1
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Adam L, Kumar R, Arroyo‐Garcia LE, Molenkamp WH, Nowak JS, Klute H, Farzadfard A, Alkenayeh R, Nielsen J, Biverstål H, Otzen DE, Johansson J, Abelein A. Specific inhibition of α-synuclein oligomer generation and toxicity by the chaperone domain Bri2 BRICHOS. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5091. [PMID: 38980078 PMCID: PMC11232276 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation are involved in several neurodegenerative disorders, such as α-synuclein (αSyn) implicated in Parkinson's disease, where new therapeutic approaches remain essential to combat these devastating diseases. Elucidating the microscopic nucleation mechanisms has opened new opportunities to develop therapeutics against toxic mechanisms and species. Here, we show that naturally occurring molecular chaperones, represented by the anti-amyloid Bri2 BRICHOS domain, can be used to target αSyn-associated nucleation processes and structural species related to neurotoxicity. Our findings revealed that BRICHOS predominantly suppresses the formation of new nucleation units on the fibrils surface (secondary nucleation), decreasing the oligomer generation rate. Further, BRICHOS directly binds to oligomeric αSyn species and effectively diminishes αSyn fibril-related toxicity. Hence, our studies show that molecular chaperones can be utilized as tools to target molecular processes and structural species related to αSyn neurotoxicity and have the potential as protein-based treatments against neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurène Adam
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Luis Enrique Arroyo‐Garcia
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of NeurogeriatricsKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden
| | | | - Jan Stanislaw Nowak
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO)Aarhus UniversityAarhus CDenmark
| | - Hannah Klute
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Azad Farzadfard
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO)Aarhus UniversityAarhus CDenmark
- Department of Biotechnology and BiomedicineTechnical University of DenmarkLyngbyDenmark
| | - Rami Alkenayeh
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Janni Nielsen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO)Aarhus UniversityAarhus CDenmark
| | - Henrik Biverstål
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Daniel E. Otzen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO)Aarhus UniversityAarhus CDenmark
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
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2
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Chen G, Wang Y, Zheng Z, Jiang W, Leppert A, Zhong X, Belorusova A, Siegal G, Jegerschöld C, Koeck PJB, Abelein A, Hebert H, Knight SD, Johansson J. Molecular basis for different substrate-binding sites and chaperone functions of the BRICHOS domain. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5063. [PMID: 38864729 PMCID: PMC11168071 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5063] [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: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Proteins can misfold into fibrillar or amorphous aggregates and molecular chaperones act as crucial guardians against these undesirable processes. The BRICHOS chaperone domain, found in several otherwise unrelated proproteins that contain amyloidogenic regions, effectively inhibits amyloid formation and toxicity but can in some cases also prevent non-fibrillar, amorphous protein aggregation. Here, we elucidate the molecular basis behind the multifaceted chaperone activities of the BRICHOS domain from the Bri2 proprotein. High-confidence AlphaFold2 and RoseTTAFold predictions suggest that the intramolecular amyloidogenic region (Bri23) is part of the hydrophobic core of the proprotein, where it occupies the proposed amyloid binding site, explaining the markedly reduced ability of the proprotein to prevent an exogenous amyloidogenic peptide from aggregating. However, the BRICHOS-Bri23 complex maintains its ability to form large polydisperse oligomers that prevent amorphous protein aggregation. A cryo-EM-derived model of the Bri2 BRICHOS oligomer is compatible with surface-exposed hydrophobic motifs that get exposed and come together during oligomerization, explaining its effects against amorphous aggregation. These findings provide a molecular basis for the BRICHOS chaperone domain function, where distinct surfaces are employed against different forms of protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Zihan Zheng
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- Department of PharmacologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Wangshu Jiang
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Axel Leppert
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- Present address:
Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell BiologyKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden
| | - Xueying Zhong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and HealthKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | | | | | - Caroline Jegerschöld
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and HealthKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | - Philip J. B. Koeck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and HealthKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Hans Hebert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and HealthKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | - Stefan D. Knight
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
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3
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Das B, Tk Baidya A, Chakrabarti S, Chouhan D, Thakur B, Darreh-Shori T, Chen G, Tiwari V, Kumar R. Synthesis and biological evaluation of Halogen-Substituted novel α-Ketoamides as potential protein aggregation modulators in Alzheimer's disease. Bioorg Chem 2024; 147:107373. [PMID: 38653149 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107373] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The escalating prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has prompted extensive research into potential therapeutic interventions, with a specific focus on molecular targets such as amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau protein aggregation. In this study, a series of α-ketoamide derivatives was synthesized from β,γ-unsaturated α-keto thioesters, achieving high purity and good yield. Thioflavin T based Aβ aggregation assay identified four promising compounds (BD19, BD23, BD24, and BD27) that demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on Aβ aggregation. BD23, selected for its better solubility (0.045 ± 0.0012 mg/ml), was further subjected to in vitro Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay to determine the Blood-Brain-Barrier permeability and emerged as BBB permeable with permeability rate (Pe) of 10.66 ± 8.11 × 10-6 cm/s. In addition to its Aβ inhibitory properties, BD23 exhibited significant inhibition of heparin-induced tau aggregation and demonstrated non-toxicity in SHSY5Y cell lines. Subsequent in vivo assays were conducted, administering compound BD23 to an Aβ induced mouse model of AD at various doses (1, 2, & 5 mg/kg). The results revealed a noteworthy enhancement in cognitive functions, particularly when BD23 was administered at a dosage of 5 mg/kg, comparable to the effects observed with the standard dose of Donepezil (DNP). In silico investigations, including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and Density Functional Theory calculations provided insights into BD23's interactions with the targets and electronic properties. These analyses contribute to the understanding of the therapeutic potential of the lead compounds BD23 which further pave the way for further exploration of its therapeutic potential in the context of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhanuranjan Das
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Anurag Tk Baidya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Sourabh Chakrabarti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Deepak Chouhan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Banita Thakur
- Division of Clinical Geriatric, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, NEO, 7th Floor, 141 52 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Taher Darreh-Shori
- Division of Clinical Geriatric, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, NEO, 7th Floor, 141 52 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14 183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Vinod Tiwari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India
| | - Rajnish Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (B.H.U.), Varanasi 221005 U.P., India.
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4
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Johansson J. Treatment with BRICHOS domain helps to clarify issues with Alzheimer mouse models. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:715-716. [PMID: 38480933 PMCID: PMC11018833 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00041-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
This correspondence offers clarifications on the utility of BRICHOS domains in understanding pathology in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models and the potential of these domains as a treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
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5
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Kaushik A, Parashar S, Ambasta RK, Kumar P. Ubiquitin E3 ligases assisted technologies in protein degradation: Sharing pathways in neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 96:102279. [PMID: 38521359 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
E3 ligases, essential components of the ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated protein degradation system, play a critical role in cellular regulation. By covalently attaching ubiquitin (Ub) molecules to target proteins, these ligases mark them for degradation, influencing various bioprocesses. With over 600 E3 ligases identified, there is a growing realization of their potential as therapeutic candidates for addressing proteinopathies in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Recent research has highlighted the need to delve deeper into the intricate roles of E3 ligases as nexus points in the pathogenesis of both cancer and NDDs. Their dysregulation is emerging as a common thread linking these seemingly disparate diseases, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their molecular intricacies. Herein, we have discussed (i) the fundamental mechanisms through which different types of E3 ligases actively participate in selective protein degradation in cancer and NDDs, followed by an examination of common E3 ligases playing pivotal roles in both situations, emphasising common players. Moving to, (ii) the functional domains and motifs of E3 ligases involved in ubiquitination, we have explored their interactions with specific substrates in NDDs and cancer. Additionally, (iii) we have explored techniques like PROTAC, molecular glues, and other state-of-the-art methods for hijacking neurotoxic and oncoproteins. Lastly, (iv) we have provided insights into ongoing clinical trials, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of E3-based therapeutics for cancer and NDDs. Unravelling the intricate network of E3 ligase-mediated regulation holds the key to unlocking targeted therapies that address the specific molecular signatures of individual patients, heralding a new era in personalized medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aastha Kaushik
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (Formerly DCE), Delhi 110042, India
| | - Somya Parashar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (Formerly DCE), Delhi 110042, India
| | - Rashmi K Ambasta
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, SRM University-Sonepat, Haryana, India
| | - Pravir Kumar
- Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University (Formerly DCE), Delhi 110042, India.
