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Pillai M, Jha SK. Conformational Enigma of TDP-43 Misfolding in Neurodegenerative Disorders. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:40286-40297. [PMID: 39372031 PMCID: PMC11447851 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c04119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024]
Abstract
Misfolding and aggregation of the protein remain some of the most common phenomena observed in neurodegeneration. While there exist multiple neurodegenerative disorders characterized by accumulation of distinct proteins, what remains particularly interesting is the ability of these proteins to undergo a conformational change to form aggregates. TDP-43 is one such nucleic acid binding protein whose misfolding is associated with many neurogenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and fronto-temporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). TDP-43 protein assumes several different conformations and oligomeric states under the diseased condition. In this review, we explore the intrinsic relationship between the conformational variability of TDP-43 protein, with a particular focus on the RRM domains, and its propensity to undergo aggregation. We further emphasize the probable mechanism behind the formation of these conformations and suggest a potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in the context of these conformational states of the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Pillai
- Physical
and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National
Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Jha
- Physical
and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National
Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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2
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Song J. Molecular Mechanisms of Phase Separation and Amyloidosis of ALS/FTD-linked FUS and TDP-43. Aging Dis 2024; 15:2084-2112. [PMID: 38029395 PMCID: PMC11346406 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.1118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
FUS and TDP-43, two RNA-binding proteins from the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein family, have gained significant attention in the field of neurodegenerative diseases due to their association with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). They possess folded domains for binding ATP and various nucleic acids including DNA and RNA, as well as substantial intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) including prion-like domains (PLDs) and RG-/RGG-rich regions. They play vital roles in various cellular processes, including transcription, splicing, microRNA maturation, RNA stability and transport and DNA repair. In particular, they are key components for forming ribonucleoprotein granules and stress granules (SGs) through homotypic or heterotypic liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Strikingly, liquid-like droplets formed by FUS and TDP-43 may undergo aging to transform into less dynamic assemblies such as hydrogels, inclusions, and amyloid fibrils, which are the pathological hallmarks of ALS and FTD. This review aims to synthesize and consolidate the biophysical knowledge of the sequences, structures, stability, dynamics, and inter-domain interactions of FUS and TDP-43 domains, so as to shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying their liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and amyloidosis. The review further delves into the mechanisms through which ALS-causing mutants of the well-folded hPFN1 disrupt the dynamics of LLPS of FUS prion-like domain, providing key insights into a potential mechanism for misfolding/aggregation-prone proteins to cause neurodegenerative diseases and aging by gain of functions. With better understanding of different biophysical aspects of FUS and TDP-43, the ultimate goal is to develop drugs targeting LLPS and amyloidosis, which could mediate protein homeostasis within cells and lead to new treatments for currently intractable diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, FTD and aging. However, the study of membrane-less organelles and condensates is still in its infancy and therefore the review also highlights key questions that require future investigation.
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3
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Zarus GM, Ruiz P, Benedict R, Brenner S, Carlson K, Jeong L, Morata TC. Which Environmental Pollutants Are Toxic to Our Ears?-Evidence of the Ototoxicity of Common Substances. TOXICS 2024; 12:650. [PMID: 39330578 PMCID: PMC11435700 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12090650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Ototoxicity refers to the adverse effects of substances on auditory or vestibular functions. This study examines the evidence of ototoxicity's association with exposure to common environmental pollutants, as documented in toxicological profiles by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Our aim was to evaluate whether the evidence supports modifying the charting of ototoxic effects in the summary tables of these toxicological profiles and providing a guide for scientists to access these data. Health outcomes of interest included hearing loss, vestibular effects, cochlear lesions, tonal alterations, cellular damage, and ototoxicity-related outcomes (neurological, nephrotoxic, hepatic, and developmental effects). We obtained ototoxicity information for 62 substances. Hearing-related effects were reported, along with neurological effects. Overall, 26 profiles reported strong evidence of ototoxicity, including 13 substances previously designated as ototoxic by other health and safety agencies. Commonly studied outcomes included hearing loss, damage to ear anatomy, and auditory dysfunction. Vestibular dysfunction and tinnitus are rarely studied. Our findings highlight the lack of conclusive evidence of ototoxic properties for many substances, especially for pesticides and herbicides. This review supports charting the evidence of ototoxicity separately in toxicological profiles' summary tables. Improving the communication of ototoxicity-related health effects might impact their recognition and prompt further research. A stronger evidence base could support improved prevention efforts in terms of serious health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M. Zarus
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Innovation and Analytics, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA; (P.R.); (R.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Patricia Ruiz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Innovation and Analytics, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA; (P.R.); (R.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Rae Benedict
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Innovation and Analytics, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA; (P.R.); (R.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Stephan Brenner
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Office of Innovation and Analytics, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA; (P.R.); (R.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Krystin Carlson
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA; (K.C.); (T.C.M.)
| | - Layna Jeong
- Georgia Tech School of Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA;
| | - Thais C. Morata
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA; (K.C.); (T.C.M.)
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4
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González Díaz A, Cataldi R, Mannini B, Vendruscolo M. Preparation and Characterization of Zn(II)-Stabilized Aβ 42 Oligomers. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2586-2599. [PMID: 38979921 PMCID: PMC11258685 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Aβ oligomers are being investigated as cytotoxic agents in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because of their transient nature and conformational heterogeneity, the relationship between the structure and activity of these oligomers is still poorly understood. Hence, methods for stabilizing Aβ oligomeric species relevant to AD are needed to uncover the structural determinants of their cytotoxicity. Here, we build on the observation that metal ions and metabolites have been shown to interact with Aβ, influencing its aggregation and stabilizing its oligomeric species. We thus developed a method that uses zinc ions, Zn(II), to stabilize oligomers produced by the 42-residue form of Aβ (Aβ42), which is dysregulated in AD. These Aβ42-Zn(II) oligomers are small in size, spanning the 10-30 nm range, stable at physiological temperature, and with a broad toxic profile in human neuroblastoma cells. These oligomers offer a tool to study the mechanisms of toxicity of Aβ oligomers in cellular and animal AD models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia González Díaz
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Rodrigo Cataldi
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Benedetta Mannini
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Department
of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio, University
of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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5
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Min JH, Sarlus H, Harris RA. Copper toxicity and deficiency: the vicious cycle at the core of protein aggregation in ALS. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1408159. [PMID: 39050823 PMCID: PMC11267976 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1408159] [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: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of ALS involves many signs of a disruption in copper homeostasis, with both excess free levels and functional deficiency likely occurring simultaneously. This is crucial, as many important physiological functions are performed by cuproenzymes. While it is unsurprising that many ALS symptoms are related to signs of copper deficiency, resulting in vascular, antioxidant system and mitochondrial oxidative respiration deficiencies, there are also signs of copper toxicity such as ROS generation and enhanced protein aggregation. We discuss how copper also plays a key role in proteostasis and interacts either directly or indirectly with many of the key aggregate-prone proteins implicated in ALS, such as TDP-43, C9ORF72, SOD1 and FUS as well as the effect of their aggregation on copper homeostasis. We suggest that loss of cuproprotein function is at the core of ALS pathology, a condition that is driven by a combination of unbound copper and ROS that can either initiate and/or accelerate protein aggregation. This could trigger a positive feedback cycle whereby protein aggregates trigger the aggregation of other proteins in a chain reaction that eventually captures elements of the proteostatic mechanisms in place to counteract them. The end result is an abundance of aggregated non-functional cuproproteins and chaperones alongside depleted intracellular copper stores, resulting in a general lack of cuproenzyme function. We then discuss the possible aetiology of ALS and illustrate how strong risk factors including environmental toxins such as BMAA and heavy metals can functionally behave to promote protein aggregation and disturb copper metabolism that likely drives this vicious cycle in sporadic ALS. From this synthesis, we propose restoration of copper balance using copper delivery agents in combination with chaperones/chaperone mimetics, perhaps in conjunction with the neuroprotective amino acid serine, as a promising strategy in the treatment of this incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Hong Min
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital at Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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6
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Moretti AIS, Baksheeva VE, Roman AY, De Bessa TC, Devred F, Kovacic H, Tsvetkov PO. Exploring the Influence of Zinc Ions on the Conformational Stability and Activity of Protein Disulfide Isomerase. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2095. [PMID: 38396772 PMCID: PMC10889200 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042095] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The interplay between metal ion binding and the activity of thiol proteins, particularly within the protein disulfide isomerase family, remains an area of active investigation due to the critical role that these proteins play in many vital processes. This research investigates the interaction between recombinant human PDIA1 and zinc ions, focusing on the subsequent implications for PDIA1's conformational stability and enzymatic activity. Employing isothermal titration calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, we systematically compared the zinc binding capabilities of both oxidized and reduced forms of PDIA1 and assessed the structural consequences of this interaction. Our results demonstrate that PDIA1 can bind zinc both in reduced and oxidized states, but with significantly different stoichiometry and more pronounced conformational effects in the reduced form of PDIA1. Furthermore, zinc binding was observed to inhibit the catalytic activity of reduced-PDIA1, likely due to induced alterations in its conformation. These findings unveil a potential regulatory mechanism in PDIA1, wherein metal ion binding under reductive conditions modulates its activity. Our study highlights the potential role of zinc in regulating the catalytic function of PDIA1 through conformational modulation, suggesting a nuanced interplay between metal binding and protein stability in the broader context of cellular redox regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Iochabel Soares Moretti
- Vascular Biology Laboratory (LIM64), School of Medicine, Heart Institute (InCor), Cardiopneumology Department, University of São Paulo, Campus Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Viktoria E. Baksheeva
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, 13005 Marseille, France (F.D.); (H.K.)
| | - Andrei Yu. Roman
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, 13005 Marseille, France (F.D.); (H.K.)
| | - Tiphany Coralie De Bessa
- Vascular Biology Laboratory (LIM64), School of Medicine, Heart Institute (InCor), Cardiopneumology Department, University of São Paulo, Campus Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
| | - François Devred
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, 13005 Marseille, France (F.D.); (H.K.)
| | - Hervé Kovacic
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, 13005 Marseille, France (F.D.); (H.K.)
| | - Philipp O. Tsvetkov
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, 13005 Marseille, France (F.D.); (H.K.)
