1
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Nguyen HL, Linh HQ, Krupa P, La Penna G, Li MS. Amyloid β Dodecamer Disrupts the Neuronal Membrane More Strongly than the Mature Fibril: Understanding the Role of Oligomers in Neurotoxicity. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:3659-3672. [PMID: 35580354 PMCID: PMC9150093 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c01769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The amyloid cascade
hypothesis states that senile plaques, composed
of amyloid β (Aβ) fibrils, play a key role in Alzheimer’s
disease (AD). However, recent experiments have shown that Aβ
oligomers are more toxic to neurons than highly ordered fibrils. The
molecular mechanism underlying this observation remains largely unknown.
One of the possible scenarios for neurotoxicity is that Aβ peptides
create pores in the lipid membrane that allow Ca2+ ions
to enter cells, resulting in a signal of cell apoptosis. Hence, one
might think that oligomers are more toxic due to their higher ability
to create ion channels than fibrils. In this work, we study the effect
of Aβ42 dodecamer and fibrils on a neuronal membrane, which
is similar to that observed in AD patients, using all-atom molecular
dynamics simulations. Due to short simulation times, we cannot observe
the formation of pores, but useful insight on the early events of
this process has been obtained. Namely, we showed that dodecamer distorts
the lipid membrane to a greater extent than fibrils, which may indicate
that ion channels can be more easily formed in the presence of oligomers.
Based on this result, we anticipate that oligomers are more toxic
than mature fibrils, as observed experimentally. Moreover, the Aβ–membrane
interaction was found to be governed by the repulsive electrostatic
interaction between Aβ and the ganglioside GM1 lipid. We calculated
the bending and compressibility modulus of the membrane in the absence
of Aβ and obtained good agreement with the experiment. We predict
that the dodecamer will increase the compressibility modulus but has
little effect on the bending modulus. Due to the weak interaction
with the membrane, fibrils insignificantly change the membrane elastic
properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Linh Nguyen
- Institute for Computational Science and Technology, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 729110, Vietnam.,Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Ho Chi Minh City 740500, Vietnam.,Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 71300, Vietnam
| | - Huynh Quang Linh
- Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Ho Chi Minh City 740500, Vietnam.,Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 71300, Vietnam
| | - Pawel Krupa
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, Warsaw 02-668, Poland
| | - Giovanni La Penna
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds (ICCOM), Florence 50019, Italy.,National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Section of Roma-Tor Vergata, Rome 00815, Italy
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, Warsaw 02-668, Poland
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2
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Yuan M, Tang X, Han W. Anatomy and Formation Mechanisms of Early Amyloid-β Oligomers with Lateral Branching: Graph Network Analysis on Large-Scale Simulations. Chem Sci 2022; 13:2649-2660. [PMID: 35356670 PMCID: PMC8890322 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06337e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligomeric amyloid-β aggregates (AβOs) effectively trigger Alzheimer's disease-related toxicity, generating great interest in understanding their structures and formation mechanisms. However, AβOs are heterogeneous and transient, making their structure and formation difficult to study. Here, we performed graph network analysis of tens of microsecond massive simulations of early amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregations at near-atomic resolution to characterize AβO structures with sizes up to 20-mers. We found that AβOs exhibit highly curvilinear, irregular shapes with occasional lateral branches, consistent with recent cryo-electron tomography experiments. We also found that Aβ40 oligomers were more likely to develop branches than Aβ42 oligomers, explaining an experimental observation that only Aβ40 was trapped in network-like aggregates and exhibited slower fibrillization kinetics. Moreover, AβO architecture dissection revealed that their curvilinear appearance is related to the local packing geometries of neighboring peptides and that Aβ40's greater branching ability originates from specific C-terminal interactions at branching interfaces. Finally, we demonstrate that whether Aβ oligomerization causes oligomers to elongate or to branch depends on the sizes and shapes of colliding aggregates. Collectively, this study provides bottom-up structural information for understanding early Aβ aggregation and AβO toxicity. Graph network analysis on large-scale simulations uncovers the differential branching behaviours of large Aβ40 and Aβ42 oligomers.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Xuan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Wei Han
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School Shenzhen 518055 China
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3
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Das A. Systematic Search for a Predictor for the Clinical Observables of Alzheimer's Disease. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:12177-12186. [PMID: 34723517 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c06725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
One of the prevailing life-threatening incurable neurodegenerative diseases that are presently endangering human society as a whole, and hence, baffling the entire spectrum of the scientific and pharmaceutical world, is Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a manifestation of self-assembly of both wild-type (sporadic) and mutated (familial) forms of the amyloid-β peptide, a proteolytic product of the amyloid precursor protein, where the self-assembly results in the genesis of pathogenic fibrillar aggregates. Currently prevailing diagnostic and hence therapeutic challenges originate from the unavailability of a specific predictor for clinical observables. The continuous emergence of novel pathogenic mutants with unpredictable phenotypes adds immensely to the nonspecific nature of the problem. The current research reports a simple physical parameter, the binding affinity of a protofilament to its protofibril, which predicts the clinical observables of familial AD with astounding accuracy and more importantly, without any adjustable parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atanu Das