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6
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Yin T, Yesiltepe M, D'Adamio L. Functional BRI2-TREM2 interactions in microglia: implications for Alzheimer's and related dementias. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1326-1360. [PMID: 38347225 PMCID: PMC10933458 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00077-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
ITM2B/BRI2 mutations cause Alzheimer's Disease (AD)-related dementias. We observe heightened ITM2B/BRI2 expression in microglia, a pivotal cell type in AD due to risk-increasing variants in the microglial gene TREM2. Single-cell RNA-sequencing demonstrates a Trem2/Bri2-dependent microglia cluster, underscoring their functional interaction. α-secretase cleaves TREM2 into TREM2-CTF and sTREM2. As BRI2 hinders α-secretase cleavage of the AD-related Aβ-Precursor-Protein, we probed whether BRI2 influences TREM2 processing. Our findings indicate a BRI2-TREM2 interaction that inhibits TREM2 processing in heterologous cells. Recombinant BRI2 and TREM2 proteins demonstrate a direct, cell-free BRI2-TREM2 ectodomain interaction. Constitutive and microglial-specific Itm2b-Knock-out mice, and Itm2b-Knock-out primary microglia provide evidence that Bri2 reduces Trem2 processing, boosts Trem2 mRNA expression, and influences Trem2 protein levels through α-secretase-independent pathways, revealing a multifaceted BRI2-TREM2 functional interaction. Moreover, a mutant Itm2b dementia mouse model exhibits elevated Trem2-CTF and sTrem2, mirroring sTREM2 increases in AD patients. Lastly, Bri2 deletion reduces phagocytosis similarly to a pathogenic TREM2 variant that enhances processing. Given BRI2's role in regulating Aβ-Precursor-Protein and TREM2 functions, it holds promise as a therapeutic target for AD and related dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
| | - Metin Yesiltepe
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Luciano D'Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA.
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7
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Smirnova EV, Timofeev VI, Rakitina TV, Petrenko DE, Elmeeva OS, Saratov GA, Kudriaeva AA, Bocharov EV, Belogurov AA. Myelin Basic Protein Attenuates Furin-Mediated Bri2 Cleavage and Postpones Its Membrane Trafficking. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2608. [PMID: 38473856 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Myelin basic protein (MBP) is the second most abundant protein in the central nervous system and is responsible for structural maintenance of the myelin sheath covering axons. Previously, we showed that MBP has a more proactive role in the oligodendrocyte homeostasis, interacting with membrane-associated proteins, including integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2B or Bri2) that is associated with familial dementias. Here, we report that the molecular dynamics of the in silico-generated MBP-Bri2 complex revealed that MBP covers a significant portion of the Bri2 ectodomain, assumingly trapping the furin cleavage site, while the surface of the BRICHOS domain, which is responsible for the multimerization and activation of the Bri2 high-molecular-weight oligomer chaperone function, remains unmasked. These observations were supported by the co-expression of MBP with Bri2, its mature form, and disease-associated mutants, which showed that in mammalian cells, MBP indeed modulates the post-translational processing of Bri2 by restriction of the furin-catalyzed release of its C-terminal peptide. Moreover, we showed that the co-expression of MBP and Bri2 also leads to an altered cellular localization of Bri2, restricting its membrane trafficking independently of the MBP-mediated suppression of the Bri2 C-terminal peptide release. Further investigations should elucidate if these observations have physiological meaning in terms of Bri2 as a MBP chaperone activated by the MBP-dependent postponement of Bri2 membrane trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniya V Smirnova
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Tatiana V Rakitina
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry E Petrenko
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga S Elmeeva
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Biologically Active Compounds, Medical and Organic Chemistry Named after N.A. Preobrazhensky, Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia
| | - George A Saratov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), 141701 Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Anna A Kudriaeva
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eduard V Bocharov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), 141701 Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Alexey A Belogurov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Russian University of Medicine" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 127473 Moscow, Russia
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8
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Kumar R, Le Marchand T, Adam L, Bobrovs R, Chen G, Fridmanis J, Kronqvist N, Biverstål H, Jaudzems K, Johansson J, Pintacuda G, Abelein A. Identification of potential aggregation hotspots on Aβ42 fibrils blocked by the anti-amyloid chaperone-like BRICHOS domain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:965. [PMID: 38302480 PMCID: PMC10834949 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45192-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding can generate toxic intermediates, which underlies several devastating diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The surface of AD-associated amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) fibrils has been suggested to act as a catalyzer for self-replication and generation of potentially toxic species. Specifically tailored molecular chaperones, such as the BRICHOS protein domain, were shown to bind to amyloid fibrils and break this autocatalytic cycle. Here, we identify a site on the Aβ42 fibril surface, consisting of three C-terminal β-strands and particularly the solvent-exposed β-strand stretching from residues 26-28, which is efficiently sensed by a designed variant of Bri2 BRICHOS. Remarkably, while only a low amount of BRICHOS binds to Aβ42 fibrils, fibril-catalyzed nucleation processes are effectively prevented, suggesting that the identified site acts as a catalytic aggregation hotspot, which can specifically be blocked by BRICHOS. Hence, these findings provide an understanding how toxic nucleation events can be targeted by molecular chaperones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Tanguy Le Marchand
- Université de Lyon, Centre de Resonance Magnétique Nucléaire (CRMN) à Très Hauts Champs de Lyon (UMR 5082 - CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCB Lyon 1), 69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Laurène Adam
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Raitis Bobrovs
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jēkabs Fridmanis
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Henrik Biverstål
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Guido Pintacuda
- Université de Lyon, Centre de Resonance Magnétique Nucléaire (CRMN) à Très Hauts Champs de Lyon (UMR 5082 - CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCB Lyon 1), 69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden.
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9
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Coelho R, De Benedictis CA, Sauer AK, Figueira AJ, Faustino H, Grabrucker AM, Gomes CM. Secondary Modification of S100B Influences Anti Amyloid-β Aggregation Activity and Alzheimer's Disease Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1787. [PMID: 38339064 PMCID: PMC10855146 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteinaceous aggregates accumulate in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), inducing cellular defense mechanisms and altering the redox status. S100 pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly S100B, are activated during AD, but recent findings reveal an unconventional molecular chaperone role for S100B in hindering Aβ aggregation and toxicity. This suggests a potential protective role for S100B at the onset of Aβ proteotoxicity, occurring in a complex biochemical environment prone to oxidative damage. Herein, we report an investigation in which extracellular oxidative conditions are mimicked to test if the susceptibility of S100B to oxidation influences its protective activities. Resorting to mild oxidation of S100B, we observed methionine oxidation as inferred from mass spectrometry, but no cysteine-mediated crosslinking. Structural analysis showed that the folding, structure, and stability of oxidized S100B were not affected, and nor was its quaternary structure. However, studies on Aβ aggregation kinetics indicated that oxidized S100B was more effective in preventing aggregation, potentially linked to the oxidation of Met residues within the S100:Aβ binding cleft that favors interactions. Using a cell culture model to analyze the S100B functions in a highly oxidative milieu, as in AD, we observed that Aβ toxicity is rescued by the co-administration of oxidized S100B to a greater extent than by S100B. Additionally, results suggest a disrupted positive feedback loop involving S100B which is caused by its oxidation, leading to the downstream regulation of IL-17 and IFN-α2 expression as mediated by S100B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Coelho
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.C.); (A.J.F.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Chiara A. De Benedictis
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.B.); (A.K.S.)
- Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ann Katrin Sauer
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.B.); (A.K.S.)
- Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
| | - António J. Figueira
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.C.); (A.J.F.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Hélio Faustino
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit, Oliveira do Hospital, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição No. 2, 3405-155 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Andreas M. Grabrucker
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.B.); (A.K.S.)
- Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland
| | - Cláudio M. Gomes
- BioISI—Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.C.); (A.J.F.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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10
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D'Adamio L. Transfixed by transgenics: how pathology assumptions are slowing progress in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia research. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e18479. [PMID: 37750482 PMCID: PMC10630870 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202318479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Model organisms of human diseases are invaluable tools for unraveling pathogenic mechanisms, identifying potential targets for drug development, and evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of candidates in preclinical trials. The utility of model organisms hinges upon their ability to faithfully replicate the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of the human disease. For rodent models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD), the limited translatability to human disease raises concerns about their overall utility. What factors contribute to this limitation? Is AD inherently too complex to be accurately modeled in nonhumans? Is the divergence between rodent brains and the human brain so pronounced that rodents are unsuitable as model organisms for AD? Or is it plausible that the commonly used rodent models don't capture the genuine pathogenic mechanisms underlying these diseases? This editorial discusses the challenges associated with transgenic models of AD and ADRD and offers some alternative approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano D'Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJUSA
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11
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Abelein A. Metal Binding of Alzheimer's Amyloid-β and Its Effect on Peptide Self-Assembly. Acc Chem Res 2023; 56:2653-2663. [PMID: 37733746 PMCID: PMC10552549 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Metal ions have been identified as key factors modulating the aggregation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The presence of elevated levels of metal ions in the amyloid plaques in AD patients supports the notion that the dysfunction of metal homeostasis is connected to the development of AD pathology. Here, recent findings from high- and low-resolution biophysical techniques are put into perspective, providing detailed insights into the molecular structures and dynamics of metal-bound Aβ complexes and the effect of metal ions on the Aβ aggregation process. In particular, the development of theoretical kinetic models deducing different microscopic nucleation events from the macroscopic aggregation behavior has enabled deciphering of the effect of metal ions on specific nucleation processes. In addition to these macroscopic measurements of bulk aggregation to quantify microscopic rates, recent NMR studies have revealed details about the structures and dynamics of metal-Aβ complexes, thereby linking structural events to bulk aggregation. Interestingly, transition-metal ions, such as copper, zinc, and silver ions, form a compact complex with the N-terminal part of monomeric Aβ, respectively, where the metal-bound "folded" state is in dynamic equilibrium with an "unfolded" state. The rates and thermodynamic features of these exchange dynamics have been determined by using NMR relaxation dispersion experiments. Additionally, the application of specifically tailored paramagnetic NMR experiments on the Cu(II)-Aβ complex has been fruitful in obtaining structural constraints within the blind sphere of conventional NMR experiments. This enables the determination of molecular structures of the "folded" Cu(II)-coordinated N-terminal region of Aβ. Furthermore, the discussed transition-metal ions modulate Aβ self-assembly in a concentration-dependent manner, where low metal ion concentrations inhibit Aβ fibril formation, while at high metal ion concentrations other processes occur, resulting in amorphous aggregate formation. Remarkably, the metal-Aβ interaction predominately reduces one specific nucleation step, the fibril-end elongation, whereas primary and surface-catalyzed secondary nucleation mechanisms are less affected. Specific inhibition of fibril-end elongation theoretically predicts an enhanced generation of Aβ oligomers, which is an interesting contribution to understanding metal-Aβ-associated neurotoxic effects. Taken together, the metal binding process creates a metal-bound Aβ complex, which is seemingly inert to aggregation. This process hence efficiently reduces the aggregation-prone peptide pool, which on the macroscopic level is reflected as slower aggregation kinetics. Thus, the specific binding of metals to the Aβ monomer can be linked to the macroscopic inhibitory effect on Aβ bulk aggregation, providing a molecular understanding of the Aβ aggregation mechanism in the presence of metal ions, where the metal ion can be seen as a minimalist agent against Aβ self-assembly. These insights can help to target Aβ aggregation in vivo, where metal ions are key factors modulating the Aβ self-assembly and Aβ-associated neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences
and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
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12
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Yin T, D’Adamio L. BRI2-mediated regulation of TREM2 processing in microglia and its potential implications for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.14.544924. [PMID: 37398330 PMCID: PMC10312752 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
ITM2B/BRI2 mutations cause familial forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related dementias by disrupting BRI2's protein function and leading to the accumulation of amyloidogenic peptides. Although typically studied in neurons, our findings show that BRI2 is highly expressed in microglia, which are crucial in AD pathogenesis due to the association of variants in the microglial gene TREM2 with increased AD risk. Our single-cell RNAseq (scRNAseq) analysis revealed a microglia cluster that depends on a Trem2 activity that is inhibited by Bri2, pointing to a functional interaction between Itm2b/Bri2 and Trem2. Given that the AD-related Amyloid-β Precursor protein (APP) and TREM2 undergo similar proteolytic processing, and that BRI2 inhibits APP processing, we hypothesized that BRI2 may also regulate TREM2 processing. We found that BRI2 interacts with Trem2 and inhibits its processing by α-secretase in transfected cells. In mice lacking Bri2 expression, we observed increased central nervous system (CNS) levels of Trem2-CTF and sTrem2, which are the products of α-secretase processing of Trem2, indicating increased Trem2 processing by α-secretase in vivo. Reducing Bri2 expression only in microglia resulted in increased sTrem2 levels, suggesting a cell-autonomous effect of Bri2 on α-secretase processing of Trem2. Our study reveals a previously unknow role of BRI2 in regulating TREM2-related neurodegenerative mechanisms. The ability of BRI2 to regulate the processing of both APP and TREM2, combined with its cell-autonomous role in neurons and microglia, makes it a promising candidate for the development of AD and AD-related dementias therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Luciano D’Adamio
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience New Jersey Medical School, Brain Health Institute, Jacqueline Krieger Klein Center in Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Research, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 205 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
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13
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Sanchez-Rodriguez D, Gonzalez-Figueroa I, Alvarez-Berríos MP. Chaperone Activity and Protective Effect against Aβ-Induced Cytotoxicity of Artocarpus camansi Blanco and Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell Seed Protein Extracts. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:820. [PMID: 37375767 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060820] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and is listed as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Recent findings have linked AD to the aggregation of amyloid beta peptides (Aβ), a proteolytic fragment of 39-43 amino acid residues derived from the amyloid precursor protein. AD has no cure; thus, new therapies to stop the progression of this deadly disease are constantly being searched for. In recent years, chaperone-based medications from medicinal plants have gained significant interest as an anti-AD therapy. Chaperones are responsible for maintaining the three-dimensional shape of proteins and play an important role against neurotoxicity induced by the aggregation of misfolded proteins. Therefore, we hypothesized that proteins extracted from the seeds of Artocarpus camansi Blanco (A. camansi) and Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell (A. dubius) could possess chaperone activity and consequently may exhibit a protective effect against Aβ1-40-induced cytotoxicity. To test this hypothesis, the chaperone activity of these protein extracts was measured using the enzymatic reaction of citrate synthase (CS) under stress conditions. Then, their ability to inhibit the aggregation of Aβ1-40 using a thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay and DLS measurements was determined. Finally, the neuroprotective effect against Aβ1-40 in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells was evaluated. Our results demonstrated that A. camansi and A. dubius protein extracts exhibited chaperone activity and inhibited Aβ1-40 fibril formation, with A. dubius showing the highest chaperone activity and inhibition at the concentration assessed. Additionally, both protein extracts showed neuroprotective effects against Aβ1-40-induced toxicity. Overall, our data demonstrated that the plant-based proteins studied in this research work can effectively overcome one of the most important characteristics of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sanchez-Rodriguez