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7
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Arnold FJ, Nguyen AD, Bedlack RS, Bennett CL, La Spada AR. Intercellular transmission of pathogenic proteins in ALS: Exploring the pathogenic wave. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106218. [PMID: 37394036 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106218] [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: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), disease symptoms and pathology typically spread in a predictable spatiotemporal pattern beginning at a focal site of onset and progressing along defined neuroanatomical tracts. Like other neurodegenerative diseases, ALS is characterized by the presence of protein aggregates in postmortem patient tissue. Cytoplasmic, ubiquitin-positive aggregates of TDP-43 are observed in approximately 97% of sporadic and familial ALS patients, while SOD1 inclusions are likely specific to cases of SOD1-ALS. Additionally, the most common subtype of familial ALS, caused by a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the first intron of the C9orf72 gene (C9-ALS), is further characterized by the presence of aggregated dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs). As we will describe, cell-to-cell propagation of these pathological proteins tightly correlates with the contiguous spread of disease. While TDP-43 and SOD1 are capable of seeding protein misfolding and aggregation in a prion-like manner, C9orf72 DPRs appear to induce (and transmit) a 'disease state' more generally. Multiple mechanisms of intercellular transport have been described for all of these proteins, including anterograde and retrograde axonal transport, extracellular vesicle secretion, and macropinocytosis. In addition to neuron-to-neuron transmission, transmission of pathological proteins occurs between neurons and glia. Given that the spread of ALS disease pathology corresponds with the spread of symptoms in patients, the various mechanisms by which ALS-associated protein aggregates propagate through the central nervous system should be closely examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Arnold
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - A D Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - R S Bedlack
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - C L Bennett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - A R La Spada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Departments of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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8
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Doke AA, Jha SK. Shapeshifter TDP-43: Molecular mechanism of structural polymorphism, aggregation, phase separation and their modulators. Biophys Chem 2023; 295:106972. [PMID: 36812677 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.106972] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
TDP-43 is a nucleic acid-binding protein that performs physiologically essential functions and is known to undergo phase separation and aggregation during stress. Initial observations have shown that TDP-43 forms heterogeneous assemblies, including monomer, dimer, oligomers, aggregates, phase-separated assemblies, etc. However, the significance of each assembly of TDP-43 concerning its function, phase separation, and aggregation is poorly known. Furthermore, how different assemblies of TDP-43 are related to each other is unclear. In this review, we focus on the various assemblies of TDP-43 and discuss the plausible origin of the structural heterogeneity of TDP-43. TDP-43 is involved in multiple physiological processes like phase separation, aggregation, prion-like seeding, and performing physiological functions. However, the molecular mechanism behind the physiological process performed by TDP-43 is not well understood. The current review discusses the plausible molecular mechanism of phase separation, aggregation, and prion-like propagation of TDP-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhilasha A Doke
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Jha
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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9
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Yatoui D, Tsvetkov PO, La Rocca R, Baksheeva VE, Allegro D, Breuzard G, Ferracci G, Byrne D, Devred F. Binding of two zinc ions promotes liquid-liquid phase separation of Tau. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 223:1223-1229. [PMID: 36375666 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a naturally disordered microtubule associated protein which forms intraneuronal aggregates in several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). It was reported that zinc interaction with tau protein can trigger its aggregation. Recently we identified three zinc binding sites located in the N-terminal part, repeat region and the C-terminal part of tau. Here we characterized zinc binding to each of the three sites using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and determined the impact of each site on aggregation using dynamic light scattering (DLS) assays. First, we confirmed the presence of three zinc binding sites on tau and determined the thermodynamic parameters of binding of zinc to these sites. We found a high-affinity zinc binding site located in the repeat region of tau and two N- and C-terminus binding sites with a lower binding constant for zinc. Second, we showed that tau aggregation necessitates zinc binding to the high affinity site in the R2R3 region, while LLPS necessitates zinc binding to any two binding sites. With regard to the role of zinc ions in the aggregation of proteins in neurodegenerative diseases, these findings bring new insights to the understanding of the aggregation mechanism of tau protein induced by zinc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahbia Yatoui
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathol, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Marseille, France
| | - Philipp O Tsvetkov
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathol, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Marseille, France.
| | - Romain La Rocca
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathol, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Marseille, France
| | - Viktoriia E Baksheeva
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathol, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Marseille, France
| | - Diane Allegro
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathol, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Marseille, France
| | - Gilles Breuzard
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathol, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Marseille, France
| | - Géraldine Ferracci
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathol, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Marseille, France
| | - Deborah Byrne
- Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, CNRS, FR3479, Aix-Marseille Université, 13402 Marseille, France
| | - François Devred
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathol, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Marseille, France.
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APOE4 drives inflammation in human astrocytes via TAGLN3 repression and NF-κB activation. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111200. [PMID: 35977506 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E4 (APOEε4) is the major allelic risk factor for late-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). Inflammation is increasingly considered as critical in sAD initiation and progression. Identifying brain molecular mechanisms that could bridge these two risk factors remain unelucidated. Leveraging induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based strategies, we demonstrate that APOE controls inflammation in human astrocytes by regulating Transgelin 3 (TAGLN3) expression and, ultimately, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation. We uncover that APOE4 specifically downregulates TAGLN3, involving histone deacetylases activity, which results in low-grade chronic inflammation and hyperactivated inflammatory responses. We show that APOE4 exerts a dominant negative effect to prime astrocytes toward a pro-inflammatory state that is pharmacologically reversible by TAGLN3 supplementation. We further confirm that TAGLN3 is downregulated in the brain of patients with sAD. Our findings highlight the APOE-TAGLN3-NF-κB axis regulating neuroinflammation in human astrocytes and reveal TAGLN3 as a molecular target to modulate neuroinflammation, as well as a potential biomarker for AD.
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11
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Zinc Modulation of Neuronal Calcium Sensor Proteins: Three Modes of Interaction with Different Structural Outcomes. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12070956. [PMID: 35883512 PMCID: PMC9312857 DOI: 10.3390/biom12070956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal calcium sensors (NCSs) are the family of EF-hand proteins mediating Ca2+-dependent signaling pathways in healthy neurons and neurodegenerative diseases. It was hypothesized that the calcium sensor activity of NCSs can be complemented by sensing fluctuation of intracellular zinc, which could further diversify their function. Here, using a set of biophysical techniques, we analyzed the Zn2+-binding properties of five proteins belonging to three different subgroups of the NCS family, namely, VILIP1 and neurocalcin-δ/NCLD (subgroup B), recoverin (subgroup C), as well as GCAP1 and GCAP2 (subgroup D). We demonstrate that each of these proteins is capable of coordinating Zn2+ with a different affinity, stoichiometry, and structural outcome. In the absence of calcium, recoverin and VILIP1 bind two zinc ions with submicromolar affinity, and the binding induces pronounced conformational changes and regulates the dimeric state of these proteins without significant destabilization of their structure. In the presence of calcium, recoverin binds zinc with slightly decreased affinity and moderate conformational outcome, whereas VILIP1 becomes insensitive to Zn2+. NCALD binds Zn2+ with micromolar affinity, but the binding induces dramatic destabilization and aggregation of the protein. In contrast, both GCAPs demonstrate low-affinity binding of zinc independent of calcium, remaining relatively stable even at submillimolar Zn2+ concentrations. Based on these data, and the results of structural bioinformatics analysis, NCSs can be divided into three categories: (1) physiological Ca2+/Zn2+ sensor proteins capable of binding exchangeable (signaling) zinc (recoverin and VILIP1), (2) pathological Ca2+/Zn2+ sensors responding only to aberrantly high free zinc concentrations by denaturation and aggregation (NCALD), and (3) Zn2+-resistant, Ca2+ sensor proteins (GCAP1, GCAP2). We suggest that NCS proteins may therefore govern the interconnection between Ca2+-dependent and Zn2+-dependent signaling pathways in healthy neurons and zinc cytotoxicity-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma.