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411 008, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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4
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Boopathi S, Poma AB, Garduño-Juárez R. An Overview of Several Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Disease: Characterization and Failure. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10798. [PMID: 34639140 PMCID: PMC8509255 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomers are the most neurotoxic aggregates causing neuronal death and cognitive damage. A detailed elucidation of the aggregation pathways from oligomers to fibril formation is crucial to develop therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although experimental techniques rely on the measure of time- and space-average properties, they face severe difficulties in the investigation of Aβ peptide aggregation due to their intrinsically disorder character. Computer simulation is a tool that allows tracing the molecular motion of molecules; hence it complements Aβ experiments, as it allows to explore the binding mechanism between metal ions and Aβ oligomers close to the cellular membrane at the atomic resolution. In this context, integrated studies of experiments and computer simulations can assist in mapping the complete pathways of aggregation and toxicity of Aβ peptides. Aβ oligomers are disordered proteins, and due to a rapid exploration of their intrinsic conformational space in real-time, they are challenging therapeutic targets. Therefore, no good drug candidate could have been identified for clinical use. Our previous investigations identified two small molecules, M30 (2-Octahydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-ylethanamine) and Gabapentin, capable of Aβ binding and inhibiting molecular aggregation, synaptotoxicity, intracellular calcium signaling, cellular toxicity and memory losses induced by Aβ. Thus, we recommend these molecules as novel candidates to assist anti-AD drug discovery in the near future. This review discusses the most recent research investigations about the Aβ dynamics in water, close contact with cell membranes, and several therapeutic strategies to remove plaque formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subramanian Boopathi
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico;
| | - Adolfo B. Poma
- Department of Biosystems and Soft Matter, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research Polish Academy of Science, Pawińskiego 5B, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
- International Center for Research on Innovative Biobased Materials (ICRI-BioM)—International Research Agenda, Lodz University of Technology, Zeromskiego 116, 90-924 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Ramón Garduño-Juárez
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca 62210, Mexico;
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5
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Ritacca AG, Ritacco I, Dabbish E, Russo N, Mazzone G, Sicilia E. A Boron-Containing Compound Acting on Multiple Targets Against Alzheimer's Disease. Insights from Ab Initio and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:3397-3410. [PMID: 34253017 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Given the multifactorial nature and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, therapeutic strategies are addressed to combine the benefits of every single-target drug into a sole molecule. Quantum mechanics and molecular dynamics (MD) methods were employed here to investigate the multitarget action of a boron-containing compound against Alzheimer's disease. The antioxidant activity as a radical scavenger and metal chelator was explored by means of density functional theory. The most plausible radical scavenger mechanisms, which are hydrogen transfer, radical adduct formation, and single-electron transfer in aqueous and lipid environments, were fully examined. Metal chelation ability was investigated by considering the complexation of Cu(II) ion, one of the metals that in excess can even catalyze the β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation. The most probable complexes in the physiological environment were identified by considering both the stabilization energy and the shift of the λmax induced by the complexation. The excellent capability to counteract Aβ aggregation was explored by performing MD simulations on protein-ligand adducts, and the activity was compared with that of curcumin, chosen as a reference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra G Ritacca
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Ida Ritacco
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Eslam Dabbish
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Nino Russo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Gloria Mazzone
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Emilia Sicilia
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
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6
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Khatua P, Jana AK, Hansmann UHE. Effect of Lauric Acid on the Stability of Aβ 42 Oligomers. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:5795-5804. [PMID: 33681618 PMCID: PMC7931375 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c06211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
While Alzheimer's disease is correlated with the presence of Aβ fibrils in patient brains, the more likely agents are their precursors, soluble oligomers that may form pores or otherwise distort cell membranes. Using all-atom molecular dynamics simulation, we study how the presence of fatty acids such as lauric acid changes the stability of pore-forming oligomers built from three-stranded Aβ42 chains. Such a change would alter the distribution of amyloids in the fatty acid-rich brain environment and therefore could explain the lower polymorphism observed in Aβ fibrils derived from brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. We find that lauric acid stabilizes both ring-like and barrel-shaped models, with the effect being stronger for barrel-like models than for ring-like oligomers.