- Department of Science and Technology, Inter American University of Puerto Rico at Ponce, Ponce, PR 00715-1602, USA
| | - Idsa Gonzalez-Figueroa
- Department of Science and Technology, Inter American University of Puerto Rico at Ponce, Ponce, PR 00715-1602, USA
| | - Merlis P Alvarez-Berríos
- Department of Science and Technology, Inter American University of Puerto Rico at Ponce, Ponce, PR 00715-1602, USA
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14
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Abelein A, Johansson J. Amyloid inhibition by molecular chaperones in vitro can be translated to Alzheimer's pathology in vivo. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:848-857. [PMID: 37252101 PMCID: PMC10211315 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00040k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular chaperones are important components in the cellular quality-control machinery and increasing evidence points to potential new roles for them as suppressors of amyloid formation in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Approaches to treat Alzheimer's disease have not yet resulted in an effective treatment, suggesting that alternative strategies may be useful. Here, we discuss new treatment approaches based on molecular chaperones that inhibit amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation by different microscopic mechanisms of action. Molecular chaperones that specifically target secondary nucleation reactions during Aβ aggregation in vitro - a process closely associated with Aβ oligomer generation - have shown promising results in animal treatment studies. The inhibition of Aβ oligomer generation in vitro seemingly correlates with the effects of treatment, giving indirect clues about the molecular mechanisms present in vivo. Interestingly, recent immunotherapy advances, which have demonstrated significant improvements in clinical phase III trials, have used antibodies that selectively act against Aβ oligomer formation, supporting the notion that specific inhibition of Aβ neurotoxicity is more rewarding than reducing overall amyloid fibril formation. Hence, specific modulation of chaperone activity represents a promising new strategy for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 83 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 83 Huddinge Sweden
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15
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Ghosh S, Tugarinov V, Clore GM. Quantitative NMR analysis of the mechanism and kinetics of chaperone Hsp104 action on amyloid-β42 aggregation and fibril formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2305823120. [PMID: 37186848 PMCID: PMC10214214 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305823120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The chaperone Hsp104, a member of the Hsp100/Clp family of translocases, prevents fibril formation of a variety of amyloidogenic peptides in a paradoxically substoichiometric manner. To understand the mechanism whereby Hsp104 inhibits fibril formation, we probed the interaction of Hsp104 with the Alzheimer's amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) peptide using a variety of biophysical techniques. Hsp104 is highly effective at suppressing the formation of Thioflavin T (ThT) reactive mature fibrils that are readily observed by atomic force (AFM) and electron (EM) microscopies. Quantitative kinetic analysis and global fitting was performed on serially recorded 1H-15N correlation spectra to monitor the disappearance of Aβ42 monomers during the course of aggregation over a wide range of Hsp104 concentrations. Under the conditions employed (50 μM Aβ42 at 20 °C), Aβ42 aggregation occurs by a branching mechanism: an irreversible on-pathway leading to mature fibrils that entails primary and secondary nucleation and saturating elongation; and a reversible off-pathway to form nonfibrillar oligomers, unreactive to ThT and too large to be observed directly by NMR, but too small to be visualized by AFM or EM. Hsp104 binds reversibly with nanomolar affinity to sparsely populated Aβ42 nuclei present in nanomolar concentrations, generated by primary and secondary nucleation, thereby completely inhibiting on-pathway fibril formation at substoichiometric ratios of Hsp104 to Aβ42 monomers. Tight binding to sparsely populated nuclei likely constitutes a general mechanism for substoichiometric inhibition of fibrillization by a variety of chaperones. Hsp104 also impacts off-pathway oligomerization but to a much smaller degree initially reducing and then increasing the rate of off-pathway oligomerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Ghosh
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892-0520
| | - Vitali Tugarinov
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892-0520
| | - G. Marius Clore
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892-0520
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16
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Tigro H, Shimozawa M, Nilsson P, Lyashkov A, Khadeer M, Järving I, Ferrucci L, Shimmo R, Johansson J, Moaddel R. Identification of glycolytic proteins as binding partners of Bri2 BRICHOS domain. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 232:115465. [PMID: 37220701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115465] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Human integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2B or Bri2) is a member of the BRICHOS family, that can attenuate Aβ pathology in the brain. As a result, the identification of novel Bri2 BRICHOS client proteins has been sought to help elucidate signaling pathways and the potential identification of novel therapeutic targets. To identify Bri2 BRICHOS interacting partners, we carried out a 'protein fishing' experiment using recombinant human (rh) Bri2 BRICHOS-coated magnetic particles, in combination with proteomic analysis on cytosolic and membrane fractions of cortical homogenates from C57BL/6 J WT mouse. We identified 4 proteins from the cytosolic fractions and 44 proteins from the membrane fractions that had significant interactions (p < 0.05) with Bri2 BRICHOS domain, of which 11 proteins were previously identified as proteins that interacted with Bri2 BRICHOS domain. Enrichment analysis of the retained proteins identified glycolysis/gluconeogenesis as the most enriched pathway, with several proteins identified playing roles in carbon metabolism, amino acid synthesis. The data suggested that Bri2 BRICHOS may have a role in cellular energy demands in the brain via glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and may play a role in mitochondrial homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Tigro
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Makoto Shimozawa
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Alexey Lyashkov
- Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Mohammed Khadeer
- Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Ivar Järving
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Ruth Shimmo
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States.
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17
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Chen G, Leppert A, Poska H, Nilsson HE, Alvira CP, Zhong X, Koeck P, Jegerschöld C, Abelein A, Hebert H, Johansson J. Short hydrophobic loop motifs in BRICHOS domains determine chaperone activity against amorphous protein aggregation but not against amyloid formation. Commun Biol 2023; 6:497. [PMID: 37156997 PMCID: PMC10167226 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04883-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
ATP-independent molecular chaperones are important for maintaining cellular fitness but the molecular determinants for preventing aggregation of partly unfolded protein substrates remain unclear, particularly regarding assembly state and basis for substrate recognition. The BRICHOS domain can perform small heat shock (sHSP)-like chaperone functions to widely different degrees depending on its assembly state and sequence. Here, we observed three hydrophobic sequence motifs in chaperone-active domains, and found that they get surface-exposed when the BRICHOS domain assembles into larger oligomers. Studies of loop-swap variants and site-specific mutants further revealed that the biological hydrophobicities of the three short motifs linearly correlate with the efficiency to prevent amorphous protein aggregation. At the same time, they do not at all correlate with the ability to prevent ordered amyloid fibril formation. The linear correlations also accurately predict activities of chimeras containing short hydrophobic sequence motifs from a sHSP that is unrelated to BRICHOS. Our data indicate that short, exposed hydrophobic motifs brought together by oligomerisation are sufficient and necessary for efficient chaperone activity against amorphous protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden.
| | - Axel Leppert
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Solna, Sweden
| | - Helen Poska
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Harriet E Nilsson
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | - Xueying Zhong
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Philip Koeck
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Caroline Jegerschöld
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Hans Hebert
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden.