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Doke AA, Jha SK. Effect of In Vitro Solvation Conditions on Inter- and Intramolecular Assembly of Full-Length TDP-43. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:4799-4813. [PMID: 35758053 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c02203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cellular stress is a major cause of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), around 90% of the cases are believed to occur due to aggregation and misfolding of TDP-43 protein in neurons due to aging and chronic environmental stress. However, the physicochemical basis of how TDP-43 senses the change in solvation conditions during stress and misfolds remains very poorly understood. We show here that the full-length human TDP-43 can exist in equilibrium with multiple structural states. The equilibrium between these states is highly sensitive to changes in solvation conditions. We show that upon thermal and pH stress, amyloidogenic oligomers can form amyloid-like fibrils. However, the internal structure of the fibril depends upon the physicochemical nature of stress. Our results present a physical basis of the effect of solvation conditions on inter- and intramolecular assembly formation of TDP-43 and reconcile why the nature and the internal structure of the aggregated form have been found to be different when extracted from the brain of different ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhilasha A Doke
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Jha
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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13
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La Rocca R, Tsvetkov PO, Golovin AV, Allegro D, Barbier P, Malesinski S, Guerlesquin F, Devred F. Identification of the three zinc-binding sites on tau protein. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:779-784. [PMID: 35421417 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Tau protein has been extensively studied due to its key roles in microtubular cytoskeleton regulation and in the formation of aggregates found in some neurodegenerative diseases. Recently it has been shown that zinc is able to induce tau aggregation by interacting with several binding sites. However, the precise location of these sites and the molecular mechanism of zinc-induced aggregation remain unknown. Here we used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to identify zinc binding sites on tau. These experiments revealed three distinct zinc binding sites on tau, located in the N-terminal part, the repeat region and the C-terminal part. Further analysis enabled us to show that the N-terminal and the C-terminal sites are independent of each other. Using molecular simulations, we proposed a model of each site in a complex with zinc. Given the clinical importance of zinc in tau aggregation, our findings pave the way for designing potential therapies for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain La Rocca
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Philipp O Tsvetkov
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, PINT, Plateforme INteractome Timone, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Andrey V Golovin
- Bioengineering and Bioinformatics Department, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119992 Moscow, Russian Federation; Institute of Molecular Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Trubetskaya Str. 8, Moscow 119992, Russia; National Research University HSE, Myasnitskaya Str. 20, Moscow 101000, Russia.
| | - Diane Allegro
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Pascale Barbier
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Soazig Malesinski
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
| | - Françoise Guerlesquin
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7255, Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France.
| | - François Devred
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, PINT, Plateforme INteractome Timone, Fac Médecine, Marseille, France.
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14
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Mechanism of Zn 2+ and Ca 2+ Binding to Human S100A1. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11121823. [PMID: 34944467 PMCID: PMC8699212 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
S100A1 is a member of the S100 family of small ubiquitous Ca2+-binding proteins, which participates in the regulation of cell differentiation, motility, and survival. It exists as homo- or heterodimers. S100A1 has also been shown to bind Zn2+, but the molecular mechanisms of this binding are not yet known. In this work, using ESI-MS and ITC, we demonstrate that S100A1 can coordinate 4 zinc ions per monomer, with two high affinity (KD~4 and 770 nm) and two low affinity sites. Using competitive binding experiments between Ca2+ and Zn2+ and QM/MM molecular modeling we conclude that Zn2+ high affinity sites are located in the EF-hand motifs of S100A1. In addition, two lower affinity sites can bind Zn2+ even when the EF-hands are saturated by Ca2+, resulting in a 2Ca2+:S100A1:2Zn2+ conformer. Finally, we show that, in contrast to calcium, an excess of Zn2+ produces a destabilizing effect on S100A1 structure and leads to its aggregation. We also determined a higher affinity to Ca2+ (KD~0.16 and 24 μm) than was previously reported for S100A1, which would allow this protein to function as a Ca2+/Zn2+-sensor both inside and outside cells, participating in diverse signaling pathways under normal and pathological conditions.
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15
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Disulfide Dimerization of Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1: Implications for Zinc and Redox Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212602. [PMID: 34830487 PMCID: PMC8623652 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) is a four-EF-hand ubiquitous signaling protein modulating neuronal function and survival, which participates in neurodegeneration and carcinogenesis. NCS-1 recognizes specific sites on cellular membranes and regulates numerous targets, including G-protein coupled receptors and their kinases (GRKs). Here, with the use of cellular models and various biophysical and computational techniques, we demonstrate that NCS-1 is a redox-sensitive protein, which responds to oxidizing conditions by the formation of disulfide dimer (dNCS-1), involving its single, highly conservative cysteine C38. The dimer content is unaffected by the elevation of intracellular calcium levels but increases to 10–30% at high free zinc concentrations (characteristic of oxidative stress), which is accompanied by accumulation of the protein in punctual clusters in the perinuclear area. The formation of dNCS-1 represents a specific Zn2+-promoted process, requiring proper folding of the protein and occurring at redox potential values approaching apoptotic levels. The dimer binds Ca2+ only in one EF-hand per monomer, thereby representing a unique state, with decreased α-helicity and thermal stability, increased surface hydrophobicity, and markedly improved inhibitory activity against GRK1 due to 20-fold higher affinity towards the enzyme. Furthermore, dNCS-1 can coordinate zinc and, according to molecular modeling, has an asymmetrical structure and increased conformational flexibility of the subunits, which may underlie their enhanced target-binding properties. In HEK293 cells, dNCS-1 can be reduced by the thioredoxin system, otherwise accumulating as protein aggregates, which are degraded by the proteasome. Interestingly, NCS-1 silencing diminishes the susceptibility of Y79 cancer cells to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, suggesting that NCS-1 may mediate redox-regulated pathways governing cell death/survival in response to oxidative conditions.
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16
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Koski L, Ronnevi C, Berntsson E, Wärmländer SKTS, Roos PM. Metals in ALS TDP-43 Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12193. [PMID: 34830074 PMCID: PMC8622279 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and similar neurodegenerative disorders take their toll on patients, caregivers and society. A common denominator for these disorders is the accumulation of aggregated proteins in nerve cells, yet the triggers for these aggregation processes are currently unknown. In ALS, protein aggregation has been described for the SOD1, C9orf72, FUS and TDP-43 proteins. The latter is a nuclear protein normally binding to both DNA and RNA, contributing to gene expression and mRNA life cycle regulation. TDP-43 seems to have a specific role in ALS pathogenesis, and ubiquitinated and hyperphosphorylated cytoplasmic inclusions of aggregated TDP-43 are present in nerve cells in almost all sporadic ALS cases. ALS pathology appears to include metal imbalances, and environmental metal exposure is a known risk factor in ALS. However, studies on metal-to-TDP-43 interactions are scarce, even though this protein seems to have the capacity to bind to metals. This review discusses the possible role of metals in TDP-43 aggregation, with respect to ALS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lassi Koski
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | | | - Elina Berntsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, 12616 Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | - Per M. Roos
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Capio St. Göran Hospital, 112 19 Stockholm, Sweden;
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17
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Wang J, Anastasia A, Bains H, Giza JI, Clossey DG, Deng J, Neubert TA, Rice WJ, Lee FS, Hempstead BL, Bracken C. Zinc induced structural changes in the intrinsically disordered BDNF Met prodomain confer synaptic elimination. Metallomics 2021; 12:1208-1219. [PMID: 32744273 DOI: 10.1039/d0mt00108b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) encodes a protein product consisting of a C-terminal mature domain (mature BDNF) and an N-terminal prodomain, which is an intrinsically disordered protein. A common single nucleotide polymorphism in humans results in a methionine substitution for valine at position 66 of the prodomain, and is associated with memory deficits, depression and anxiety disorders. The BDNF Met66 prodomain, but not the Val66 prodomain, promotes rapid structural remodeling of hippocampal neurons' growth cones and dendritic spines by interacting directly with the SorCS2 receptor. While it has been reported that the Met66 and Val66 prodomains exhibit only modest differences in structural propensities in the apo state, here we show that Val66 and Met66 prodomains differentially bind zinc (Zn). Zn2+ binds with higher affinity and more broadly impacts residues on the Met66 prodomain compared to the Val66 prodomain as shown by NMR and ITC. Zn2+ binding to the Met66 and Val66 prodomains results in distinct conformational and macroscopic differences observed by NMR, light scattering and cryoEM. To determine if Zn2+ mediated conformational change in the Met66 prodomain is required for biological effect, we mutated His40, a Zn2+ binding site, and observed a loss of Met66 prodomain bioactivity. As the His40 site is distant from the known region of the prodomain involved in receptor binding, we suggest that Met66 prodomain bioactivity involves His40 mediated stabilization of the multimeric structure. Our results point to the necessity of a Zn2+-mediated higher order molecular assembly of the Met66 prodomain to mediate neuronal remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, New York, NY, USA.
