both neuron and glial cell damage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ireneusz Majsterek
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (K.S.); (N.S.); (G.G.); (A.K.-L.); (W.R.-K.)
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20
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Rusakov K, Demianiuk S, Jalonicka E, Hanczyc P. Cavity Lasing Characteristics of Thioflavin T and Thioflavin X in Different Solvents and Their Interaction with DNA for the Controlled Reduction of a Light Amplification Threshold in Solid-State Biofilms. ACS APPLIED OPTICAL MATERIALS 2023; 1:1922-1929. [PMID: 38149104 PMCID: PMC10749465 DOI: 10.1021/acsaom.3c00264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The lasing characteristics of Thioflavin T (ThT) and Thioflavin X (ThX) dyes were investigated in solvents with increasing viscosity: water, ethanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol and three forms of DNA (double-helix natural, fragmented, and aggregated). The results identified that lasing thresholds and photostability depend on three critical factors: the solvation shell surrounding dye molecules, the organization of their dipole moments, which is driven by the DNA structure, and the molecules diffusion coefficient in the excitation focal spot. The research highlights that dye doped to DNA accumulated in binding sites fosters long-range dye orientation, facilitating a marked reduction of lasing thresholds in the liquid phase as well as amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) thresholds in the solid state. Leveraging insights from lasing characteristics obtained in liquid, ASE in the solid state was optimized in a controlled way by changing the parameters influencing the DNA structure, i.e., magnesium salt addition, heating, and sonication. The modifications led to a large decrease in the ASE thresholds in the dye-doped DNA films. It was shown that the examination of lasing in cavities can be useful for preparing optical materials with improved architectures and functionalities for solid-state lasers.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Rusakov
- Institute
of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty
of Construction and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - S. Demianiuk
- Institute
of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - E. Jalonicka
- Institute
of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - P. Hanczyc
- Institute
of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
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21
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Forloni G. Oligomers and Neurodegeneration: New Evidence. Aging Dis 2023; 14:1977-1980. [PMID: 37199592 PMCID: PMC10676779 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0327] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last few months new results in Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) have converged, attracting attention to oligomer species of misfolded proteins, β-amyloid (Aβ and α-synuclein (α-Syn), in the pathogenesis. The high affinity for Aβ protofibrils and oligomers of lecanemab, an antibody recently approved as a disease-modifying drug in AD, and the identification of Aβ-oligomers in blood samples as early biomarkers in subjects with cognitive decline, indicate the oligomers as a therapeutic target and diagnostic tool in AD. α-Syn oligomers were identified by new histopathological techniques in the hippocampus and visual cortex of PD subjects with a distribution distinct from the Lewy body pathologies but associated with cognitive impairment; these species purified from PD brain were highly neurotoxic. In a PD experimental model, we confirmed the presence of α-Syn oligomers associated with cognitive decline and sensitive to drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluigi Forloni
- Neuroscience Department, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
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22
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Sandler S, Horne RI, Rocchetti S, Novak R, Hsu NS, Castellana Cruz M, Faidon Brotzakis Z, Gregory RC, Chia S, Bernardes GJL, Keyser UF, Vendruscolo M. Multiplexed Digital Characterization of Misfolded Protein Oligomers via Solid-State Nanopores. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:25776-25788. [PMID: 37972287 PMCID: PMC10690769 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c09335] [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: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Misfolded protein oligomers are of central importance in both the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. However, accurate high-throughput methods to detect and quantify oligomer populations are still needed. We present here a single-molecule approach for the detection and quantification of oligomeric species. The approach is based on the use of solid-state nanopores and multiplexed DNA barcoding to identify and characterize oligomers from multiple samples. We study α-synuclein oligomers in the presence of several small-molecule inhibitors of α-synuclein aggregation as an illustration of the potential applicability of this method to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic methods for Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah
E. Sandler
- Cavendish
Laboratory, Maxwell Centre, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K.
| | - Robert I. Horne
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Sara Rocchetti
- Cavendish
Laboratory, Maxwell Centre, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K.
| | - Robert Novak
- Cavendish
Laboratory, Maxwell Centre, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K.
| | - Nai-Shu Hsu
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Marta Castellana Cruz
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Z. Faidon Brotzakis
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Rebecca C. Gregory
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Sean Chia
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
- Bioprocessing
Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research
(A*STAR), Singapore 138668
| | - Gonçalo J. L. Bernardes
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Ulrich F. Keyser
- Cavendish
Laboratory, Maxwell Centre, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K.