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7
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Nguyen H, Linh HQ, Matteini P, La Penna G, Li MS. Emergence of Barrel Motif in Amyloid-β Trimer: A Computational Study. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:10617-10631. [PMID: 33180492 PMCID: PMC7735726 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c05508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides form assemblies that are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Aβ oligomers are soluble, mobile, and toxic forms of the peptide that act in the extracellular space before assembling into protofibrils and fibrils. Therefore, oligomers play an important role in the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease. Since it is difficult to determine by experiment the atomic structures of oligomers, which accumulate fast and are polymorphic, computer simulation is a useful tool to investigate elusive oligomers' structures. In this work, we report extended all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, both canonical and replica exchange, of Aβ(1-42) trimer starting from two different initial conformations: (i) the pose produced by the best docking of a monomer aside of a dimer (simulation 1), representing oligomers freshly formed by assembling monomers, and (ii) a configuration extracted from an experimental mature fibril structure (simulation 2), representing settled oligomers in equilibrium with extended fibrils. We showed that in simulation 1, regions with small β-barrels are populated, indicating the chance of spontaneous formation of domains resembling channel-like structures. These structural domains are alternative to those more representative of mature fibrils (simulation 2), the latter showing a stable bundle of C-termini that is not sampled in simulation 1. Moreover, trimer of Aβ(1-42) can form internal pores that are large enough to be accessed by water molecules and Ca2+ ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoang
Linh Nguyen
- Institute
for Computational Science and Technology, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software
City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Ho
Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Vietnam
National University, Ho Chi Minh
City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Huynh Quang Linh
- Ho
Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Vietnam
National University, Ho Chi Minh
City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Paolo Matteini
- Institute
of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, National Research Council, Via Madonna Del Piano 10, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Giovanni La Penna
- National
Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute
for Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds (ICCOM), 50019 Florence, Italy
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics
(INFN), Section of Roma-Tor
Vergata Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Al. Lotnikow
32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mai Suan Li
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics
(INFN), Section of Roma-Tor
Vergata Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of
Sciences, Al. Lotnikow
32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
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8
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Kaur A, Kaur A, Goyal D, Goyal B. How Does the Mono-Triazole Derivative Modulate Aβ 42 Aggregation and Disrupt a Protofibril Structure: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:15606-15619. [PMID: 32637837 PMCID: PMC7331201 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c01825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Clinical studies have identified that abnormal self-assembly of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide into toxic fibrillar aggregates is associated with the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The most acceptable therapeutic approach to stop the progression of AD is to inhibit the formation of β-sheet-rich structures. Recently, we designed and evaluated a series of novel mono-triazole derivatives 4(a-x), where compound 4v was identified as the most potent inhibitor of Aβ42 aggregation and disaggregates preformed Aβ42 fibrils significantly. Moreover, 4v strongly averts the Cu2+-induced Aβ42 aggregation and disaggregates the preformed Cu2+-induced Aβ42 fibrils, halts the generation of reactive oxygen species, and shows neuroprotective effects in SH-SY5Y cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of inhibition of Aβ42 aggregation by 4v and disaggregation of preformed Aβ42 fibrils remains obscure. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed to explore the conformational ensemble of the Aβ42 monomer and a pentameric protofibril structure of Aβ42 in the presence of 4v. The MD simulations highlighted that 4v binds preferentially at the central hydrophobic core region of the Aβ42 monomer and chains D and E of the Aβ42 protofibril. The dictionary of secondary structure of proteins analysis indicated that 4v retards the conformational conversion of the helix-rich structure of the Aβ42 monomer into the aggregation-prone β-sheet conformation. The binding free energy calculated by the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area method revealed an energetically favorable process with ΔG binding = -44.9 ± 3.3 kcal/mol for the Aβ42 monomer-4v complex. The free energy landscape analysis highlighted that the Aβ42 monomer-4v complex sampled conformations with significantly higher helical contents (35 and 49%) as compared to the Aβ42 monomer alone (17%). Compound 4v displayed hydrogen bonding with Gly37 (chain E) and π-π interactions with Phe19 (chain D) of the Aβ42 protofibril. Further, the per-residue binding free energy analysis also highlighted that Phe19 (chain D) and Gly37 (chain E) of the Aβ42 protofibril showed the maximum contribution in the binding free energy. The decreased binding affinity and residue-residue contacts between chains D and E of the Aβ42 protofibril in the presence of 4v indicate destabilization of the Aβ42 protofibril structure. Overall, the structural information obtained through MD simulations indicated that 4v stabilizes the native helical conformation of the Aβ42 monomer and persuades a destabilization in the protofibril structure of Aβ42. The results of the study will be useful in the rational design of potent inhibitors against amyloid aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandeep Kaur