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18
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Liu W, Li C, Shan J, Wang Y, Chen G. Insights into the aggregation mechanism of RNA recognition motif domains in TDP-43: a theoretical exploration. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:210160. [PMID: 34457335 PMCID: PMC8371369 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is associated with several diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) due to pathogenic aggregations. In this work, we examined the dimer, tetramer and hexamer models built from the RRM domains of TDP-43 using molecular dynamics simulations in combination with the protein-protein docking. Our results showed that the formations of the dimer models are mainly achieved by the interactions of the RRM1 domains. The parallel β-sheet layers between the RRM1 domains provide most of the binding sites in these oligomer models, and thus play an important role in the aggregation process. The approaching of the parallel β-sheet layers from small oligomer models gradually expand to large ones through the allosteric communication between the α1/α2 helices of the RRM1 domains, which maintains the binding affinities and interactions in the larger oligomer models. Using the repeatable-superimposing method based on the tetramer models, we proposed a new aggregation mechanism of RRM domains in TDP-43, which could well characterize the formation of the large aggregation models with the repeated, helical and rope-like structures. These new insights help to understand the amyloid-like aggregation phenomena of TDP-43 protein in ALS and FTLD diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaoqun Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Heterocyclic Compounds, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials, Handan University, Handan 056005, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiankai Shan
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangju Chen
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, People's Republic of China
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19
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Patni D, Jha SK. Protonation-Deprotonation Switch Controls the Amyloid-like Misfolding of Nucleic-Acid-Binding Domains of TDP-43. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:8383-8394. [PMID: 34318672 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c03262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient starvation stress acidifies the cytosol and leads to the formation of large protein assemblies and misfolded aggregates. However, how starvation stress is sensed at the molecular level and leads to protein misfolding is poorly understood. TDP-43 is a vital protein, which, under stress-like conditions, associates with stress granule proteins via its functional nucleic-acid-binding domains (TDP-43tRRM) and misfolds to form aberrant aggregates. Here, we show that the monomeric N form of TDP-43tRRM forms a misfolded amyloid-like protein assembly, β form, in a pH-dependent manner and identified the critical protein side-chain residue whose protonation triggers its misfolding. We systematically mutated the three buried ionizable residues, D105, H166, and H256, to neutral amino acids to block the pH-dependent protonation-deprotonation titration of their side chain and studied their effect on the N-to-β transition. We observed that D105A and H256Q resembled TDP-43tRRM in their pH-dependent misfolding behavior. However, H166Q retains the N-like secondary structure under low-pH conditions and does not show pH-dependent misfolding to the β form. These results indicate that H166 is the critical side-chain residue whose protonation triggers the misfolding of TDP-43tRRM and shed light on how stress-induced misfolding of proteins during neurodegeneration could begin from site-specific triggers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Patni
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Jha
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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20
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Bright F, Chan G, van Hummel A, Ittner LM, Ke YD. TDP-43 and Inflammation: Implications for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157781. [PMID: 34360544 PMCID: PMC8346169 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The abnormal mislocalisation and ubiquitinated protein aggregation of the TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) within the cytoplasm of neurons and glia in the central nervous system (CNS) is a pathological hallmark of early-onset neurodegenerative disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The pathomechanisms underlying abnormal mislocalisation and aggregation of TDP-43 remain unknown. However, there is a growing body of evidence implicating neuroinflammation and immune-mediated mechanisms in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. Importantly, most of the evidence for an active role of immunity and inflammation in the pathogenesis of ALS and FTD relates specifically to TDP-43, posing the question as to whether immune-mediated mechanisms could hold the key to understanding TDP-43’s underlying role in neurodegeneration in both diseases. Therefore, this review aims to piece together key lines of evidence for the specific association of TDP-43 with key immune and inflammatory pathways to explore the nature of this relationship and the implications for potential pathomechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in ALS and FTD.
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21
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Zaepfel BL, Rothstein JD. RNA Is a Double-Edged Sword in ALS Pathogenesis. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:708181. [PMID: 34349625 PMCID: PMC8326408 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.708181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects upper and lower motor neurons. Familial ALS accounts for a small subset of cases (<10-15%) and is caused by dominant mutations in one of more than 10 known genes. Multiple genes have been causally or pathologically linked to both ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Many of these genes encode RNA-binding proteins, so the role of dysregulated RNA metabolism in neurodegeneration is being actively investigated. In addition to defects in RNA metabolism, recent studies provide emerging evidence into how RNA itself can contribute to the degeneration of both motor and cortical neurons. In this review, we discuss the roles of altered RNA metabolism and RNA-mediated toxicity in the context of TARDBP, FUS, and C9ORF72 mutations. Specifically, we focus on recent studies that describe toxic RNA as the potential initiator of disease, disease-associated defects in specific RNA metabolism pathways, as well as how RNA-based approaches can be used as potential therapies. Altogether, we highlight the importance of RNA-based investigations into the molecular progression of ALS, as well as the need for RNA-dependent structural studies of disease-linked RNA-binding proteins to identify clear therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Zaepfel
- Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jeffrey D Rothstein
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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22
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Zgórzyńska E, Krawczyk K, Bełdzińska P, Walczewska A. Molecular basis of proteinopathies: Etiopathology
of dementia and motor disorders. POSTEP HIG MED DOSW 2021. [DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0014.9513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the most important medical and social problems affecting
elderly people, the percentage of which is significantly increasing in the total world population.
The cause of these diseases is the destruction of neurons by protein aggregates that form pathological
deposits in neurons, glial cells and in the intercellular space. Proteins whose molecules
are easily destabilized by point mutations or endogenous processes are alpha-synuclein (ASN),
tau and TDP-43. Pathological forms of these proteins form characteristic aggregates, which accumulate
in the neurons and are the cause of various forms of dementia and motor disorders.
The most common causes of dementia are tauopathies. In primary tauopathies, which include
progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), Pick’s disease (PiD), and
frontotemporal dementia (FTD), modified tau molecules disrupt axonal transport and protein
distribution in neurons. Ultimately, the helical filaments and neurofibrillary tangles of tau lead to
neuron death in various structures of the brain. In Alzheimer’s disease hyperphosphorylated tau tangles along with β amyloid plaques are responsible for the degeneration of the hippocampus,
entorhinal cortex and amygdala. The most prevalent synucleinopathies are Parkinson’s disease,
multiple system atrophy (MSA) and dementia with Lewy bodies, where there is a degeneration of
neurons in the extrapyramidal tracts or, as in MSA, autonomic nerves. TDP-43 inclusions in the
cytoplasm cause the degeneration of motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and
in one of the frontotemporal dementia variant (FTLD-TDP). In this work ASN, tau and TDP-43
structures are described, as well as the genetic and sporadic factors that lead to the destabilization
of molecules, their aggregation and incorrect distribution in neurons, which are the causes
of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Klaudia Krawczyk
- Zakład Interakcji Międzykomórkowych, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi
| | | | - Anna Walczewska
- Zakład Interakcji Międzykomórkowych, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi
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23
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Tsvetkov PO, Eyraud R, Ayache S, Bougaev AA, Malesinski S, Benazha H, Gorokhova S, Buffat C, Dehais C, Sanson M, Bielle F, Figarella Branger D, Chinot O, Tabouret E, Devred F. An AI-Powered Blood Test to Detect Cancer Using NanoDSF. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061294. [PMID: 33803924 PMCID: PMC7999960 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most frequent and aggressive primary brain tumor. Its diagnosis is based on resection or biopsy that could be especially difficult and dangerous in the case of deep location or patient comorbidities. Monitoring disease evolution and progression also requires repeated biopsies that are often not feasible. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop biomarkers to diagnose and follow glioblastoma evolution in a minimally invasive way. In the present study, we described a novel cancer detection method based on plasma denaturation profiles obtained by a non-conventional use of differential scanning fluorimetry. Using blood samples from 84 glioma patients and 63 healthy controls, we showed that their denaturation profiles can be automatically distinguished with the help of machine learning algorithms with 92% accuracy. Proposed high throughput workflow can be applied to any type of cancer and could become a powerful pan-cancer diagnostic and monitoring tool requiring only a simple blood test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp O. Tsvetkov
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Univ, 13005 Marseille, France; (S.M.); (D.F.B.); (O.C.); (E.T.)
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Plateforme Interactome Timone, PINT, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009 Marseille, France
- Correspondence: (P.O.T.); (F.D.)
| | - Rémi Eyraud
- Laboratoire Hubert Curien UMR 5516, UJM-Saint-Etienne, CNRS, University Lyon, 42000 Saint Etienne, France;
| | - Stéphane Ayache
- CNRS, LIS, Aix-Marseille Univ, 13009 Marseille, France; (S.A.); (H.B.)
| | | | - Soazig Malesinski
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Univ, 13005 Marseille, France; (S.M.); (D.F.B.); (O.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Hamed Benazha
- CNRS, LIS, Aix-Marseille Univ, 13009 Marseille, France; (S.A.); (H.B.)
| | - Svetlana Gorokhova
- MMG, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Univ, 13009 Marseille, France;
- Service de génétique Médicale, Hôpital de La Timone, APHM, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Christophe Buffat
- Biochemistry and Endocrinology, Hôpital de la Conception, APHM, 13005 Marseille, France;
- MEPHI, IRD, APHM, Aix-Marseille Univ, 13274 Marseille, France
| | - Caroline Dehais
- CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, F-75006 Paris, France; (C.D.); (M.S.); (F.B.)
- Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière—Charles Foix, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Marc Sanson
- CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, F-75006 Paris, France; (C.D.); (M.S.); (F.B.)
- Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière—Charles Foix, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Franck Bielle
- CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, F-75006 Paris, France; (C.D.); (M.S.); (F.B.)
- Département de Neuropathologie, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière—Charles Foix, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Dominique Figarella Branger
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Univ, 13005 Marseille, France; (S.M.); (D.F.B.); (O.C.); (E.T.)
- Service d’Anatomie Pathologique et de Neuropathologie, CHU Timone, APHM, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Chinot
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Univ, 13005 Marseille, France; (S.M.); (D.F.B.); (O.C.); (E.T.)
- Service de Neuro Oncologie, Hopital de La Timone, APHM, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Emeline Tabouret
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Univ, 13005 Marseille, France; (S.M.); (D.F.B.); (O.C.); (E.T.)
- Service de Neuro Oncologie, Hopital de La Timone, APHM, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - François Devred
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Univ, 13005 Marseille, France; (S.M.); (D.F.B.); (O.C.); (E.T.)
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Plateforme Interactome Timone, PINT, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009 Marseille, France
- Correspondence: (P.O.T.); (F.D.)
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24
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Preethi S, Bharathi V, Patel BK. Zn 2+ modulates in vitro phase separation of TDP-43 2C and mutant TDP-43 2C-A315T C-terminal fragments of TDP-43 protein implicated in ALS and FTLD-TDP diseases. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 176:186-200. [PMID: 33577819 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
TDP-43 proteinopathy is implicated in the neurodegenerative diseases, ALS and FTLD-TDP. Metal ion dyshomeostasis is observed in neurodegenerative diseases including ALS. Previously, mice expressing A315T familial ALS TDP-43 mutant showed elevated spinal cord Zn2+ levels. Recently, Zn2+ was observed to modulate the in vitro amyloid-like aggregation of the TDP-43's RRM12 domains. As a systematic knowledge of the TDP-43's interaction with Zn2+ is lacking, we in silico predicted potential Zn2+ binding sites in TDP-43 and estimated their relative solvent accessibilities. Zn2+ binding sites were predicted in the TDP-43's N-terminal domain, in the linker region between RRM1 and RRM2 domain, within RRM2 domain and at the junction of the RRM2 and C-terminal domain (CTD), but none in the 311-360 region of CTD. Furthermore, we found that Zn2+ promotes the in vitro thioflavin-T-positive aggregations of C-terminal fragments (CTFs) termed TDP-432C and TDP-432C-A315T that encompass the RRM2 and CTD domains. Also, while the Alexa-fluor fluorescently labelled TDP-432C and TDP-432C-A315T proteins manifested liquid-like spherical droplets, Zn2+ caused a solid-like phase separation that was not ameliorated even by carboxymethylation of the free cysteines thereby implicating the other Zn2+-binding residues. The observed Zn2+-promoted TDP-43 CTF's solid-like phase separation can be relevant to the Zn2+ dyshomeostasis in ALS and FTLD-TDP.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Preethi
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, Telangana 502285, India
| | - Vidhya Bharathi
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, Telangana 502285, India
| | - Basant K Patel
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi, Sangareddy, Telangana 502285, India.
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Tethering-induced destabilization and ATP-binding for tandem RRM domains of ALS-causing TDP-43 and hnRNPA1. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1034. [PMID: 33441818 PMCID: PMC7806782 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80524-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 and hnRNPA1 contain tandemly-tethered RNA-recognition-motif (RRM) domains, which not only functionally bind an array of nucleic acids, but also participate in aggregation/fibrillation, a pathological hallmark of various human diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), alzheimer's disease (AD) and Multisystem proteinopathy (MSP). Here, by DSF, NMR and MD simulations we systematically characterized stability, ATP-binding and conformational dynamics of TDP-43 and hnRNPA1 RRM domains in both tethered and isolated forms. The results reveal three key findings: (1) upon tethering TDP-43 RRM domains become dramatically coupled and destabilized with Tm reduced to only 49 °C. (2) ATP specifically binds TDP-43 and hnRNPA1 RRM domains, in which ATP occupies the similar pockets within the conserved nucleic-acid-binding surfaces, with the affinity slightly higher to the tethered than isolated forms. (3) MD simulations indicate that the tethered RRM domains of TDP-43 and hnRNPA1 have higher conformational dynamics than the isolated forms. Two RRM domains become coupled as shown by NMR characterization and analysis of inter-domain correlation motions. The study explains the long-standing puzzle that the tethered TDP-43 RRM1–RRM2 is particularly prone to aggregation/fibrillation, and underscores the general role of ATP in inhibiting aggregation/fibrillation of RRM-containing proteins. The results also rationalize the observation that the risk of aggregation-causing diseases increases with aging.
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Golovin AV, Devred F, Yatoui D, Roman AY, Zalevsky AO, Puppo R, Lebrun R, Guerlesquin F, Tsvetkov PO. Zinc Binds to RRM2 Peptide of TDP-43. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9080. [PMID: 33260324 PMCID: PMC7730363 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactive response DNA and RNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is a highly conserved heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP), which is involved in several steps of protein production including transcription and splicing. Its aggregates are frequently observed in motor neurons from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and in the most common variant of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Recently it was shown that TDP-43 is able to bind Zn2+ by its RRM domain. In this work, we have investigated Zn2+ binding to a short peptide 256-264 from C-terminus of RRM2 domain using isothermal titration calorimetry, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, QM/MM simulations, and NMR spectroscopy. We have found that this peptide is able to bind zinc ions with a Ka equal to 1.6 × 105 M-1. Our findings suggest the existence of a zinc binding site in the C-terminal region of RRM2 domain. Together with the existing structure of the RRM2 domain of TDP-43 we propose a model of its complex with Zn2+ which illustrates how zinc might regulate DNA/RNA binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey V. Golovin
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119234 Moscow, Russian; (A.V.G.); (A.O.Z.)
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russian
- Faculty of Computer Science, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russian
| | - Francois Devred
- Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille, France; (F.D.); (D.Y.); (A.Y.R.)
| | - Dahbia Yatoui
- Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille, France; (F.D.); (D.Y.); (A.Y.R.)
| | - Andrei Yu. Roman
- Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille, France; (F.D.); (D.Y.); (A.Y.R.)
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, RAS, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russian
| | - Arthur O. Zalevsky
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119234 Moscow, Russian; (A.V.G.); (A.O.Z.)
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, 354340 Sochi, Russian
| | - Remy Puppo
- Plate-forme Protéomique, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), CNRS FR 3479, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille Protéomique (MaP), 13009 Marseille, France; (R.P.); (R.L.)
| | - Regine Lebrun
- Plate-forme Protéomique, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), CNRS FR 3479, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille Protéomique (MaP), 13009 Marseille, France; (R.P.); (R.L.)
| | - Francoise Guerlesquin
- Laboratoire d’Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires, UMR 7255, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, 13009 Marseille, France;
| | - Philipp O. Tsvetkov
- Inst Neurophysiopathol, CNRS, INP, Aix Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille, France; (F.D.); (D.Y.); (A.Y.R.)