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18
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Kumar R, Arroyo-García LE, Manchanda S, Adam L, Pizzirusso G, Biverstål H, Nilsson P, Fisahn A, Johansson J, Abelein A. Molecular Mechanisms of Amyloid-β Self-Assembly Seeded by In Vivo-Derived Fibrils and Inhibitory Effects of the BRICHOS Chaperone. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37023330 PMCID: PMC10119923 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-replication of amyloid-β-peptide (Aβ) fibril formation is a hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Detailed insights have been obtained in Aβ self-assembly in vitro, yet whether similar mechanisms are relevant in vivo has remained elusive. Here, we investigated the ability of in vivo-derived Aβ fibrils from two different amyloid precursor protein knock-in AD mouse models to seed Aβ42 aggregation, where we quantified the microscopic rate constants. We found that the nucleation mechanism of in vivo-derived fibril-seeded Aβ42 aggregation can be described with the same kinetic model as that in vitro. Further, we identified the inhibitory mechanism of the anti-amyloid BRICHOS chaperone on seeded Aβ42 fibrillization, revealing a suppression of secondary nucleation and fibril elongation, which is strikingly similar as observed in vitro. These findings hence provide a molecular understanding of the Aβ42 nucleation process triggered by in vivo-derived Aβ42 propagons, providing a framework for the search for new AD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Luis Enrique Arroyo-García
- Division of Neurogeriatrics; Center for Alzheimer Research; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - Shaffi Manchanda
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Laurène Adam
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Giusy Pizzirusso
- Division of Neurogeriatrics; Center for Alzheimer Research; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - Henrik Biverstål
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsson
- Division of Neurogeriatrics; Center for Alzheimer Research; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - André Fisahn
- Division of Neurogeriatrics; Center for Alzheimer Research; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
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19
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Arroyo-García LE, Bachiller S, Ruiz R, Boza-Serrano A, Rodríguez-Moreno A, Deierborg T, Andrade-Talavera Y, Fisahn A. Targeting galectin-3 to counteract spike-phase uncoupling of fast-spiking interneurons to gamma oscillations in Alzheimer's disease. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:6. [PMID: 36740709 PMCID: PMC9901156 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00338-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive multifaceted neurodegenerative disorder for which no disease-modifying treatment exists. Neuroinflammation is central to the pathology progression, with evidence suggesting that microglia-released galectin-3 (gal3) plays a pivotal role by amplifying neuroinflammation in AD. However, the possible involvement of gal3 in the disruption of neuronal network oscillations typical of AD remains unknown. METHODS Here, we investigated the functional implications of gal3 signaling on experimentally induced gamma oscillations ex vivo (20-80 Hz) by performing electrophysiological recordings in the hippocampal CA3 area of wild-type (WT) mice and of the 5×FAD mouse model of AD. In addition, the recorded slices from WT mice under acute gal3 application were analyzed with RT-qPCR to detect expression of some neuroinflammation-related genes, and amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque load was quantified by immunostaining in the CA3 area of 6-month-old 5×FAD mice with or without Gal3 knockout (KO). RESULTS Gal3 application decreased gamma oscillation power and rhythmicity in an activity-dependent manner, which was accompanied by impairment of cellular dynamics in fast-spiking interneurons (FSNs) and pyramidal cells. We found that the gal3-induced disruption was mediated by the gal3 carbohydrate-recognition domain and prevented by the gal3 inhibitor TD139, which also prevented Aβ42-induced degradation of gamma oscillations. Furthermore, the 5×FAD mice lacking gal3 (5×FAD-Gal3KO) exhibited WT-like gamma network dynamics and decreased Aβ plaque load. CONCLUSIONS We report for the first time that gal3 impairs neuronal network dynamics by spike-phase uncoupling of FSNs, inducing a network performance collapse. Moreover, our findings suggest gal3 inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy to counteract the neuronal network instability typical of AD and other neurological disorders encompassing neuroinflammation and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Enrique Arroyo-García
- grid.465198.7Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 17164 Solna, Sweden
| | - Sara Bachiller
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC B11, 221 84 Lund, Sweden ,grid.9224.d0000 0001 2168 1229Clinical Unit of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, CSIC, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Rocío Ruiz
- grid.9224.d0000 0001 2168 1229Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Seville, Calle Profesor García González Nº2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Antonio Boza-Serrano
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC B11, 221 84 Lund, Sweden ,grid.9224.d0000 0001 2168 1229Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Seville, Calle Profesor García González Nº2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Antonio Rodríguez-Moreno
- grid.15449.3d0000 0001 2200 2355Laboratory of Cellular Neuroscience and Plasticity, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera Km-1, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Tomas Deierborg
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC B11, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Yuniesky Andrade-Talavera
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 17164, Solna, Sweden. .,Laboratory of Cellular Neuroscience and Plasticity, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Cellular Biology, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera Km-1, 41013, Seville, Spain.
| | - André Fisahn
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 17164, Solna, Sweden. .,Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden.
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20
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Manchanda S, Galan-Acosta L, Abelein A, Tambaro S, Chen G, Nilsson P, Johansson J. Intravenous treatment with a molecular chaperone designed against β-amyloid toxicity improves Alzheimer's disease pathology in mouse models. Mol Ther 2023; 31:487-502. [PMID: 35982621 PMCID: PMC9931549 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Attempts to treat Alzheimer's disease with immunotherapy against the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide or with enzyme inhibitors to reduce Aβ production have not yet resulted in effective treatment, suggesting that alternative strategies may be useful. Here we explore the possibility of targeting the toxicity associated with Aβ aggregation by using the recombinant human (rh) Bri2 BRICHOS chaperone domain, mutated to act selectively against Aβ42 oligomer generation and neurotoxicity in vitro. We find that treatment of Aβ precursor protein (App) knockin mice with repeated intravenous injections of rh Bri2 BRICHOS R221E, from an age close to the start of development of Alzheimer's disease-like pathology, improves recognition and working memory, as assessed using novel object recognition and Y maze tests, and reduces Aβ plaque deposition and activation of astrocytes and microglia. When treatment was started about 4 months after Alzheimer's disease-like pathology was already established, memory improvement was not detected, but Aβ plaque deposition and gliosis were reduced, and substantially reduced astrocyte accumulation in the vicinity of Aβ plaques was observed. The degrees of treatment effects observed in the App knockin mouse models apparently correlate with the amounts of Bri2 BRICHOS detected in brain sections after the end of the treatment period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaffi Manchanda
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorena Galan-Acosta
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simone Tambaro
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Stockholm, Sweden.
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21
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Figueira AJ, Saavedra J, Cardoso I, Gomes CM. S100B chaperone multimers suppress the formation of oligomers during Aβ42 aggregation. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1162741. [PMID: 37025373 PMCID: PMC10070764 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1162741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular aggregation of the amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ42) peptide is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with recent data suggesting that Aβ intermediate oligomers (AβO) are more cytotoxic than mature amyloid fibrils. Understanding how chaperones harness such amyloid oligomers is critical toward establishing the mechanisms underlying regulation of proteostasis in the diseased brain. This includes S100B, an extracellular signaling Ca2+-binding protein which is increased in AD as a response to neuronal damage and whose holdase-type chaperone activity was recently unveiled. Driven by this evidence, we here investigate how different S100B chaperone multimers influence the formation of oligomers during Aβ42 fibrillation. Resorting to kinetic analysis coupled with simulation of AβO influx distributions, we establish that supra-stoichiometric ratios of dimeric S100B-Ca2+ drastically decrease Aβ42 oligomerization rate by 95% and AβO levels by 70% due to preferential inhibition of surface-catalyzed secondary nucleation, with a concomitant redirection of aggregation toward elongation. We also determined that sub-molar ratios of tetrameric apo-S100B decrease Aβ42 oligomerization influx down to 10%, while precluding both secondary nucleation and, more discreetly, fibril elongation. Coincidently, the mechanistic predictions comply with the independent screening of AβO using a combination of the thioflavin-T and X-34 fluorophores. Altogether, our findings illustrate that different S100B multimers act as complementary suppressors of Aβ42 oligomerization and aggregation, further underpinning their potential neuroprotective role in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- António J. Figueira
- BioISI–Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Saavedra
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC–Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS–Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC–Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS–Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudio M. Gomes
- BioISI–Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Cláudio M. Gomes,
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22
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Andrade-Talavera Y, Chen G, Pansieri J, Arroyo-García LE, Toleikis Z, Smirnovas V, Johansson J, Morozova-Roche L, Fisahn A. S100A9 amyloid growth and S100A9 fibril-induced impairment of gamma oscillations in area CA3 of mouse hippocampus ex vivo is prevented by Bri2 BRICHOS. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 219:102366. [PMID: 36273719 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The pro-inflammatory and highly amyloidogenic protein S100A9 is central to the amyloid-neuroinflammatory cascade in neurodegenerative diseases leading to cognitive impairment. Molecular chaperone activity of Bri2 BRICHOS has been demonstrated against a range of amyloidogenic polypeptides. Using a combination of thioflavin T fluorescence kinetic assay, atomic force microscopy and immuno electron microscopy we show here that recombinant Bri2 BRICHOS effectively inhibits S100A9 amyloid growth by capping amyloid fibrils. Using ex-vivo neuronal network electrophysiology in mouse brain slices we also show that both native S100A9 and amyloids of S100A9 disrupt cognition-relevant gamma oscillation power and rhythmicity in hippocampal area CA3 in a time- and protein conformation-dependent manner. Both effects were associated with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation and were not observed upon TLR4 blockade. Importantly, S100A9 that had co-aggregated with Bri2 BRICHOS did not elicit degradation of gamma oscillations. Taken together, this work provides insights on the potential influence of S100A9 on cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) via gamma oscillation impairment from experimentally-induced gamma oscillations, and further highlights Bri2 BRICHOS as a chaperone against detrimental effects of amyloid self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuniesky Andrade-Talavera
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Center for Alzheimer Research, Departments of NVS and KBH, Karolinska Institutet, 17164 Solna, Sweden.