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib 140406, Punjab, India
| | - Anupamjeet Kaur
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib 140406, Punjab, India
| | - Deepti Goyal
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib 140406, Punjab, India
| | - Bhupesh Goyal
- School
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Thapar
Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala 147004, Punjab, India
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9
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Kaur A, Shuaib S, Goyal D, Goyal B. Interactions of a multifunctional di-triazole derivative with Alzheimer's Aβ42monomer and Aβ42protofibril: a systematic molecular dynamics study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2020; 22:1543-1556. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp04775a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The molecular dynamics simulations results highlighted that the multi-target-directed ligand6nstabilizes the native α-helix conformation of the Aβ42monomer and induces a sizable destabilization in the Aβ42protofibril structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupamjeet Kaur
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences
- Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University
- Fatehgarh Sahib-140406
- India
| | - Suniba Shuaib
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences
- Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University
- Fatehgarh Sahib-140406
- India
| | - Deepti Goyal
- Department of Chemistry
- Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences
- Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University
- Fatehgarh Sahib-140406
- India
| | - Bhupesh Goyal
- School of Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
- Patiala-147004
- India
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10
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Oh JS, Lee S, Glotzer SC, Yi GR, Pine DJ. Colloidal fibers and rings by cooperative assembly. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3936. [PMID: 31477728 PMCID: PMC6718632 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11915-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Janus colloids with one attractive patch on an otherwise repulsive particle surface serve as model systems to explore structure formation of particles with chemically heterogeneous surfaces such as proteins. While there are numerous computer studies, there are few experimental realizations due to a lack of means to produce such colloids with a well-controlled variable Janus balance. Here, we report a simple scalable method to precisely vary the Janus balance over a wide range and selectively functionalize one patch with DNA. We observe, via experiment and simulation, the dynamic formation of diverse superstructures: colloidal micelles, chains, or bilayers, depending on the Janus balance. Flexible dimer chains form through cooperative polymerization while trimer chains form by a two-stage process, first by cooperative polymerization into disordered aggregates followed by condensation into more ordered stiff trimer chains. Introducing substrate binding through depletion catalyzes dimer chains to form nonequilibrium rings that otherwise do not form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Suk Oh
- Center for Soft Matter Research, Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Sharon C Glotzer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. .,Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Gi-Ra Yi
- Center for Soft Matter Research, Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA. .,Department of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - David J Pine
- Center for Soft Matter Research, Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY, 10003, USA. .,Department of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA.
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11
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Xi W, Vanderford EK, Liao Q, Hansmann UHE. Stability of Aβ-fibril fragments in the presence of fatty acids. Protein Sci 2019; 28:1973-1981. [PMID: 31461191 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We consider the effect of lauric acid on the stability of various fibril-like assemblies of Aβ peptides. For this purpose, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations of these assemblies either in complex with lauric acid or without presence of the ligand. While we do not observe a stabilizing effect on Aβ40 -fibrils, we find that addition of lauric acid strengthens the stability of fibrils built from the triple-stranded S-shaped Aβ42 -peptides considered to be more toxic. Or results may help to understand how the specifics of the brain-environment modulate amyloid formation and propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Xi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
| | - Elliott K Vanderford
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
| | - Qinxin Liao
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ulrich H E Hansmann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
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12
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Lee M, Yoon J, Shin S. Computational Study on Structure and Aggregation Pathway of Aβ42 Amyloid Protofibril. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:7859-7868. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b07195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- MinJun Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jeseong Yoon
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Seokmin Shin
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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13
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Nguyen HL, Krupa P, Hai NM, Linh HQ, Li MS. Structure and Physicochemical Properties of the Aβ42 Tetramer: Multiscale Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:7253-7269. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b04208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hoang Linh Nguyen
- Institute for Computational Science and Technology, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software
City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology-VNU HCM, 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Distr. 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Pawel Krupa
- Institute of Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nguyen Minh Hai