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McAlary L, Chew YL, Lum JS, Geraghty NJ, Yerbury JJ, Cashman NR. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Proteins, Proteostasis, Prions, and Promises. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:581907. [PMID: 33328890 PMCID: PMC7671971 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.581907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons that innervate muscle, resulting in gradual paralysis and culminating in the inability to breathe or swallow. This neuronal degeneration occurs in a spatiotemporal manner from a point of onset in the central nervous system (CNS), suggesting that there is a molecule that spreads from cell-to-cell. There is strong evidence that the onset and progression of ALS pathology is a consequence of protein misfolding and aggregation. In line with this, a hallmark pathology of ALS is protein deposition and inclusion formation within motor neurons and surrounding glia of the proteins TAR DNA-binding protein 43, superoxide dismutase-1, or fused in sarcoma. Collectively, the observed protein aggregation, in conjunction with the spatiotemporal spread of symptoms, strongly suggests a prion-like propagation of protein aggregation occurs in ALS. In this review, we discuss the role of protein aggregation in ALS concerning protein homeostasis (proteostasis) mechanisms and prion-like propagation. Furthermore, we examine the experimental models used to investigate these processes, including in vitro assays, cultured cells, invertebrate models, and murine models. Finally, we evaluate the therapeutics that may best prevent the onset or spread of pathology in ALS and discuss what lies on the horizon for treating this currently incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke McAlary
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeremy Stephen Lum
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas John Geraghty
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Justin John Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Neil R. Cashman
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Monette A, Mouland AJ. Zinc and Copper Ions Differentially Regulate Prion-Like Phase Separation Dynamics of Pan-Virus Nucleocapsid Biomolecular Condensates. Viruses 2020; 12:E1179. [PMID: 33081049 PMCID: PMC7589941 DOI: 10.3390/v12101179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a rapidly growing research focus due to numerous demonstrations that many cellular proteins phase-separate to form biomolecular condensates (BMCs) that nucleate membraneless organelles (MLOs). A growing repertoire of mechanisms supporting BMC formation, composition, dynamics, and functions are becoming elucidated. BMCs are now appreciated as required for several steps of gene regulation, while their deregulation promotes pathological aggregates, such as stress granules (SGs) and insoluble irreversible plaques that are hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. Treatment of BMC-related diseases will greatly benefit from identification of therapeutics preventing pathological aggregates while sparing BMCs required for cellular functions. Numerous viruses that block SG assembly also utilize or engineer BMCs for their replication. While BMC formation first depends on prion-like disordered protein domains (PrLDs), metal ion-controlled RNA-binding domains (RBDs) also orchestrate their formation. Virus replication and viral genomic RNA (vRNA) packaging dynamics involving nucleocapsid (NC) proteins and their orthologs rely on Zinc (Zn) availability, while virus morphology and infectivity are negatively influenced by excess Copper (Cu). While virus infections modify physiological metal homeostasis towards an increased copper to zinc ratio (Cu/Zn), how and why they do this remains elusive. Following our recent finding that pan-retroviruses employ Zn for NC-mediated LLPS for virus assembly, we present a pan-virus bioinformatics and literature meta-analysis study identifying metal-based mechanisms linking virus-induced BMCs to neurodegenerative disease processes. We discover that conserved degree and placement of PrLDs juxtaposing metal-regulated RBDs are associated with disease-causing prion-like proteins and are common features of viral proteins responsible for virus capsid assembly and structure. Virus infections both modulate gene expression of metalloproteins and interfere with metal homeostasis, representing an additional virus strategy impeding physiological and cellular antiviral responses. Our analyses reveal that metal-coordinated virus NC protein PrLDs initiate LLPS that nucleate pan-virus assembly and contribute to their persistence as cell-free infectious aerosol droplets. Virus aerosol droplets and insoluble neurological disease aggregates should be eliminated by physiological or environmental metals that outcompete PrLD-bound metals. While environmental metals can control virus spreading via aerosol droplets, therapeutic interference with metals or metalloproteins represent additional attractive avenues against pan-virus infection and virus-exacerbated neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Monette
- Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Andrew J. Mouland
- Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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Ariey-Bonnet J, Carrasco K, Le Grand M, Hoffer L, Betzi S, Feracci M, Tsvetkov P, Devred F, Collette Y, Morelli X, Ballester P, Pasquier E. In silico molecular target prediction unveils mebendazole as a potent MAPK14 inhibitor. Mol Oncol 2020; 14:3083-3099. [PMID: 33021050 PMCID: PMC7718943 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of polypharmacology involves the interaction of drug molecules with multiple molecular targets. It provides a unique opportunity for the repurposing of already-approved drugs to target key factors involved in human diseases. Herein, we used an in silico target prediction algorithm to investigate the mechanism of action of mebendazole, an antihelminthic drug, currently repurposed in the treatment of brain tumors. First, we confirmed that mebendazole decreased the viability of glioblastoma cells in vitro (IC50 values ranging from 288 nm to 2.1 µm). Our in silico approach unveiled 21 putative molecular targets for mebendazole, including 12 proteins significantly upregulated at the gene level in glioblastoma as compared to normal brain tissue (fold change > 1.5; P < 0.0001). Validation experiments were performed on three major kinases involved in cancer biology: ABL1, MAPK1/ERK2, and MAPK14/p38α. Mebendazole could inhibit the activity of these kinases in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, with a high potency against MAPK14 (IC50 = 104 ± 46 nm). Its direct binding to MAPK14 was further validated in vitro, and inhibition of MAPK14 kinase activity was confirmed in live glioblastoma cells. Consistent with biophysical data, molecular modeling suggested that mebendazole was able to bind to the catalytic site of MAPK14. Finally, gene silencing demonstrated that MAPK14 is involved in glioblastoma tumor spheroid growth and response to mebendazole treatment. This study thus highlighted the role of MAPK14 in the anticancer mechanism of action of mebendazole and provides further rationale for the pharmacological targeting of MAPK14 in brain tumors. It also opens new avenues for the development of novel MAPK14/p38α inhibitors to treat human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Ariey-Bonnet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Kendall Carrasco
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Marion Le Grand
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Laurent Hoffer
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Stéphane Betzi
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Mikael Feracci
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Philipp Tsvetkov
- CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Pharm, Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Francois Devred
- CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Fac Pharm, Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Yves Collette
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Xavier Morelli
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Pedro Ballester
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
| | - Eddy Pasquier
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix Marseille Université, France
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The Emerging Role of the RNA-Binding Protein SFPQ in Neuronal Function and Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197151. [PMID: 32998269 PMCID: PMC7582472 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are a class of proteins known for their diverse roles in RNA biogenesis, from regulating transcriptional processes in the nucleus to facilitating translation in the cytoplasm. With higher demand for RNA metabolism in the nervous system, RBP misregulation has been linked to a wide range of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. One of the emerging RBPs implicated in neuronal function and neurodegeneration is splicing factor proline- and glutamine-rich (SFPQ). SFPQ is a ubiquitous and abundant RBP that plays multiple regulatory roles in the nucleus such as paraspeckle formation, DNA damage repair, and various transcriptional regulation processes. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the nuclear and also cytoplasmic roles of SFPQ in neurons, particularly in post-transcriptional regulation and RNA granule formation. Not surprisingly, the misregulation of SFPQ has been linked to pathological features shown by other neurodegenerative disease-associated RBPs such as aberrant RNA splicing, cytoplasmic mislocalization, and aggregation. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the roles of SFPQ with a particular focus on those in neuronal development and homeostasis as well as its implications in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Mitigation of ALS Pathology by Neuron-Specific Inhibition of Nuclear Factor Kappa B Signaling. J Neurosci 2020; 40:5137-5154. [PMID: 32457070 PMCID: PMC7314413 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0536-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the role of neuronal NF-κB activity in pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we generated transgenic mice with neuron-specific expression of a super-repressor form of the NF-κB inhibitor (IκBα-SR), which were then crossed with mice of both sexes, expressing ALS-linked gene mutants for TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). Remarkably, neuronal expression of IκBα-SR transgene in mice expressing TDP-43A315T or TDP-43G348C mice led to a decrease in cytoplasmic to nuclear ratio of human TDP-43. The mitigation of TDP-43 neuropathology by IκBα-SR, which is likely due to an induction of autophagy, was associated with amelioration of cognitive and motor deficits as well as reduction of motor neuron loss and gliosis. Neuronal suppression of NF-κB activity in SOD1G93A mice also resulted in neuroprotection with reduction of misfolded SOD1 levels and significant extension of life span. The results suggest that neuronal NF-κB signaling constitutes a novel therapeutic target for ALS disease and related disorders with TDP-43 proteinopathy. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study reports that neuron-specific expression of IκB super-repressor mitigated behavioral and pathologic changes in transgenic mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis expressing mutant forms of either Tar DNA-binding protein 43 or superoxide dismutase. The results suggest that neuronal NF-κB signaling constitutes a novel therapeutic target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and related disorders with Tar DNA-binding protein 43 proteinopathy.
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32
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Huang J, Ringuet M, Whitten AE, Caria S, Lim YW, Badhan R, Anggono V, Lee M. Structural basis of the zinc-induced cytoplasmic aggregation of the RNA-binding protein SFPQ. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:3356-3365. [PMID: 32034402 PMCID: PMC7102971 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
SFPQ is a ubiquitous nuclear RNA-binding protein implicated in many aspects of RNA biogenesis. Importantly, nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic accumulation of SFPQ has been linked to neuropathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we describe a molecular mechanism by which SFPQ is mislocalized to the cytoplasm. We report an unexpected discovery of the infinite polymerization of SFPQ that is induced by zinc binding to the protein. The crystal structure of human SFPQ in complex with zinc at 1.94 Å resolution reveals intermolecular interactions between SFPQ molecules that are mediated by zinc. As anticipated from the crystal structure, the application of zinc to primary cortical neurons induced the cytoplasmic accumulation and aggregation of SFPQ. Mutagenesis of the three zinc-coordinating histidine residues resulted in a significant reduction in the zinc-binding affinity of SFPQ in solution and the zinc-induced cytoplasmic aggregation of SFPQ in cultured neurons. Taken together, we propose that dysregulation of zinc availability and/or localization in neuronal cells may represent a mechanism for the imbalance in the nucleocytoplasmic distribution of SFPQ, which is an emerging hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases including AD and ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Mitchell Ringuet
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Andrew E Whitten
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Sofia Caria
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.,SAXS/WAXS, Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Yee Wa Lim
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Rahul Badhan
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Victor Anggono
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Mihwa Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
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Monette A, Niu M, Chen L, Rao S, Gorelick RJ, Mouland AJ. Pan-retroviral Nucleocapsid-Mediated Phase Separation Regulates Genomic RNA Positioning and Trafficking. Cell Rep 2020; 31:107520. [PMID: 32320662 PMCID: PMC8965748 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The duality of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of cellular components into membraneless organelles defines the nucleation of both normal and disease processes including stress granule (SG) assembly. From mounting evidence of LLPS utility by viruses, we discover that HIV-1 nucleocapsid (NC) protein condenses into zinc-finger (ZnF)-dependent LLPSs that are dynamically influenced by cytosolic factors. ZnF-dependent and Zinc (Zn2+)-chelation-sensitive NC-LLPS are formed in live cells. NC-Zn2+ ejection reverses the HIV-1 blockade on SG assembly, inhibits NC-SG assembly, disrupts NC/Gag-genomic RNA (vRNA) ribonucleoprotein complexes, and causes nuclear sequestration of NC and the vRNA, inhibiting Gag expression and virus release. NC ZnF mutagenesis eliminates the HIV-1 blockade of SG assembly and repositions vRNA to SGs. We find that NC-mediated, Zn2+-coordinated phase separation is conserved among diverse retrovirus subfamilies, illustrating that this exquisitely evolved Zn2+-dependent feature of virus replication represents a critical target for pan-antiretroviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Monette
- HIV-1 RNA Trafficking Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.
| | - Meijuan Niu
- HIV-1 RNA Trafficking Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Lois Chen
- HIV-1 RNA Trafficking Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Shringar Rao
- HIV-1 RNA Trafficking Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Ee634, PO Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert James Gorelick
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Andrew John Mouland
- HIV-1 RNA Trafficking Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3G 2M1, Canada.