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jonathan Pansieri
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Luis Enrique Arroyo-García
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Center for Alzheimer Research, Departments of NVS and KBH, Karolinska Institutet, 17164 Solna, Sweden
| | - Zigmantas Toleikis
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden.
| | | | - André Fisahn
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Center for Alzheimer Research, Departments of NVS and KBH, Karolinska Institutet, 17164 Solna, Sweden.
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23
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Abelein A, Ciofi-Baffoni S, Mörman C, Kumar R, Giachetti A, Piccioli M, Biverstål H. Molecular Structure of Cu(II)-Bound Amyloid-β Monomer Implicated in Inhibition of Peptide Self-Assembly in Alzheimer's Disease. JACS AU 2022; 2:2571-2584. [PMID: 36465548 PMCID: PMC9709942 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Metal ions, such as copper and zinc ions, have been shown to strongly modulate the self-assembly of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide into insoluble fibrils, and elevated concentrations of metal ions have been found in amyloid plaques of Alzheimer's patients. Among the physiological transition metal ions, Cu(II) ions play an outstanding role since they can trigger production of neurotoxic reactive oxygen species. In contrast, structural insights into Cu(II) coordination of Aβ have been challenging due to the paramagnetic nature of Cu(II). Here, we employed specifically tailored paramagnetic NMR experiments to determine NMR structures of Cu(II) bound to monomeric Aβ. We found that monomeric Aβ binds Cu(II) in the N-terminus and combined with molecular dynamics simulations, we could identify two prevalent coordination modes of Cu(II). For these, we report here the NMR structures of the Cu(II)-bound Aβ complex, exhibiting heavy backbone RMSD values of 1.9 and 2.1 Å, respectively. Further, applying aggregation kinetics assays, we identified the specific effect of Cu(II) binding on the Aβ nucleation process. Our results show that Cu(II) efficiently retards Aβ fibrillization by predominately reducing the rate of fibril-end elongation at substoichiometric ratios. A detailed kinetic analysis suggests that this specific effect results in enhanced Aβ oligomer generation promoted by Cu(II). These results can quantitatively be understood by Cu(II) interaction with the Aβ monomer, forming an aggregation inert complex. In fact, this mechanism is strikingly similar to other transition metal ions, suggesting a common mechanism of action of retarding Aβ self-assembly, where the metal ion binding to monomeric Aβ is a key determinant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Abelein
- Department
of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska
Institutet, Huddinge141 83, Sweden
| | - Simone Ciofi-Baffoni
- Magnetic
Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino50019 , Florence, Italy
| | - Cecilia Mörman
- Department
of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska
Institutet, Huddinge141 83, Sweden
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, Stockholm106 91, Sweden
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Department
of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska
Institutet, Huddinge141 83, Sweden
| | - Andrea Giachetti
- Magnetic
Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino50019 , Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Piccioli
- Magnetic
Resonance Center and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino50019 , Florence, Italy
| | - Henrik Biverstål
- Department
of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska
Institutet, Huddinge141 83, Sweden
- Department
of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute
of Organic Synthesis, RigaLV-1006, Latvia
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24
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Chen G, Andrade-Talavera Y, Zhong X, Hassan S, Biverstål H, Poska H, Abelein A, Leppert A, Kronqvist N, Rising A, Hebert H, Koeck PJB, Fisahn A, Johansson J. Abilities of the BRICHOS domain to prevent neurotoxicity and fibril formation are dependent on a highly conserved Asp residue. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:1342-1358. [PMID: 36349220 PMCID: PMC9627735 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00187j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins can self-assemble into amyloid fibrils or amorphous aggregates and thereby cause disease. Molecular chaperones can prevent both these types of protein aggregation, but to what extent the respective mechanisms are overlapping is not fully understood. The BRICHOS domain constitutes a disease-associated chaperone family, with activities against amyloid neurotoxicity, fibril formation, and amorphous protein aggregation. Here, we show that the activities of BRICHOS against amyloid-induced neurotoxicity and fibril formation, respectively, are oppositely dependent on a conserved aspartate residue, while the ability to suppress amorphous protein aggregation is unchanged by Asp to Asn mutations. The Asp is evolutionarily highly conserved in >3000 analysed BRICHOS domains but is replaced by Asn in some BRICHOS families. The conserved Asp in its ionized state promotes structural flexibility and has a pK a value between pH 6.0 and 7.0, suggesting that chaperone effects can be differently affected by physiological pH variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Yuniesky Andrade-Talavera
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Center for Alzheimer Research, Departments of NVS and KBH, Karolinska Institutet 171 77 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Xueying Zhong
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Sameer Hassan
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Henrik Biverstål
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis Riga LV-1006 Latvia
| | - Helen Poska
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University Tallinn Estonia
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Axel Leppert
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences 750 07 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Hans Hebert
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Philip J B Koeck
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
| | - André Fisahn
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Center for Alzheimer Research, Departments of NVS and KBH, Karolinska Institutet 171 77 Stockholm Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 52 Huddinge Sweden
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25
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Liu N, Lin MM, Wang Y. The Emerging Roles of E3 Ligases and DUBs in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 60:247-263. [PMID: 36260224 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03063-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite annual increases in the incidence and prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, there is a lack of effective treatment strategies. An increasing number of E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) have been observed to participate in the pathogenesis mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, on the basis of which we conducted a systematic literature review of the studies. This review will help to explore promising therapeutic targets from highly dynamic ubiquitination modification processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Liu
- Department of Pharmacology College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Aging and Nervous Diseases, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miao-Miao Lin
- Department of Pharmacology College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Aging and Nervous Diseases, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Aging and Nervous Diseases, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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26
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Figueira AJ, Moreira GG, Saavedra J, Cardoso I, Gomes CM. Tetramerization of the S100B Chaperone Spawns a Ca 2+ Independent Regulatory Surface that Enhances Anti-aggregation Activity and Client Specificity. J Mol Biol 2022; 434:167791. [PMID: 35970403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) hallmarks include the aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ), tau and neuroinflammation promoted by several alarmins. Among these is S100B, a small astrocytic homodimeric protein, upregulated in AD, whose multiple biological activities depend on localization, concentration, and assembly state. S100B was reported to inhibit the aggregation and toxicity of Aβ42 and tau similarly to a holdase-type chaperone. This activity is dependent of Ca2+-binding, which triggers the exposure of a regulatory binding cleft at the S100B dimer interface with which amyloidogenic clients dynamically interact. Although the dimer prevails, a significant portion of secreted S100B in the human brain occurs as higher order multimers, whose protective functions remain uncharacterized and which we here investigate. Resorting to ThT-monitored aggregation kinetics, we determined that unlike the dimer, tetrameric S100B inhibits Aβ42 aggregation at sub/equimolar ratios, an effect that persists in the absence of Ca2+ binding. Structural analysis revealed that S100B tetramerization spawns a novel extended cleft accommodating an aggregation-prone surface that mediates interactions with monomeric Aβ client via hydrophobic interactions, as corroborated by Bis-ANS fluorescence and docking analysis. Correspondingly, at high ionic strength that reduces solvation and favours hydrophobic contacts, the inhibition of Aβ42 aggregation by tetrameric S100B is 3-fold increased. Interestingly, this extended Ca2+-independent surface favours Aβ42 as substrate, as tau K18 aggregation is not inhibited by the apo tetramer. Overall, results illustrate a mechanism through which oligomerization of the S100B chaperone fine-tunes anti-aggregation activity and client specificity, highlighting the potential functional relevance of S100B multimers in the regulation of AD proteotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- António J Figueira