- Faculty of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Science-VNU HCM, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Huynh Quang Linh
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology-VNU HCM, 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Distr. 10, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute of Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotników 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
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14
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Grasso G, Rebella M, Morbiducci U, Tuszynski JA, Danani A, Deriu MA. The Role of Structural Polymorphism in Driving the Mechanical Performance of the Alzheimer's Beta Amyloid Fibrils. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:83. [PMID: 31106199 PMCID: PMC6499180 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is related with the abnormal aggregation of amyloid β-peptides Aβ1−40 and Aβ1−42, the latter having a polymorphic character which gives rise to U- or S-shaped fibrils. Elucidating the role played by the nanoscale-material architecture on the amyloid fibril stability is a crucial breakthrough to better understand the pathological nature of amyloid structures and to support the rational design of bio-inspired materials. The computational study here presented highlights the superior mechanical behavior of the S-architecture, characterized by a Young's modulus markedly higher than the U-shaped architecture. The S-architecture showed a higher mechanical resistance to the enforced deformation along the fibril axis, consequence of a better interchain hydrogen bonds' distribution. In conclusion, this study, focusing the attention on the pivotal multiscale relationship between molecular phenomena and material properties, suggests the S-shaped Aβ1−42 species as a target of election in computational screen/design/optimization of effective aggregation modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianvito Grasso
- Istituto Dalle Molle di studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Martina Rebella
- Polito BioMEDLab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Umberto Morbiducci
- Polito BioMEDLab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Jack A Tuszynski
- Polito BioMEDLab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.,Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB, Canada
| | - Andrea Danani
- Istituto Dalle Molle di studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Manno, Switzerland
| | - Marco A Deriu
- Istituto Dalle Molle di studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Manno, Switzerland
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15
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Xi W, Dean DN, Stockmal KA, Morgan SE, Hansmann UHE, Rangachari V. Large fatty acid-derived Aβ42 oligomers form ring-like assemblies. J Chem Phys 2019; 150:075101. [PMID: 30795679 DOI: 10.1063/1.5082659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
As the primary toxic species in the etiology of Alzheimer disease (AD) are low molecular weight oligomers of Aβ, it is crucial to understand the structure of Aβ oligomers for gaining molecular insights into AD pathology. We have earlier demonstrated that in the presence of fatty acids, Aβ42 peptides assemble as 12-24mer oligomers. These Large Fatty Acid-derived Oligomers (LFAOs) exist predominantly as 12mers at low and as 24mers at high concentrations. The 12mers are more neurotoxic than the 24mers and undergo self-replication, while the latter propagate to morphologically distinct fibrils with succinct pathological consequences. In order to glean into their functional differences and similarities, we have determined their structures in greater detail by combining molecular dynamic simulations with biophysical measurements. We conjecture that the LFAO are made of Aβ units in an S-shaped conformation, with the 12mers forming a double-layered hexamer ring (6 × 2) while the structure of 24mers is a double-layered dodecamer ring (12 × 2). A closer inspection of the (6 × 2) and (12 × 2) structures reveals a concentration and pH dependent molecular reorganization in the assembly of 12 to 24mers, which seems to be the underlying mechanism for the observed biophysical and cellular properties of LFAOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Xi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA
| | - Dexter N Dean
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, USA
| | - Kelli A Stockmal
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, USA
| | - Sarah E Morgan
- School of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, USA
| | - Ulrich H E Hansmann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA
| | - Vijayaraghavan Rangachari
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39406, USA
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16
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Recent Advances by In Silico and In Vitro Studies of Amyloid-β 1-42 Fibril Depicted a S-Shape Conformation. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19082415. [PMID: 30115846 PMCID: PMC6121414 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ1-42) peptide is produced by proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by sequential reactions that are catalyzed by γ and β secretases. Aβ1-42, together with the Tau protein are two principal hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that are related to disease genesis and progression. Aβ1-42 possesses a higher aggregation propensity, and it is able to form fibrils via nucleated fibril formation. To date, there are compounds available that prevent Aβ1-42 aggregation, but none have been successful in clinical trials, possibly because the Aβ1-42 structure and aggregation mechanisms are not thoroughly understood. New molecules have been designed, employing knowledge of the Aβ1-42 structure and are based on preventing or breaking the ionic interactions that have been proposed for formation of the Aβ1-42 fibril U-shaped structure. Recently, a new Aβ1-42 fibril S-shaped structure was reported that, together with its aggregation and catalytic properties, could be helpful in the design of new inhibitor molecules. Therefore, in silico and in vitro methods have been employed to analyze the Aβ1-42 fibril S-shaped structure and its aggregation to obtain more accurate Aβ1-42 oligomerization data for the design and evaluation of new molecules that can prevent the fibrillation process.