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
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23
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Liu Y, Wang X, Campolo G, Teng X, Ying L, Edel JB, Ivanov AP. Single-Molecule Detection of α-Synuclein Oligomers in Parkinson's Disease Patients Using Nanopores. ACS NANO 2023; 17:22999-23009. [PMID: 37947369 PMCID: PMC10690843 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is an intrinsically disordered protein whose aggregation in the brain has been significantly implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). Beyond the brain, oligomers of α-Synuclein are also found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood, where the analysis of these aggregates may provide diagnostic routes and enable a better understanding of disease mechanisms. However, detecting α-Syn in CSF and blood is challenging due to its heterogeneous protein size and shape, and low abundance in clinical samples. Nanopore technology offers a promising route for the detection of single proteins in solution; however, the method often lacks the necessary selectivity in complex biofluids, where multiple background biomolecules are present. We address these limitations by developing a strategy that combines nanopore-based sensing with molecular carriers that can specifically capture α-Syn oligomers with sizes of less than 20 nm. We demonstrate that α-Synuclein oligomers can be detected directly in clinical samples, with minimal sample processing, by their ion current characteristics and successfully utilize this technology to differentiate cohorts of PD patients from healthy controls. The measurements indicate that detecting α-Syn oligomers present in CSF may potentially provide valuable insights into the progression and monitoring of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxian Liu
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, United
Kingdom
| | - Xiaoyi Wang
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, United
Kingdom
| | - Giulia Campolo
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, United
Kingdom
| | - Xiangyu Teng
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, United
Kingdom
| | - Liming Ying
- National
Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College
London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua B. Edel
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, United
Kingdom
| | - Aleksandar P. Ivanov
- Department
of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular
Sciences Research Hub, London W12 0BZ, United
Kingdom
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24
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Zhang YP, Lobanova E, Emin D, Lobanov SV, Kouli A, Williams-Gray CH, Klenerman D. Imaging Protein Aggregates in Parkinson's Disease Serum Using Aptamer-Assisted Single-Molecule Pull-Down. Anal Chem 2023; 95:15254-15263. [PMID: 37782556 PMCID: PMC10585954 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02515] [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: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
The formation of soluble α-synuclein (α-syn) and amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates is associated with the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Current methods mainly focus on the measurement of the aggregate concentration and are unable to determine their heterogeneous size and shape, which potentially also change during the development of PD due to increased protein aggregation. In this work, we introduce aptamer-assisted single-molecule pull-down (APSiMPull) combined with super-resolution fluorescence imaging of α-syn and Aβ aggregates in human serum from early PD patients and age-matched controls. Our diffraction-limited imaging results indicate that the proportion of α-syn aggregates (α-syn/(α-syn+Aβ)) can be used to distinguish PD and control groups with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85. Further, super resolution fluorescence imaging reveals that PD serums have a higher portion of larger and rounder α-syn aggregates than controls. Little difference was observed for Aβ aggregates. Combining these two metrics, we constructed a new biomarker and achieved an AUC of 0.90. The combination of the aggregate number and morphology provides a new approach to early PD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu P. Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- UK
Dementia Research Institute at Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Evgeniia Lobanova
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- UK
Dementia Research Institute at Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Derya Emin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- UK
Dementia Research Institute at Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Sergey V. Lobanov
- Medical
Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom
| | - Antonina Kouli
- Department
of Clinical Neurosciences, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0PY, United Kingdom
| | | | - David Klenerman
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- UK
Dementia Research Institute at Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
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25
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Lauritsen J, Romero-Ramos M. The systemic immune response in Parkinson's disease: focus on the peripheral immune component. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:863-878. [PMID: 37598092 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
During Parkinson's disease (PD), both the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) are affected. In parallel, innate immune cells respond early to neuronal changes and alpha-synuclein (α-syn) pathology. Moreover, some of the affected neuronal groups innervate organs with a relevant role in immunity. Consequently, not only microglia, but also peripheral immune cells are altered, resulting in a systemic immune response. Innate and adaptive immune cells may participate in the neurodegenerative process by acting peripherally, infiltrating the brain, or releasing mediators that can protect or harm neurons. However, the sequence of the changes and the significance of each immune compartment in the disease remain to be clarified. In this review, we describe current understanding of the peripheral immune response in PD and discuss the road ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanne Lauritsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Health Faculty & Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Marina Romero-Ramos
- Department of Biomedicine, Health Faculty & Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience - DANDRITE, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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26
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Mekonnen G, Djaja N, Yuan X, Myong S. Advanced imaging techniques for studying protein phase separation in living cells and at single-molecule level. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 76:102371. [PMID: 37523989 PMCID: PMC10528199 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions are essential for cell function and survival. These interactions facilitate the formation of ribonucleoprotein complexes and biomolecular condensates via phase separation. Such assembly is involved in transcription, splicing, translation and stress response. When dysregulated, proteins and RNA can undergo irreversible aggregation which can be cytotoxic and pathogenic. Despite technical advances in investigating biomolecular condensates, achieving the necessary spatiotemporal resolution to deduce the parameters that govern their assembly and behavior has been challenging. Many laboratories have applied advanced microscopy methods for imaging condensates. For example, single molecule imaging methods have enabled the detection of RNA-protein interaction, protein-protein interaction, protein conformational dynamics, and diffusional motion of molecules that report on the intrinsic molecular interactions underlying liquid-liquid phase separation. This review will outline advances in both microscopy and spectroscopy techniques which allow single molecule detection and imaging, and how these techniques can be used to probe unique aspects of biomolecular condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemechu Mekonnen
- Program in Cellular Molecular Developmental Biology and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Nathalie Djaja
- Program in Cellular Molecular Developmental Biology and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Xincheng Yuan
- Program in Cellular Molecular Developmental Biology and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Program in Cellular Molecular Developmental Biology and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA; Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
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27
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Ito N, Tsuji M, Adachi N, Nakamura S, Sarkar AK, Ikenaka K, Aguirre C, Kimura AM, Kiuchi Y, Mochizuki H, Teplow DB, Ono K. Extracellular high molecular weight α-synuclein oligomers induce cell death by disrupting the plasma membrane. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:139. [PMID: 37770475 PMCID: PMC10539356 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00583-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (αS), the causative protein of Parkinson's disease and other α-synucleinopathies, aggregates from a low molecular weight form (LMW-αS) to a high molecular weight αS oligomer (HMW-αSo). Aggregated αS accumulates intracellularly, induces intrinsic apoptosis, is released extracellularly, and appears to propagate disease through prion-like spreading. Whether extracellular αS aggregates are cytotoxic, damage cell wall, or induce cell death is unclear. We investigated cytotoxicity and cell death caused by HMW-αSo or LMW-αS. Extracellular HMW-αSo was more cytotoxic than LMW-αS and was a crucial factor for inducing plasma membrane damage and cell death. HMW-αSo induced reactive oxygen species production and phospholipid peroxidation in the membrane, thereby impairing calcium homeostasis and disrupting plasma membrane integrity. HMW-αSo also induced extrinsic apoptosis and cell death by activating acidic sphingomyelinase. Thus, as extracellular HMW-αSo causes neuronal injury and death via cellular transmission and direct plasma membrane damage, we propose an additional disease progression pathway for α-synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naohito Ito
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Neurology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, 142-8666, Japan
| | - Mayumi Tsuji
- Pharmacological Research Center, Showa University, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan.
| | - Naoki Adachi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan
| | - Shiro Nakamura
- Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan
| | - Avijite Kumer Sarkar
- Department of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229-3026, USA
| | - Kensuke Ikenaka
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - César Aguirre
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Atsushi Michael Kimura
- Brain Research Institute Center for Integrated Human Brain Science, Department of Functional Neurology and Neurosurgery, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8122, Japan
| | - Yuji Kiuchi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan
- Pharmacological Research Center, Showa University, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan
| | - Hideki Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - David B Teplow
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, LA, 10833, USA
| | - Kenjiro Ono
- Department of Neurology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan.