- BioISI - Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal. https://twitter.com/Antonio27902425
| | - Guilherme G Moreira
- BioISI - Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal. https://twitter.com/GuilhermeGilMo1
| | - Joana Saavedra
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudio M Gomes
- BioISI - Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
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27
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Leppert A, Chen G, Lianoudaki D, Williams C, Zhong X, Gilthorpe JD, Landreh M, Johansson J. ATP-independent molecular chaperone activity generated under reducing conditions. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4378. [PMID: 35900025 PMCID: PMC9278091 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Molecular chaperones are essential to maintain proteostasis. While the functions of intracellular molecular chaperones that oversee protein synthesis, folding and aggregation, are established, those specialized to work in the extracellular environment are less understood. Extracellular proteins reside in a considerably more oxidizing milieu than cytoplasmic proteins and are stabilized by abundant disulfide bonds. Hence, extracellular proteins are potentially destabilized and sensitive to aggregation under reducing conditions. We combine biochemical and mass spectrometry experiments and elucidate that the molecular chaperone functions of the extracellular protein domain Bri2 BRICHOS only appear under reducing conditions, through the assembly of monomers into large polydisperse oligomers by an intra- to intermolecular disulfide bond relay mechanism. Chaperone-active assemblies of the Bri2 BRICHOS domain are efficiently generated by physiological thiol-containing compounds and proteins, and appear in parallel with reduction-induced aggregation of extracellular proteins. Our results give insights into how potent chaperone activity can be generated from inactive precursors under conditions that are destabilizing to most extracellular proteins and thereby support protein stability/folding in the extracellular space. SIGNIFICANCE: Chaperones are essential to cells as they counteract toxic consequences of protein misfolding particularly under stress conditions. Our work describes a novel activation mechanism of an extracellular molecular chaperone domain, called Bri2 BRICHOS. This mechanism is based on reducing conditions that initiate small subunits to assemble into large oligomers via a disulfide relay mechanism. Activated Bri2 BRICHOS inhibits reduction-induced aggregation of extracellular proteins and could be a means to boost proteostasis in the extracellular environment upon reductive stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Leppert
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell BiologyKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Danai Lianoudaki
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell BiologyKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden
| | - Chloe Williams
- Department of Integrative Medical BiologyUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden
| | - Xueying Zhong
- Division of Structural Biotechnology, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH)KTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | | | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell BiologyKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
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28
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Zhong X, Kumar R, Wang Y, Biverstål H, Ingeborg Jegerschöld C, J B Koeck P, Johansson J, Abelein A, Chen G. Amyloid Fibril Formation of Arctic Amyloid-β 1-42 Peptide is Efficiently Inhibited by the BRICHOS Domain. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2201-2211. [PMID: 35876740 PMCID: PMC9396614 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) aggregation is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mutations in Aβ are associated with early onset familial AD, and the Arctic mutant E22G (Aβarc) is an extremely aggregation-prone variant. Here, we show that BRICHOS, a natural anti-amyloid chaperone domain, from Bri2 efficiently inhibits aggregation of Aβarc by mainly interfering with secondary nucleation. This is qualitatively different from the microscopic inhibition mechanism for the wild-type Aβ, against which Bri2 BRICHOS has a major effect on both secondary nucleation and fibril end elongation. The monomeric Aβ42arc peptide aggregates into amyloid fibrils significantly faster than wild-type Aβ (Aβ42wt), as monitored by thioflavin T (ThT) binding, but the final ThT intensity was strikingly lower for Aβ42arc compared to Aβ42wt fibrils. The Aβ42arc peptide formed large aggregates, single-filament fibrils, and multiple-filament fibrils without obvious twists, while Aβ42wt fibrils displayed a polymorphic pattern with typical twisted fibril architecture. Recombinant human Bri2 BRICHOS binds to the Aβ42arc fibril surface and interferes with the macroscopic fibril arrangement by promoting single-filament fibril formation. This study provides mechanistic insights on how BRICHOS efficiently affects the aggressive Aβ42arc aggregation, resulting in both delayed fibril formation kinetics and altered fibril structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Zhong
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Yu Wang
- The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden.,College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, 150040 Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Henrik Biverstål
- The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Caroline Ingeborg Jegerschöld
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Philip J B Koeck
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
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29
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Drobny A, Prieto Huarcaya S, Dobert J, Kluge A, Bunk J, Schlothauer T, Zunke F. The role of lysosomal cathepsins in neurodegeneration: Mechanistic insights, diagnostic potential and therapeutic approaches. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2022; 1869:119243. [PMID: 35217144 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lysosomes are ubiquitous organelles with a fundamental role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by mediating degradation and recycling processes. Cathepsins are the most abundant lysosomal hydrolyses and are responsible for the bulk degradation of various substrates. A correct autophagic function is essential for neuronal survival, as most neurons are post-mitotic and thus susceptible to accumulate cellular components. Increasing evidence suggests a crucial role of the lysosome in neurodegeneration as a key regulator of aggregation-prone and disease-associated proteins, such as α-synuclein, β-amyloid and huntingtin. Particularly, alterations in lysosomal cathepsins CTSD, CTSB and CTSL can contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases as seen for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, synucleinopathies (Parkinson's disease, Dementia with Lewy Body and Multiple System Atrophy) as well as Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. In this review, we provide an overview of recent evidence implicating CTSD, CTSB and CTSL in neurodegeneration, with a special focus on the role of these enzymes in α-synuclein metabolism. In addition, we summarize the potential role of lysosomal cathepsins as clinical biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases and discuss potential therapeutic approaches by targeting lysosomal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Drobny
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Jan Dobert
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Annika Kluge
- Department of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Josina Bunk
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Friederike Zunke
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
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Gharibyan AL, Wasana Jayaweera S, Lehmann M, Anan I, Olofsson A. Endogenous Human Proteins Interfering with Amyloid Formation. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030446. [PMID: 35327638 PMCID: PMC8946693 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid formation is a pathological process associated with a wide range of degenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes mellitus type 2. During disease progression, abnormal accumulation and deposition of proteinaceous material are accompanied by tissue degradation, inflammation, and dysfunction. Agents that can interfere with the process of amyloid formation or target already formed amyloid assemblies are consequently of therapeutic interest. In this context, a few endogenous proteins have been associated with an anti-amyloidogenic activity. Here, we review the properties of transthyretin, apolipoprotein E, clusterin, and BRICHOS protein domain which all effectively interfere with amyloid in vitro, as well as displaying a clinical impact in humans or animal models. Their involvement in the amyloid formation process is discussed, which may aid and inspire new strategies for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L. Gharibyan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
- Correspondence: (A.L.G.); (A.O.)
| | | | - Manuela Lehmann
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (M.L.); (I.A.)
| | - Intissar Anan
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden; (M.L.); (I.A.)
| | - Anders Olofsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden;
- Correspondence: (A.L.G.); (A.O.)