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17
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Kouza M, Co NT, Li MS, Kmiecik S, Kolinski A, Kloczkowski A, Buhimschi IA. Kinetics and mechanical stability of the fibril state control fibril formation time of polypeptide chains: A computational study. J Chem Phys 2018; 148:215106. [PMID: 29884031 DOI: 10.1063/1.5028575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibril formation resulting from protein misfolding and aggregation is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Despite much progress in the understanding of the protein aggregation process, the factors governing fibril formation rates and fibril stability have not been fully understood. Using lattice models, we have shown that the fibril formation time is controlled by the kinetic stability of the fibril state but not by its energy. Having performed all-atom explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations with the GROMOS43a1 force field for full-length amyloid beta peptides Aβ40 and Aβ42 and truncated peptides, we demonstrated that kinetic stability can be accessed via mechanical stability in such a way that the higher the mechanical stability or the kinetic stability, the faster the fibril formation. This result opens up a new way for predicting fibril formation rates based on mechanical stability that may be easily estimated by steered molecular dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksim Kouza
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nguyen Truong Co
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sebastian Kmiecik
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kolinski
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kloczkowski
- Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine, The Research Nationwide Children's Hospital, 575 Children's Crossroad, Columbus, Ohio 43215, USA
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18
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Grasso G, Rebella M, Muscat S, Morbiducci U, Tuszynski J, Danani A, Deriu MA. Conformational Dynamics and Stability of U-Shaped and S-Shaped Amyloid β Assemblies. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020571. [PMID: 29443891 PMCID: PMC5855793 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is the most fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the aggregation and deposition of Amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers in the brain of patients. Two principal variants of Aβ exist in humans: Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42. The former is the most abundant in the plaques, while the latter is the most toxic species and forms fibrils more rapidly. Interestingly, fibrils of Aβ1–40 peptides can only assume U-shaped conformations while Aβ1–42 can also arrange as S-shaped three-stranded chains, as recently discovered. As alterations in protein conformational arrangement correlate with cell toxicity and speed of disease progression, it is important to characterize, at molecular level, the conformational dynamics of amyloid fibrils. In this work, Replica Exchange Molecular Dynamics simulations were carried out to compare the conformational dynamics of U-shaped and S-shaped Aβ17–42 small fibrils. Our computational results provide support for the stability of the recently proposed S-shaped model due to the maximized interactions involving the C-terminal residues. On the other hand, the U-shaped motif is characterized by significant distortions resulting in a more disordered assembly. Outcomes of our work suggest that the molecular architecture of the protein aggregates might play a pivotal role in formation and conformational stability of the resulting fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianvito Grasso
- Istituto Dalle Molle di Studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale (IDSIA), Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Centro Galleria 2, CH-6928 Manno, Switzerland.
| | - Martina Rebella
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, IT-10128 Torino, Italy.
| | - Stefano Muscat
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, IT-10128 Torino, Italy.
| | - Umberto Morbiducci
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, IT-10128 Torino, Italy.
| | - Jack Tuszynski
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, IT-10128 Torino, Italy.
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada.
| | - Andrea Danani
- Istituto Dalle Molle di Studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale (IDSIA), Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Centro Galleria 2, CH-6928 Manno, Switzerland.
| | - Marco A Deriu
- Istituto Dalle Molle di Studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale (IDSIA), Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Centro Galleria 2, CH-6928 Manno, Switzerland.
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19
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Xi W, Vanderford EK, Hansmann UHE. Out-of-Register Aβ 42 Assemblies as Models for Neurotoxic Oligomers and Fibrils. J Chem Theory Comput 2018; 14:1099-1110. [PMID: 29357242 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.7b01106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We propose a variant of the recently found S-shaped Aβ1-42-motif that is characterized by out-of-register C-terminal β-strands. We show that chains with this structure can form not only fibrils that are compatible with the NMR signals but also barrel-shaped oligomers that resemble the ones formed by the much smaller cylindrin peptides. By running long all-atom molecular dynamics simulations at physiological temperatures with an explicit solvent, we study the stability of these constructs and show that they are plausible models for neurotoxic oligomers. After analyzing the transitions between different assemblies, we suggest a mechanism for amyloid formation in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Xi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma , Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Elliott K Vanderford
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma , Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Ulrich H E Hansmann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma , Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
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