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28
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Kamski-Hennekam ER, Huang J, Ahmed R, Melacini G. Toward a molecular mechanism for the interaction of ATP with alpha-synuclein. Chem Sci 2023; 14:9933-9942. [PMID: 37736631 PMCID: PMC10510630 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03612j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) to modulate protein solubility establishes a critical link between ATP homeostasis and proteinopathies, such as Parkinson's (PD). The most significant risk factor for PD is aging, and ATP levels decline dramatically with age. However, the mechanism by which ATP interacts with alpha-synuclein (αS), whose aggregation is characteristic of PD, is currently not fully understood, as is ATP's effect on αS aggregation. Here, we use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as fluorescence, dynamic light scattering and microscopy to show that ATP affects multiple species in the αS self-association cascade. The triphosphate moiety of ATP disrupts long-range electrostatic intramolecular contacts in αS monomers to enhance initial aggregation, while also inhibiting the formation of late-stage β-sheet fibrils by disrupting monomer-fibril interactions. These effects are modulated by magnesium ions and early onset PD-related αS mutations, suggesting that loss of the ATP hydrotropic function on αS fibrillization may play a role in PD etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jinfeng Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4M1 Canada
| | - Rashik Ahmed
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4M1 Canada
| | - Giuseppe Melacini
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4M1 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4M1 Canada
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29
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Taneva SG, Todinova S, Andreeva T. Morphometric and Nanomechanical Screening of Peripheral Blood Cells with Atomic Force Microscopy for Label-Free Assessment of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14296. [PMID: 37762599 PMCID: PMC10531602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814296] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are complex, multifactorial disorders with significant social and economic impact in today's society. NDDs are predicted to become the second-most common cause of death in the next few decades due to an increase in life expectancy but also to a lack of early diagnosis and mainly symptomatic treatment. Despite recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic methods, there are yet no reliable biomarkers identifying the complex pathways contributing to these pathologies. The development of new approaches for early diagnosis and new therapies, together with the identification of non-invasive and more cost-effective diagnostic biomarkers, is one of the main trends in NDD biomedical research. Here we summarize data on peripheral biomarkers, biofluids (cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma), and peripheral blood cells (platelets (PLTs) and red blood cells (RBCs)), reported so far for the three most common NDDs-Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). PLTs and RBCs, beyond their primary physiological functions, are increasingly recognized as valuable sources of biomarkers for NDDs. Special attention is given to the morphological and nanomechanical signatures of PLTs and RBCs as biophysical markers for the three pathologies. Modifications of the surface nanostructure and morphometric and nanomechanical signatures of PLTs and RBCs from patients with AD, PD, and ALS have been revealed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM is currently experiencing rapid and widespread adoption in biomedicine and clinical medicine, in particular for early diagnostics of various medical conditions. AFM is a unique instrument without an analog, allowing the generation of three-dimensional cell images with extremely high spatial resolution at near-atomic scale, which are complemented by insights into the mechanical properties of cells and subcellular structures. Data demonstrate that AFM can distinguish between the three pathologies and the normal, healthy state. The specific PLT and RBC signatures can serve as biomarkers in combination with the currently used diagnostic tools. We highlight the strong correlation of the morphological and nanomechanical signatures between RBCs and PLTs in PD, ALS, and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefka G. Taneva
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, “Acad. G. Bontchev” Str. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.T.); (T.A.)
| | - Svetla Todinova
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, “Acad. G. Bontchev” Str. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.T.); (T.A.)
| | - Tonya Andreeva
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, “Acad. G. Bontchev” Str. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; (S.T.); (T.A.)
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Reutlingen University, Alteburgstraße 150, D-72762 Reutlingen, Germany
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30
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Oliveri V. Unveiling the Effects of Copper Ions in the Aggregation of Amyloidogenic Proteins. Molecules 2023; 28:6446. [PMID: 37764220 PMCID: PMC10537474 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28186446] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid diseases have become a global concern due to their increasing prevalence. Transition metals, including copper, can affect the aggregation of the pathological proteins involved in these diseases. Copper ions play vital roles in organisms, but the disruption of their homeostasis can negatively impact neuronal function and contribute to amyloid diseases with toxic protein aggregates, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired cellular signaling, inflammation, and cell death. Gaining insight into the imbalance of copper ions and its impact on protein folding and aggregation is crucial for developing focused therapies. This review examines the influence of copper ions on significant amyloid proteins/peptides, offering a comprehensive overview of the current understanding in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Oliveri
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Catania, Viale A Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
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31
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Fila M, Pawlowska E, Szczepanska J, Blasiak J. Autophagy may protect the brain against prolonged consequences of headache attacks: A narrative/hypothesis review. Headache 2023; 63:1154-1166. [PMID: 37638395 DOI: 10.1111/head.14625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the potential of autophagy in migraine pathogenesis. BACKGROUND The interplay between neurons and microglial cells is important in migraine pathogenesis. Migraine-related effects, such as cortical spreading depolarization and release of calcitonin gene-related peptide, may initiate adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-mediating pro-nociceptive signaling in the meninges causing headaches. Such signaling may be induced by the interaction of ATP with purinergic receptor P2X 7 (P2X7R) on microglial cells leading to a Ca2+ -mediated pH increase in lysosomes and release of autolysosome-like vehicles from microglial cells indicating autophagy impairment. METHODS A search in PubMed was conducted with the use of the terms "migraine," "autophagy," "microglia," and "degradation" in different combinations. RESULTS Impaired autophagy in microglia may activate secretory autophagy and release of specific proteins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which can be also released through the pores induced by P2X7R activation in microglial cells. BDNF may be likewise released from microglial cells upon ATP- and Ca2+ -mediated activation of another purinergic receptor, P2X4R. BDNF released from microglia might induce autophagy in neurons to clear cellular debris produced by oxidative stress, which is induced in the brain as the response to migraine-related energy deficit. Therefore, migraine-related signaling may impair degradative autophagy, stimulate secretory autophagy in microglia, and degradative autophagy in neurons. These effects are mediated by purinergic receptors P2X4R and P2X7R, BDNF, ATP, and Ca2+ . CONCLUSION Different effects of migraine-related events on degradative autophagy in microglia and neurons may prevent prolonged changes in the brain related to headache attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Fila