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François-Moutal L, Perez-Miller S, Scott DD, Miranda VG, Mollasalehi N, Khanna M. Corrigendum: Structural Insights Into TDP-43 and Effects of Post-translational Modifications. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:45. [PMID: 32300293 PMCID: PMC7143466 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Liberty François-Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Samantha Perez-Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - David D Scott
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Victor G Miranda
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Niloufar Mollasalehi
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - May Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
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35
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Pillai M, Jha SK. Early Metastable Assembly during the Stress-Induced Formation of Worm-like Amyloid Fibrils of Nucleic Acid Binding Domains of TDP-43. Biochemistry 2020; 59:315-328. [PMID: 31898895 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
TDP-43 protein travels between the cytosol and the nucleus to perform its nucleic acid binding functions through its two tandem RNA recognition motif domains (TDP-43tRRM). When exposed to various environmental stresses, it forms abnormal aggregates in the cytosol of neurons, which are the hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other TDP-43 proteinopathies. However, the nature of early structural changes upon stress sensing and the consequent steps during the course of aggregation are not well understood. In this study, we show that under low-pH conditions, mimicking starvation stress, TDP-43tRRM undergoes a conformational opening reaction linked to the protonation of buried ionizable residues and grows into a metastable oligomeric assembly (called the "low-pH form" or the "L form"). In the L form, the protein molecules have disrupted tertiary structure, solvent-exposed hydrophobic patches, and mobile side chains but the native-like secondary structure remains intact. The L form structure is held by weak interactions and has a steep dependence on ionic strength. In the presence of as little as 15 mM KCl, it fully misfolds and further oligomerizes to form a β-sheet rich "β form" in at least two distinct steps. The β form has an ordered, stable structure that resembles worm-like amyloid fibrils. The unstructured regions of the protein gain structure during L ⇌ β conversion. Our results suggest that TDP-43tRRM could function as a stress sensor and support a recent model in which stress sensing during neurodegeneration occurs by assembly of proteins into metastable assemblies that are precursors to the solid aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Pillai
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division , CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory , Dr. Homi Bhabha Road , Pune 411008 , India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) , Ghaziabad 201002 , India
| | - Santosh Kumar Jha
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division , CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory , Dr. Homi Bhabha Road , Pune 411008 , India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) , Ghaziabad 201002 , India
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36
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François-Moutal L, Perez-Miller S, Scott DD, Miranda VG, Mollasalehi N, Khanna M. Structural Insights Into TDP-43 and Effects of Post-translational Modifications. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:301. [PMID: 31920533 PMCID: PMC6934062 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactive response DNA binding protein (TDP-43) is a key player in neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we have gathered and presented structural information on the different regions of TDP-43 with high resolution structures available. A thorough understanding of TDP-43 structure, effect of modifications, aggregation and sites of localization is necessary as we develop therapeutic strategies targeting TDP-43 for neurodegenerative diseases. We discuss how different domains as well as post-translational modification may influence TDP-43 overall structure, aggregation and droplet formation. The primary aim of the review is to utilize structural insights as we develop an understanding of the deleterious behavior of TDP-43 and highlight locations of established and proposed post-translation modifications. TDP-43 structure and effect on localization is paralleled by many RNA-binding proteins and this review serves as an example of how structure may be modulated by numerous compounding elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liberty François-Moutal
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Samantha Perez-Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - David D Scott
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Victor G Miranda
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Niloufar Mollasalehi
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - May Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Center for Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
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37
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A benchmark for the size of the QM system required for accurate hybrid QM/MM calculations on the metal site of the protein copper, zinc superoxide dismutase. J Mol Model 2019; 25:176. [PMID: 31154525 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-019-4066-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The protein superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is a copper and zinc-binding protein that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The Zn(II) binding to SOD1 is critical for the stability of the protein, and has been by itself implicated in ALS pathogenesis. Hence, the quantum mechanical (QM) study of the Zn(II)-site of SOD1 is relevant for understanding ALS. The hybrid QM-molecular mechanics (QM/MM) approach commonly employed for the QM study of proteins is highly dependent on the size of the sub-system treated quantum-mechanically. The size of the QM system also determines the computational feasibility of a given method. In the present work, we compare optimized geometries for the metal site and Zn(II) dissociation energies obtained with a QM/MM methodology employing different sizes for the QM sub-system. We find that geometries converge rapidly to RMSDs of around 0.3 Å, and fails to converge further, while a QM system of 480 atoms was required for converging the Zn(II) interaction energy of SOD1 to within 5 kcal*mol-1, and a 611-atoms QM system for a 1 kcal*mol-1 convergence with respect to our reference, 1280 QM-atoms system. Graphical Abstract The size of the QM system is critical for both the accuracy and the computational cost of a QM/MM calculation. We have identified a optimum balance for the study of the active site of the coppper, zinc superoxide dismutase.
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Fichou Y, Al-Hilaly YK, Devred F, Smet-Nocca C, Tsvetkov PO, Verelst J, Winderickx J, Geukens N, Vanmechelen E, Perrotin A, Serpell L, Hanseeuw BJ, Medina M, Buée L, Landrieu I. The elusive tau molecular structures: can we translate the recent breakthroughs into new targets for intervention? Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:31. [PMID: 30823892 PMCID: PMC6397507 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0682-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Insights into tau molecular structures have advanced significantly in recent years. This field has been the subject of recent breakthroughs, including the first cryo-electron microscopy structures of tau filaments from Alzheimer’s and Pick’s disease inclusions, as well as the structure of the repeat regions of tau bound to microtubules. Tau structure covers various species as the tau protein itself takes many forms. We will here address a range of studies that help to define the many facets of tau protein structures and how they translate into pathogenic forms. New results shed light on previous data that need now to be revisited in order to up-date our knowledge of tau molecular structure. Finally, we explore how these data can contribute the important medical aspects of this research - diagnosis and therapeutics.