- Department of Developmental Neurology and Epileptology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute, Lodz, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Pawlowska
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Joanna Szczepanska
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Janusz Blasiak
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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32
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Saraiva MA, Florêncio MH. Initial Effect of Temperature Rise on α-Synuclein Aggregation - Entropic Forces Drive the Exposure of Protein Hydrophobic Groups Probed by Fluorescence Spectroscopy. J Fluoresc 2023; 33:1727-1738. [PMID: 36826732 PMCID: PMC10539466 DOI: 10.1007/s10895-023-03192-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
The aberrant formation of α-synuclein (Syn) aggregates, varying in size, structure and morphology, has been linked to the development of Parkinson's disease. In the early stages of Syn aggregation, large protein amyloid aggregates with sizes > 100 nm in hydrodynamic radius have been noticed. These low overall abundant large Syn aggregates are notoriously difficult to study by conventional biophysical methods. Due to the growing importance of studying the early stages of Syn aggregation, we developed a strategy to achieve this purpose, which is the study of the initial effect of the Syn protein aqueous solutions temperature rise. Therefore, the increase of the Syn aqueous solutions entropy by the initial effect of the temperature rise led to the exposure of the protein hydrophobic tyrosyl groups by not interfering with this amyloid protein aggregation. As an attempt to interpret the degree of the referred protein tyrosyl groups exposure, the classic rotameric conformations of the Nα-acetyl-L-tyrosinamide (NAYA) parent compound were used. For both NAYA and Syn, it was determined that the classic rotameric conformations involving the tyrosyl groups indeed accounted for their exposure under steady-state conditions of fluorescence, for lowest molecular species concentrations investigated at least. In this situation, Syn aggregation was observed. For the higher NAYA and Syn concentrations studied, the referred classic rotameric conformation were insufficient in such referred steady-state conditions and, for Syn, in particular, fluorescence anisotropy measurements revealed that less protein aggregation occurs along with its delay. Overall, the developed strategy by focusing on the initial effect of the temperature rise of Syn aqueous solutions in lower concentrations is suitable for informing us about the degree of this protein aggregation in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A Saraiva
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Av. Rovisco Pais, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Campus Alameda, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - M Helena Florêncio
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Laboratório de FTICR e Espectrometria de Massa Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, University of Lisbon, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
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33
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Ogata M, Onoda T, Wakamatsu T. In situ characterization of the agglutination of lectins via cross-linking of carbohydrates by time-resolved measurement of forward static light scattering. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2023; 87:1036-1044. [PMID: 37348468 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbad082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
We present real-time observations of a structurally variable process for cross-linking agglutination between multivalent lectins and glycoclusters using a small-angle forward static light scattering (F-SLS) technique. In this study, a cross-linking agglutination reaction was carried out using a tetravalent Neu5Acα2,6LacNAc-glycocluster and Sambucus sieboldiana agglutinin (SSA). The scattering intensity of time-resolved F-SLS increased with formation of the Neu5Acα2,6LacNAc-glycocluster-SSA cross-linked complex. Using this approach, fine sequential cross-linking agglutination between glycoclusters and lectins was observed in real-time. The rate of increase in the intensity of time-resolved F-SLS increased with the concentration of sialo-glycoclusters and SSA. Structural analysis based on the fractal dimension using time-resolved F-SLS patterns revealed that the density of the aggregates changed with progression of the cross-linking reaction until equilibrium was reached. This is the first report to evaluate the cross-linking agglutination reaction between glycoclusters and lectins and analysis of the subsequent structure of the obtained aggregates using time-resolved measurements of F-SLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Ogata
- Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fukushima University, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima city, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, 30 Nagao, Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Takashi Onoda
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, 30 Nagao, Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Takashi Wakamatsu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic System Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, 30 Nagao, Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Industrial Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Ibaraki College, 866 Nakane, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan
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Dimou E, Katsinelos T, Meisl G, Tuck BJ, Keeling S, Smith AE, Hidari E, Lam JYL, Burke M, Lövestam S, Ranasinghe RT, McEwan WA, Klenerman D. Super-resolution imaging unveils the self-replication of tau aggregates upon seeding. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112725. [PMID: 37393617 PMCID: PMC7614924 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau is a soluble protein interacting with tubulin to stabilize microtubules. However, under pathological conditions, it becomes hyperphosphorylated and aggregates, a process that can be induced by treating cells with exogenously added tau fibrils. Here, we employ single-molecule localization microscopy to resolve the aggregate species formed in early stages of seeded tau aggregation. We report that entry of sufficient tau assemblies into the cytosol induces the self-replication of small tau aggregates, with a doubling time of 5 h inside HEK cells and 1 day in murine primary neurons, which then grow into fibrils. Seeding occurs in the vicinity of the microtubule cytoskeleton, is accelerated by the proteasome, and results in release of small assemblies into the media. In the absence of seeding, cells still spontaneously form small aggregates at lower levels. Overall, our work provides a quantitative picture of the early stages of templated seeded tau aggregation in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Dimou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK.
| | - Taxiarchis Katsinelos
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK; MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Georg Meisl
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Benjamin J Tuck
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Sophie Keeling
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Annabel E Smith
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Eric Hidari
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Jeff Y L Lam
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Melanie Burke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Sofia Lövestam
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Rohan T Ranasinghe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - William A McEwan
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - David Klenerman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK.
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Tholen MME, Tas RP, Wang Y, Albertazzi L. Beyond DNA: new probes for PAINT super-resolution microscopy. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:8332-8342. [PMID: 37306078 PMCID: PMC10318573 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc00757j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade, point accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography (PAINT) has emerged as a versatile tool for single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). Currently, DNA-PAINT is the most widely used, in which a transient stochastically binding DNA docking-imaging pair is used to reconstruct specific characteristics of biological or synthetic materials on a single-molecule level. Slowly, the need for PAINT probes that are not dependent on DNA has emerged. These probes can be based on (i) endogenous interactions, (ii) engineered binders, (iii) fusion proteins, or (iv) synthetic molecules and provide complementary applications for SMLM. Therefore, researchers have been expanding the PAINT toolbox with new probes. In this review, we provide an overview of the currently existing probes that go beyond DNA and their applications and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marrit M E Tholen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Roderick P Tas
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Laboratory of Self-Organizing Soft Matter, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5612 AP, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Yuyang Wang
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Lorenzo Albertazzi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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36
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Xia Z, Wu Y, Lam JYL, Zhang Z, Burke M, Fertan E, Ranasinghe RT, Hidari E, Danial JS, Klenerman D. A computational suite for the structural and functional characterization of amyloid aggregates. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100499. [PMID: 37426747 PMCID: PMC10326375 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
We developed the aggregate characterization toolkit (ACT), a fully automated computational suite based on existing and widely used core algorithms to measure the number, size, and permeabilizing activity of recombinant and human-derived aggregates imaged with diffraction-limited and super-resolution microscopy methods at high throughput. We have validated ACT on simulated ground-truth images of aggregates mimicking those from diffraction-limited and super-resolution microscopies and showcased its use in characterizing protein aggregates from Alzheimer's disease. ACT is developed for high-throughput batch processing of images collected from multiple samples and is available as an open-source code. Given its accuracy, speed, and accessibility, ACT is expected to be a fundamental tool in studying human and non-human amyloid intermediates, developing early disease stage diagnostics, and screening for antibodies that bind toxic and heterogeneous human amyloid aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengjie Xia
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Yunzhao Wu
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Jeff Yui Long Lam
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Ziwei Zhang
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Melanie Burke
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Emre Fertan
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Rohan T. Ranasinghe
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Eric Hidari
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - John S.H. Danial
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
| | - David Klenerman
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK
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37
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Lee J, Sung KW, Bae EJ, Yoon D, Kim D, Lee JS, Park DH, Park DY, Mun SR, Kwon SC, Kim HY, Min JO, Lee SJ, Suh YH, Kwon YT. Targeted degradation of ⍺-synuclein aggregates in Parkinson's disease using the AUTOTAC technology. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:41. [PMID: 37355598 PMCID: PMC10290391 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00630-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are currently no disease-modifying therapeutics for Parkinson's disease (PD). Although extensive efforts were undertaken to develop therapeutic approaches to delay the symptoms of PD, untreated α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates cause cellular toxicity and stimulate further disease progression. PROTAC (Proteolysis-Targeting Chimera) has drawn attention as a therapeutic modality to target α-syn. However, no PROTACs have yet shown to selectively degrade α-syn aggregates mainly owing to the limited capacity of the proteasome to degrade aggregates, necessitating the development of novel approaches to fundamentally eliminate α-syn aggregates. METHODS We employed AUTOTAC (Autophagy-Targeting Chimera), a macroautophagy-based targeted protein degradation (TPD) platform developed in our earlier studies. A series of AUTOTAC chemicals was synthesized as chimeras that bind both α-syn aggregates and p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1, an autophagic receptor. The efficacy of Autotacs was evaluated to target α-syn aggregates to phagophores and subsequently lysosomes for hydrolysis via p62-dependent macroautophagy. The target engagement was monitored by oligomerization and localization of p62 and autophagic markers. The therapeutic efficacy to rescue PD symptoms was characterized in cultured cells and mice. The PK/PD (pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics) profiles were investigated to develop an oral drug for PD. RESULTS ATC161 induced selective degradation of α-syn aggregates at DC50 of ~ 100 nM. No apparent degradation was observed with monomeric α-syn. ATC161 mediated the targeting of α-syn aggregates to p62 by binding the ZZ domain and accelerating p62 self-polymerization. These p62-cargo complexes were delivered to autophagic membranes for lysosomal degradation. In PD cellular models, ATC161 exhibited therapeutic efficacy to reduce cell-to-cell transmission of α-syn and to rescue cells from the damages in DNA and mitochondria. In PD mice established by injecting α-syn preformed fibrils (PFFs) into brain striata via stereotaxic surgery, oral administration of ATC161 at 10 mg/kg induced the degradation of α-syn aggregates and reduced their propagation. ATC161 also mitigated the associated glial inflammatory response and improved muscle strength and locomotive activity. CONCLUSION AUTOTAC provides a platform to develop drugs for PD. ATC161, an oral drug with excellent PK/PD profiles, induces selective degradation of α-syn aggregates in vitro and in vivo. We suggest that ATC161 is a disease-modifying drug that degrades the pathogenic cause of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon Lee
- Cellular Degradation Biology Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- AUTOTAC Bio Inc., Changkyunggung-Ro 254, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03077, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Woon Sung
- Cellular Degradation Biology Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- AUTOTAC Bio Inc., Changkyunggung-Ro 254, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03077, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Jin Bae
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Dabin Yoon
- AUTOTAC Bio Inc., Changkyunggung-Ro 254, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03077, Republic of Korea
- Department of Physical Education, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Dasarang Kim
- AUTOTAC Bio Inc., Changkyunggung-Ro 254, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03077, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Saem Lee
- AUTOTAC Bio Inc., Changkyunggung-Ro 254, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03077, Republic of Korea
| | - Da-Ha Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Daniel Youngjae Park
- Cellular Degradation Biology Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Ran Mun
- Cellular Degradation Biology Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Chul Kwon
- Cellular Degradation Biology Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Yeon Kim
- Cellular Degradation Biology Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo-Ok Min
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Jae Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Neuramedy Co. Ltd, Seoul, 04796, Republic of Korea
- Convergence Research Center for Dementia, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Ho Suh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Neuroscience Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong Tae Kwon
- Cellular Degradation Biology Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- AUTOTAC Bio Inc., Changkyunggung-Ro 254, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03077, Republic of Korea.