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39
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Bai N, Roder H, Dickson A, Karanicolas J. Isothermal Analysis of ThermoFluor Data can readily provide Quantitative Binding Affinities. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2650. [PMID: 30804351 PMCID: PMC6389909 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37072-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF), also known as ThermoFluor or Thermal Shift Assay, has become a commonly-used approach for detecting protein-ligand interactions, particularly in the context of fragment screening. Upon binding to a folded protein, most ligands stabilize the protein; thus, observing an increase in the temperature at which the protein unfolds as a function of ligand concentration can serve as evidence of a direct interaction. While experimental protocols for this assay are well-developed, it is not straightforward to extract binding constants from the resulting data. Because of this, DSF is often used to probe for an interaction, but not to quantify the corresponding binding constant (Kd). Here, we propose a new approach for analyzing DSF data. Using unfolding curves at varying ligand concentrations, our "isothermal" approach collects from these the fraction of protein that is folded at a single temperature (chosen to be temperature near the unfolding transition). This greatly simplifies the subsequent analysis, because it circumvents the complicating temperature dependence of the binding constant; the resulting constant-temperature system can then be described as a pair of coupled equilibria (protein folding/unfolding and ligand binding/unbinding). The temperature at which the binding constants are determined can also be tuned, by adding chemical denaturants that shift the protein unfolding temperature. We demonstrate the application of this isothermal analysis using experimental data for maltose binding protein binding to maltose, and for two carbonic anhydrase isoforms binding to each of four inhibitors. To facilitate adoption of this new approach, we provide a free and easy-to-use Python program that analyzes thermal unfolding data and implements the isothermal approach described herein ( https://sourceforge.net/projects/dsf-fitting ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Bai
- Program in Molecular Therapeutics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
| | - Heinrich Roder
- Program in Molecular Therapeutics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Alex Dickson
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - John Karanicolas
- Program in Molecular Therapeutics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
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Prasad A, Bharathi V, Sivalingam V, Girdhar A, Patel BK. Molecular Mechanisms of TDP-43 Misfolding and Pathology in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:25. [PMID: 30837838 PMCID: PMC6382748 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 428] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a versatile RNA/DNA binding protein involved in RNA-related metabolism. Hyper-phosphorylated and ubiquitinated TDP-43 deposits act as inclusion bodies in the brain and spinal cord of patients with the motor neuron diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). While the majority of ALS cases (90-95%) are sporadic (sALS), among familial ALS cases 5-10% involve the inheritance of mutations in the TARDBP gene and the remaining (90-95%) are due to mutations in other genes such as: C9ORF72, SOD1, FUS, and NEK1 etc. Strikingly however, the majority of sporadic ALS patients (up to 97%) also contain the TDP-43 protein deposited in the neuronal inclusions, which suggests of its pivotal role in the ALS pathology. Thus, unraveling the molecular mechanisms of the TDP-43 pathology seems central to the ALS therapeutics, hence, we comprehensively review the current understanding of the TDP-43's pathology in ALS. We discuss the roles of TDP-43's mutations, its cytoplasmic mis-localization and aberrant post-translational modifications in ALS. Also, we evaluate TDP-43's amyloid-like in vitro aggregation, its physiological vs. pathological oligomerization in vivo, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), and potential prion-like propagation propensity of the TDP-43 inclusions. Finally, we describe the various evolving TDP-43-induced toxicity mechanisms, such as the impairment of endocytosis and mitotoxicity etc. and also discuss the emerging strategies toward TDP-43 disaggregation and ALS therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Basant K. Patel
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, India
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41
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Zinc binding regulates amyloid-like aggregation of GAPR-1. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20182345. [PMID: 30700571 PMCID: PMC6900432 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20182345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the CAP superfamily (Cysteine-rich secretory proteins, Antigen 5, and Pathogenesis-related 1 proteins) are characterized by the presence of a CAP domain that is defined by four sequence motifs and a highly conserved tertiary structure. A common structure–function relationship for this domain is hitherto unknown. A characteristic of several CAP proteins is their formation of amyloid-like structures in the presence of lipids. Here we investigate the structural modulation of Golgi-Associated plant Pathogenesis Related protein 1 (GAPR-1) by known interactors of the CAP domain, preceding amyloid-like aggregation. Using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), we demonstrate that GAPR-1 binds zinc ions. Zn2+ binding causes a slight but significant conformational change as revealed by CD, tryptophan fluorescence, and trypsin digestion. The Zn2+-induced conformational change was required for the formation of GAPR-1 oligomers and amyloid-like assemblies in the presence of heparin, as shown by ThT fluorescence and TEM. Molecular dynamics simulations show binding of Zn2+ to His54 and His103. Mutation of these two highly conserved residues resulted in strongly diminished amyloid-like aggregation. Finally, we show that proteins from the cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) subfamily are also able to form ThT-positive structures in vitro in a heparin- and Zn2+-dependent manner, suggesting that oligomerization regulated by metal ions could be a common structural property of the CAP domain.
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42
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Ash PEA, Dhawan U, Boudeau S, Lei S, Carlomagno Y, Knobel M, Al Mohanna LFA, Boomhower SR, Newland MC, Sherr DH, Wolozin B. Heavy Metal Neurotoxicants Induce ALS-Linked TDP-43 Pathology. Toxicol Sci 2019; 167:105-115. [PMID: 30371865 PMCID: PMC6317426 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and selenium, have been epidemiologically linked with a risk of ALS, but a molecular mechanism proving the connection has not been shown. A screen of putative developmental neurotoxins demonstrated that heavy metals (lead, mercury, and tin) trigger accumulation of TDP-43 into nuclear granules with concomitant loss of diffuse nuclear TDP-43. Lead (Pb) and methyl mercury (MeHg) disrupt the homeostasis of TDP-43 in neurons, resulting in increased levels of transcript and increased splicing activity of TDP-43. TDP-43 homeostasis is tightly regulated, and positively or negatively altering its splicing-suppressive activity has been shown to be deleterious to neurons. These changes are associated with the liquid-liquid phase separation of TDP-43 into nuclear bodies. We show that lead directly facilitates phase separation of TDP-43 in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, possibly explaining the means by which lead treatment results in neuronal nuclear granules. Metal toxicants also triggered the accumulation of insoluble TDP-43 in cultured cells and in the cortices of exposed mice. These results provide novel evidence of a direct mechanistic link between heavy metals, which are a commonly cited environmental risk of ALS, and molecular changes in TDP-43, the primary pathological protein accumulating in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E A Ash
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Uma Dhawan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
- Department of Biomedical Science, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi 110075, India
| | - Samantha Boudeau
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Shuwen Lei
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Yari Carlomagno
- Neuroscience Division, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Mark Knobel
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Louloua F A Al Mohanna
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Steven R Boomhower
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | | | - David H Sherr
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health
| | - Benjamin Wolozin
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
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43
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Zinc Induces Temperature-Dependent Reversible Self-Assembly of Tau. J Mol Biol 2018; 431:687-695. [PMID: 30580037 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Tau is an intrinsically disordered microtubule-associated protein that is implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders called tauopathies. In these diseases, Tau is found in the form of intracellular inclusions that consist of aggregated paired helical filaments (PHFs) in neurons. Given the importance of this irreversible PHF formation in neurodegenerative disease, Tau aggregation has been extensively studied. Several different factors, such as mutations or post translational modifications, have been shown to influence the formation of late-stage non-reversible Tau aggregates. It was recently shown that zinc ions accelerated heparin-induced oligomerization of Tau constructs. Indeed, in vitro studies of PHFs have usually been performed in the presence of additional co-factors, such as heparin, in order to accelerate their formation. Using turbidimetry, we investigated the impact of zinc ions on Tau in the absence of heparin and found that zinc is able to induce a temperature-dependent reversible oligomerization of Tau. The obtained oligomers were not amyloid-like and dissociated instantly following zinc chelation or a temperature decrease. Finally, a combination of isothermal titration calorimetry and dynamic light scattering experiments showed zinc binding to a high-affinity binding site and three low-affinity sites on Tau, accompanied by a change in Tau folding. Altogether, our findings stress the importance of zinc in Tau oligomerization. This newly identified Zn-induced oligomerization mechanism may be a part of a pathway different of and concurrent to Tau aggregation cascade leading to PHF formation.
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44
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Tsvetkov PO, Roman AY, Baksheeva VE, Nazipova AA, Shevelyova MP, Vladimirov VI, Buyanova MF, Zinchenko DV, Zamyatnin AA, Devred F, Golovin AV, Permyakov SE, Zernii EY. Functional Status of Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1 Is Modulated by Zinc Binding. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:459. [PMID: 30618610 PMCID: PMC6302015 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) protein is abundantly expressed in the central nervous system and retinal neurons, where it regulates many vital processes such as synaptic transmission. It coordinates three calcium ions by EF-hands 2-4, thereby transducing Ca2+ signals to a wide range of protein targets, including G protein-coupled receptors and their kinases. Here, we demonstrate that NCS-1 also has Zn2+-binding sites, which affect its structural and functional properties upon filling. Fluorescence and circular dichroism experiments reveal the impact of Zn2+ binding on NCS-1 secondary and tertiary structure. According to atomic absorption spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry studies, apo-NCS-1 has two high-affinity (4 × 106 M-1) and one low-affinity (2 × 105 M-1) Zn2+-binding sites, whereas Mg2+-loaded and Ca2+-loaded forms (which dominate under physiological conditions) bind two zinc ions with submicromolar affinity. Metal competition analysis and circular dichroism studies suggest that Zn2+-binding sites of apo- and Mg2+-loaded NCS-1 overlap with functional EF-hands of the protein. Consistently, high Zn2+ concentrations displace Mg2+ from the EF-hands and decrease the stoichiometry of Ca2+ binding. Meanwhile, one of the EF-hands of Zn2+-saturated NCS-1 exhibits a 14-fold higher calcium affinity, which increases the overall calcium sensitivity of the protein. Based on QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations, Zn2+ binding to Ca2+-loaded NCS-1 could occur at EF-hands 2 and 4. The high-affinity zinc binding increases the thermal stability of Ca2+-free NCS-1 and favours the interaction of its Ca2+-loaded form with target proteins, such as dopamine receptor D2R and GRK1. In contrast, low-affinity zinc binding promotes NCS-1 aggregation accompanied by the formation of twisted rope-like structures. Altogether, our findings suggest a complex interplay between magnesium, calcium and zinc binding to NCS-1, leading to the appearance of multiple conformations of the protein, in turn modulating its functional status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp O Tsvetkov
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marseille, France
| | - Andrei Yu Roman
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds (RAS), Chernogolovka, Russia
| | - Viktoriia E Baksheeva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aliya A Nazipova
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Marina P Shevelyova
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Vasiliy I Vladimirov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Michelle F Buyanova
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry V Zinchenko
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Andrey A Zamyatnin
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - François Devred
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marseille, France
| | - Andrey V Golovin
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Computer Science, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergei E Permyakov
- Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Evgeni Yu Zernii
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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