- Convergence Research Center for Dementia, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
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Awasthi S, Ying C, Li J, Mayer M. Simultaneous Determination of the Size and Shape of Single α-Synuclein Oligomers in Solution. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37327131 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c01393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Soluble oligomers of amyloid-forming proteins are implicated as toxic species in the context of several neurodegenerative diseases. Since the size and shape of these oligomers influence their toxicity, their biophysical characterization is essential for a better understanding of the structure-toxicity relationship. Amyloid oligomers are difficult to characterize by conventional approaches due to their heterogeneity in size and shape, their dynamic aggregation process, and their low abundance. This work demonstrates that resistive pulse measurements using polymer-coated solid-state nanopores enable single-particle-level characterization of the size and shape of individual αSyn oligomers in solution within minutes. A comparison of the resulting size distribution with single-particle analysis by transmission electron microscopy and mass photometry reveals good agreement with superior resolution by nanopore-based characterization. Moreover, nanopore-based analysis has the capability to combine rapid size analysis with an approximation of the oligomer shape. Applying this shape approximation to putatively toxic oligomeric species that range in size from 18 ± 7 aggregated monomers (10S) to 29 ± 10 aggregated monomers (15S) and in concentration from picomolar to nanomolar revealed oligomer shapes that agree well with previous estimates by cryo-EM with the added advantage that nanopore-based analysis occurs rapidly, in solution, and has the potential to become a widely accessible technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Awasthi
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Cuifeng Ying
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Jiali Li
- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
| | - Michael Mayer
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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Xu H, Ding X, Li L, Li Q, Li Z, Lin H. Tri-element nanozyme PtCuSe as an ingenious cascade catalytic machine for the amelioration of Parkinson's disease-like symptoms. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1208693. [PMID: 37324436 PMCID: PMC10266212 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1208693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD), as the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's, has become intractable with the increasing aging global population. The exploration of nanomedicine has broadened the opportunities for developing novel neuroprotective therapies. In particular, polymetallic functional nanomaterials have been widely used in the biomedicine field in recent years, exhibiting flexible and diversified functions and controllable properties. In this study, a tri-element nanozyme (PtCuSe nanozyme) has been developed with desirable CAT- and SOD-like activities for the cascade scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In particular, the nanozyme is suitable for relieving nerve cell damage by removing reactive oxygen species in cells and mitigating the behavioral and pathological symptoms in animal models of Parkinson's disease. Therefore, this ingenious tri-element nanozyme may have potential in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongdang Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Peoples Hospital of Henan University, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xin Ding
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lingrui Li
- The Application Center for Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qing Li
- The Application Center for Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zhiye Li
- The Application Center for Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hongqi Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Peoples Hospital of Henan University, Central China Fuwai Hospital, Central China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Starr LA, McKay LE, Peter KN, Seyfarth LM, Berkowitz LA, Caldwell KA, Caldwell GA. Attenuation of Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in a C. elegans Parkinson's Model through Regulation of Xanthine Dehydrogenase (XDH-1) Expression by the RNA Editase, ADR-2. J Dev Biol 2023; 11:jdb11020020. [PMID: 37218814 DOI: 10.3390/jdb11020020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Differential RNA editing by adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs) has been implicated in several neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we report results of a RNAi screen of genes differentially regulated in adr-2 mutants, normally encoding the only catalytically active ADAR in Caenorhabditis elegans, ADR-2. Subsequent analysis of candidate genes that alter the misfolding of human α-synuclein (α-syn) and dopaminergic neurodegeneration, two PD pathologies, reveal that reduced expression of xdh-1, the ortholog of human xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), is protective against α-synuclein-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Further, RNAi experiments show that WHT-2, the worm ortholog of the human ABCG2 transporter and a predicted interactor of XDH-1, is the rate-limiting factor in the ADR-2, XDH-1, WHT-2 system for dopaminergic neuroprotection. In silico structural modeling of WHT-2 indicates that the editing of one nucleotide in the wht-2 mRNA leads to the substitution of threonine with alanine at residue 124 in the WHT-2 protein, changing hydrogen bonds in this region. Thus, we propose a model where wht-2 is edited by ADR-2, which promotes optimal export of uric acid, a known substrate of WHT-2 and a product of XDH-1 activity. In the absence of editing, uric acid export is limited, provoking a reduction in xdh-1 transcription to limit uric acid production and maintain cellular homeostasis. As a result, elevation of uric acid is protective against dopaminergic neuronal cell death. In turn, increased levels of uric acid are associated with a decrease in ROS production. Further, downregulation of xdh-1 is protective against PD pathologies because decreased levels of XDH-1 correlate to a concomitant reduction in xanthine oxidase (XO), the form of the protein whose by-product is superoxide anion. These data indicate that modifying specific targets of RNA editing may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Starr
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Convergent Biomedicine, Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Luke E McKay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Convergent Biomedicine, Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Kylie N Peter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Convergent Biomedicine, Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Lena M Seyfarth
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Convergent Biomedicine, Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Laura A Berkowitz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Convergent Biomedicine, Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Kim A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Convergent Biomedicine, Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center of Excellence for the Basic Biology of Aging, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Guy A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Convergent Biomedicine, Alabama Life Research Institute, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Nathan Shock Center of Excellence for the Basic Biology of Aging, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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García-Revilla J, Boza-Serrano A, Jin Y, Vadukul DM, Soldán-Hidalgo J, Camprubí-Ferrer L, García-Cruzado M, Martinsson I, Klementieva O, Ruiz R, Aprile FA, Deierborg T, Venero JL. Galectin-3 shapes toxic alpha-synuclein strains in Parkinson's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2023:10.1007/s00401-023-02585-x. [PMID: 37202527 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02585-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative and progressive disorder characterised by intracytoplasmic inclusions called Lewy bodies (LB) and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Aggregated α-synuclein (αSYN) is known to be the main component of the LB. It has also been reported to interact with several proteins and organelles. Galectin-3 (GAL3) is known to have a detrimental function in neurodegenerative diseases. It is a galactose-binding protein without known catalytic activity and is expressed mainly by activated microglial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). GAL3 has been previously found in the outer layer of the LB in post-mortem brains. However, the role of GAL3 in PD is yet to be elucidated. In post-mortem samples, we identified an association between GAL3 and LB in all the PD subjects studied. GAL3 was linked to less αSYN in the LB outer layer and other αSYN deposits, including pale bodies. GAL3 was also associated with disrupted lysosomes. In vitro studies demonstrate that exogenous recombinant Gal3 is internalised by neuronal cell lines and primary neurons where it interacts with endogenous αSyn fibrils. In addition, aggregation experiments show that Gal3 affects spatial propagation and the stability of pre-formed αSyn fibrils resulting in short, amorphous toxic strains. To further investigate these observations in vivo, we take advantage of WT and Gal3KO mice subjected to intranigral injection of adenovirus overexpressing human αSyn as a PD model. In line with our in vitro studies, under these conditions, genetic deletion of GAL3 leads to increased intracellular αSyn accumulation within dopaminergic neurons and remarkably preserved dopaminergic integrity and motor function. Overall, our data suggest a prominent role for GAL3 in the aggregation process of αSYN and LB formation, leading to the production of short species to the detriment of larger strains which triggers neuronal degeneration in a mouse model of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan García-Revilla
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
- Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC B11, 221 84, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Antonio Boza-Serrano
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Yiyun Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Devkee M Vadukul
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Jesús Soldán-Hidalgo
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Lluís Camprubí-Ferrer
- Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC B11, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marta García-Cruzado
- Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC B11, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Isak Martinsson
- Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC B11, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oxana Klementieva
- Medical Microspecroscopy Lab, Department of Experimental Medical Science, SRA: NanoLund, Multipark, Lund University, BMC B10, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Rocío Ruiz
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Francesco A Aprile
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Tomas Deierborg
- Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC B11, 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - José Luis Venero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
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42
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Duan C, Wang R. Electrostatics-Induced Nucleated Conformational Transition of Protein Aggregation. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:158401. [PMID: 37115902 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.158401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite the wide existence of protein aggregation in nature and its intimate connection to many human diseases, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we develop a molecular theory by systematically incorporating the self-consistent field theory for charged macromolecules into the dilute solution thermodynamics. The kinetic pathway is tracked without any restriction on the morphology of the aggregates. We find that protein aggregation at low salt concentrations is via a two-step nucleated process involving a conformational transition from metastable spherical oligomer to elongated fibril. The scaling analysis elucidates the electrostatic origin of the conformational transition: the fibril enters the screening region much earlier than the spherical aggregate. As salt concentration increases, the classical mode of one-step nucleation corresponding to macroscopic liquid-liquid phase separation is recovered. Our results reveal that the screened electrostatic interaction is essential for the existence of the metastable oligomer and its subsequent conformational transition to fibril. The theoretical predictions of the kinetic pathway and the morphology of the aggregates are in good agreement with the experimental observations of real proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Duan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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Braga SS. Molecular Mind Games: The Medicinal Action of Cyclodextrins in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040666. [PMID: 37189413 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclodextrins are often used as molecular carriers for small active ingredients in medicine. Recently, the intrinsic medicinal activity of some of these compounds has been under investigation, mainly related to their ability to interfere with cholesterol and, therefore, prevent and treat cholesterol-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and neuronal diseases arising from altered cholesterol and lipid metabolism. One of the most promising compounds within the cyclodextrin family is 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD), owing to its superior biocompatibility profile. This work presents the most recent advances in the research and clinical use of HPβCD against Niemann-Pick disease, a congenital condition involving cholesterol accumulation inside lysosomes in brain cells, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. HPβCD plays a complex role in each of these ailments, going beyond the mere sequestering of cholesterol molecules and involving an overall regulation of protein expression that helps restore the normal functioning of the organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Santos Braga
- LAQV-REQUIMTE (Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry), Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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44
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Forloni G. Alpha Synuclein: Neurodegeneration and Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065914. [PMID: 36982988 PMCID: PMC10059798 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-Synuclein (α-Syn) is one of the most important molecules involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and related disorders, synucleinopathies, but also in several other neurodegenerative disorders with a more elusive role. This review analyzes the activities of α-Syn, in different conformational states, monomeric, oligomeric and fibrils, in relation to neuronal dysfunction. The neuronal damage induced by α-Syn in various conformers will be analyzed in relation to its capacity to spread the intracellular aggregation seeds with a prion-like mechanism. In view of the prominent role of inflammation in virtually all neurodegenerative disorders, the activity of α-Syn will also be illustrated considering its influence on glial reactivity. We and others have described the interaction between general inflammation and cerebral dysfunctional activity of α-Syn. Differences in microglia and astrocyte activation have also been observed when in vivo the presence of α-Syn oligomers has been combined with a lasting peripheral inflammatory effect. The reactivity of microglia was amplified, while astrocytes were damaged by the double stimulus, opening new perspectives for the control of inflammation in synucleinopathies. Starting from our studies in experimental models, we extended the perspective to find useful pointers to orient future research and potential therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluigi Forloni
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milano, Italy
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45
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Horne RI, Murtada MH, Huo D, Brotzakis ZF, Gregory RC, Possenti A, Chia S, Vendruscolo M. Exploration and Exploitation Approaches Based on Generative Machine Learning to Identify Potent Small Molecule Inhibitors of α-Synuclein Secondary Nucleation. J Chem Theory Comput 2023. [PMID: 36939645 PMCID: PMC10373478 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c01303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
The high attrition rate in drug discovery pipelines is an especially pressing issue for Parkinson's disease, for which no disease-modifying drugs have yet been approved. Numerous clinical trials targeting α-synuclein aggregation have failed, at least in part due to the challenges in identifying potent compounds in preclinical investigations. To address this problem, we present a machine learning approach that combines generative modeling and reinforcement learning to identify small molecules that perturb the kinetics of aggregation in a manner that reduces the production of oligomeric species. Training data were obtained by an assay reporting on the degree of inhibition of secondary nucleation, which is the most important mechanism of α-synuclein oligomer production. This approach resulted in the identification of small molecules with high potency against secondary nucleation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert I Horne
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Mhd Hussein Murtada
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Donghui Huo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom.,College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Z Faidon Brotzakis
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca C Gregory
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Possenti
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Chia
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom.,Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138668, Singapore
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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Ferrari E, Salvadè M, Zianni E, Brumana M, DiLuca M, Gardoni F. Detrimental effects of soluble α-synuclein oligomers at excitatory glutamatergic synapses. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1152065. [PMID: 37009450 PMCID: PMC10060538 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1152065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionOligomeric and fibrillar species of the synaptic protein α-synuclein are established key players in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies. Increasing evidence in the literature points to prefibrillar oligomers as the main cytotoxic species driving dysfunction in diverse neurotransmitter systems even at early disease stages. Of note, soluble oligomers have recently been shown to alter synaptic plasticity mechanisms at the glutamatergic cortico-striatal synapse. However, the molecular and morphological detrimental events triggered by soluble α-synuclein aggregates that ultimately lead to excitatory synaptic failure remain mostly elusive.MethodsIn the present study, we aimed to clarify the effects of soluble α-synuclein oligomers (sOligo) in the pathophysiology of synucleinopathies at cortico-striatal and hippocampal excitatory synapses. To investigate early defects of the striatal synapse in vivo, sOligo were inoculated in the dorsolateral striatum of 2-month-old wild-type C57BL/6J mice, and molecular and morphological analyses were conducted 42 and 84 days post-injection. In parallel, primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons were exposed to sOligo, and molecular and morphological analyses were performed after 7 days of treatment.ResultsIn vivo sOligo injection impaired the post-synaptic retention of striatal ionotropic glutamate receptors and decreased the levels of phosphorylated ERK at 84 days post-injection. These events were not correlated with morphological alterations at dendritic spines. Conversely, chronic in vitro administration of sOligo caused a significant decrease in ERK phosphorylation but did not significantly alter post-synaptic levels of ionotropic glutamate receptors or spine density in primary hippocampal neurons.ConclusionOverall, our data indicate that sOligo are involved in pathogenic molecular changes at the striatal glutamatergic synapse, confirming the detrimental effect of these species in an in vivo synucleinopathy model. Moreover, sOligo affects the ERK signaling pathway similarly in hippocampal and striatal neurons, possibly representing an early mechanism that anticipates synaptic loss.
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Muschol M, Hoyer W. Amyloid oligomers as on-pathway precursors or off-pathway competitors of fibrils. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1120416. [PMID: 36845541 PMCID: PMC9947291 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1120416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid Diseases involve the growth of disease specific proteins into amyloid fibrils and their deposition in protein plaques. Amyloid fibril formation is typically preceded by oligomeric intermediates. Despite significant efforts, the specific role fibrils or oligomers play in the etiology of any given amyloid disease remains controversial. In neurodegenerative disease, though, amyloid oligomers are widely considered critical contributors to disease symptoms. Aside from oligomers as inevitable on-pathway precursors of fibril formation, there is significant evidence for off-pathway oligomer formation competing with fibril growth. The distinct mechanisms and pathways of oligomer formation directly affect our understanding under which conditions oligomers emerge in vivo, and whether their formation is directly coupled to, or distinct from, amyloid fibril formation. In this review, we will discuss the basic energy landscapes underlying the formation of on-pathway vs. off-pathway oligomers, their relation to the related amyloid aggregation kinetics, and their resulting implications for disease etiology. We will review evidence on how differences in the local environment of amyloid assembly can dramatically shift the relative preponderance of oligomers vs. fibrils. Finally, we will comment on gaps in our knowledge of oligomer assembly, of their structure, and on how to assess their relevance to disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Muschol
- Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States,*Correspondence: Martin Muschol, ; Wolfgang Hoyer,
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany,Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7) and JuStruct, Jülich Center for Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany,*Correspondence: Martin Muschol, ; Wolfgang Hoyer,
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48
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Hong W, Liu W, Desousa AO, Young-Pearse T, Walsh DM. Methods for the isolation and analysis of Aβ from postmortem brain. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1108715. [PMID: 36777642 PMCID: PMC9909698 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1108715] [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: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plays an initiating role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but only a small number of groups have studied Aβ extracted from human brain. Most prior studies have utilized synthetic Aβ peptides, but the relevance of these test tube experiments to the conditions that prevail in AD is uncertain. Here, we describe three distinct methods for studying Aβ from cortical tissue. Each method allows the analysis of different ranges of species thus enabling the examination of different questions. The first method allows the study of readily diffusible Aβ with a relatively high specific activity. The second enables the analysis of readily solubilized forms of Aβ the majority of which are inactive. The third details the isolation of true Aβ dimers which have disease-related activity. We also describe a bioassay to study the effects of Aβ on the neuritic integrity of iPSC-derived human neurons. The combined use of this bioassay and the described extraction procedures provides a platform to investigate the activity of different forms and mixtures of Aβ species, and offers a tractable system to identify strategies to mitigate Aβ mediated neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Hong
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States,The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen Liu
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alexandra O. Desousa
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tracy Young-Pearse
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dominic M. Walsh
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Research, Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States,*Correspondence: Dominic M. Walsh,
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Estaun-Panzano J, Arotcarena ML, Bezard E. Monitoring α-synuclein aggregation. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 176:105966. [PMID: 36527982 PMCID: PMC9875312 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105966] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), are characterized by the misfolding and subsequent aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) that accumulates in cytoplasmic inclusions bodies in the cells of affected brain regions. Since the seminal report of likely-aggregated α-syn presence within the Lewy bodies by Spillantini et al. in 1997, the keyword "synuclein aggregation" has appeared in over 6000 papers (Source: PubMed October 2022). Studying, observing, describing, and quantifying α-syn aggregation is therefore of paramount importance, whether it happens in tubo, in vitro, in post-mortem samples, or in vivo. The past few years have witnessed tremendous progress in understanding aggregation mechanisms and identifying various polymorphs. In this context of growing complexity, it is of utmost importance to understand what tools we possess, what exact information they provide, and in what context they may be applied. Nonetheless, it is also crucial to rationalize the relevance of the information and the limitations of these methods for gauging the final result. In this review, we present the main techniques that have shaped the current views about α-syn structure and dynamics, with particular emphasis on the recent breakthroughs that may change our understanding of synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Erwan Bezard
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France; Motac Neuroscience Ltd, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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50
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Synucleins: New Data on Misfolding, Aggregation and Role in Diseases. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123241. [PMID: 36551997 PMCID: PMC9775291 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The synucleins are a family of natively unfolded (or intrinsically unstructured) proteins consisting of α-, β-, and γ-synuclein involved in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The current number of publications on synucleins has exceeded 16.000. They remain the subject of constant interest for over 35 years. Two reasons explain this unchanging attention: synuclein's association with several severe human diseases and the lack of understanding of the functional roles under normal physiological conditions. We analyzed recent publications to look at the main trends and developments in synuclein research and discuss possible future directions. Traditional areas of peak research interest which still remain high among last year's publications are comparative studies of structural features as well as functional research on of three members of the synuclein family. Another popular research topic in the area is a mechanism of α-synuclein accumulation, aggregation, and fibrillation. Exciting fast-growing area of recent research is α-synuclein and epigenetics. We do not present here a broad and comprehensive review of all directions of studies but summarize only the most significant recent findings relevant to these topics and outline potential future directions.
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