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Li X, Qi X, Cai YM, Sun Y, Wen R, Zhang R, Johansson J, Meng Q, Chen G. Customized Flagelliform Spidroins Form Spider Silk-like Fibers at pH 8.0 with Outstanding Tensile Strength. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 8:119-127. [PMID: 34908395 PMCID: PMC8753598 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Spider flagelliform silk shows the best extensibility among various types of silk, but its biomimetic preparation has not been much studied. Herein, five customized flagelliform spidroins (FlSps: S and NTDFl-Sn-CTDFl, n = 1-4), in which the repetitive region (S) and N-/C- terminal domains (NTDFl and CTDFl) are from the same spidroin and spider species, were produced recombinantly. The recombinant spidroins with terminal domains were able to form silk-like fibers with diameters of ∼5 μm by manual pulling at pH 8.0, where the secondary structure transformation occurred. The silk-like fibers from NTDFl-S4-CTDFl showed the highest tensile strength (∼250 MPa), while those ones with 1-3 S broke at a similar stress (∼180 MPa), suggesting that increasing the amounts of the repetitive region can improve the tensile strength, but a certain threshold might need to be reached. This study shows successful preparation of flagelliform silk-like fibers with good mechanical properties, providing general insights into efficient biomimetic preparations of spider silks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- Department of Medical Ultrasound, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultrasound Diagnosis and Treatment, Tongji University School of Medicine, 200092 Shanghai, China.,Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620 Shanghai, China
| | - Xingmei Qi
- The Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institutes of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yu-Ming Cai
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ Southampton, Hampshire, U.K
| | - Yuan Sun
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620 Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Wen
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620 Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary Circulation, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Qing Meng
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Donghua University, 201620 Shanghai, China
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14157 Huddinge, Sweden
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Andrade-Talavera Y, Chen G, Kurudenkandy FR, Johansson J, Fisahn A. Bri2 BRICHOS chaperone rescues impaired fast-spiking interneuron behavior and neuronal network dynamics in an AD mouse model in vitro. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 159:105514. [PMID: 34555537 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Synchronized and properly balanced electrical activity of neurons is the basis for the brain's ability to process information, to learn, and to remember. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), which causes cognitive decline in patients, this synchronization and balance is disturbed by the accumulation of neuropathological biomarkers such as amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ42). Failure of Aβ42 clearance mechanisms as well as desynchronization of crucial neuronal classes such as fast-spiking interneurons (FSN) are root causes for the disruption of the cognition-relevant gamma brain rhythm (30-80 Hz) and consequent cognitive impairment observed in AD. Here we show that recombinant BRICHOS molecular chaperone domains from ProSP-C or Bri2, which interfere with Aβ42 aggregation, can rescue the gamma rhythm. We demonstrate that Aβ42 progressively decreases gamma oscillation power and rhythmicity, disrupts the inhibition/excitation balance in pyramidal cells, and desynchronizes FSN firing during gamma oscillations in the hippocampal CA3 network of mice. Application of the more efficacious Bri2 BRICHOS chaperone rescued the cellular and neuronal network performance from all ongoing Aβ42-induced functional impairments. Collectively, our findings offer critical missing data to explain the importance of FSN for normal network function and underscore the therapeutic potential of Bri2 BRICHOS to rescue the disruption of cognition-relevant brain rhythms in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuniesky Andrade-Talavera
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Dept. of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 17164 Solna, Sweden.
| | - Gefei Chen
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 141 57 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Firoz Roshan Kurudenkandy
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Dept. of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 17164 Solna, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 141 57 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - André Fisahn
- Neuronal Oscillations Laboratory, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Dept. of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 17164 Solna, Sweden.
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Schmuck B, Chen G, Pelcman J, Kronqvist N, Rising A, Johansson J. Expression of the human molecular chaperone domain Bri2 BRICHOS on a gram per liter scale with an E. coli fed-batch culture. Microb Cell Fact 2021; 20:150. [PMID: 34330289 PMCID: PMC8325310 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-021-01638-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The human Bri2 BRICHOS domain inhibits amyloid formation and toxicity and could be used as a therapeutic agent against amyloid diseases. For translation into clinical use, large quantities of correctly folded recombinant human (rh) Bri2 BRICHOS are required. To increase the expression and solubility levels of rh Bri2 BRICHOS it was fused to NT*, a solubility tag derived from the N-terminal domain of a spider silk protein, which significantly increases expression levels and solubility of target proteins. To increase the expression levels even further and reach the g/L range, which is a prerequisite for an economical production on an industrial scale, we developed a fed-batch expression protocol for Escherichia coli. Results A fed-batch production method for NT*-Bri2 BRICHOS was set up and systematically optimized. This gradual improvement resulted in expression levels of up to 18.8 g/L. Following expression, NT*-Bri2 BRICHOS was purified by chromatographic methods to a final yield of up to 6.5 g/L. After removal of the NT*-tag and separation into different oligomeric species, activity assays verified that different assembly states of the fed-batch produced rh Bri2 BRICHOS have the same ability to inhibit fibrillar and non-fibrillar protein aggregation as the reference protein isolated from shake flask cultures. Conclusions The protocol developed in this work allows the production of large quantities of rh Bri2 BRICHOS using the solubility enhancing NT*-tag as a fusion partner, which is required to effectively conduct pre-clinical research. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-021-01638-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Schmuck
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 86, Huddinge, Sweden. .,Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 86, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Josef Pelcman
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 86, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 86, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Anna Rising
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 86, Huddinge, Sweden.,Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Neo, 141 86, Huddinge, Sweden
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Tigro H, Kronqvist N, Abelein A, Galan-Acosta L, Chen G, Landreh M, Lyashkov A, Aon MA, Ferrucci L, Shimmo R, Johansson J, Moaddel R. The synthesis and characterization of Bri2 BRICHOS coated magnetic particles and their application to protein fishing: Identification of novel binding proteins. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2021; 198:113996. [PMID: 33690096 PMCID: PMC10644258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.113996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Human integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2B or Bri2) is a member of the BRICHOS family, proteins that efficiently prevent Aβ42 aggregation via a unique mechanism. The identification of novel Bri2 BRICHOS client proteins could help elucidate signaling pathways and determine novel targets to prevent or cure amyloid diseases. To identify Bri2 BRICHOS interacting partners, we carried out a 'protein fishing' experiment using recombinant human (rh) Bri2 BRICHOS-coated magnetic particles, which exhibit essentially identical ability to inhibit Aβ42 fibril formation as free rh Bri2 BRICHOS, in combination with proteomic analysis on homogenates of SH-SY5Y cells. We identified 70 proteins that had more significant interactions with rh Bri2 BRICHOS relative to the corresponding control particles. Three previously identified Bri2 BRICHOS interacting proteins were also identified in our 'fishing' experiments. The binding affinity of Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), the top 'hit', was calculated and was identified as a strong interacting partner. Enrichment analysis of the retained proteins identified three biological pathways: Rho GTPase, heat stress response and pyruvate, cysteine and methionine metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Tigro
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Lorena Galan-Acosta
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Michael Landreh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Alexey Lyashkov
- Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, United States
| | - Miguel A Aon
- Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, United States
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, United States
| | - Ruth Shimmo
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 14183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, United States.
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Ablation of p75 NTR signaling strengthens gamma-theta rhythm interaction and counteracts Aβ-induced degradation of neuronal dynamics in mouse hippocampus in vitro. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:212. [PMID: 33837176 PMCID: PMC8035168 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01332-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma and theta brain rhythms play important roles in cognition and their interaction can affect gamma oscillation features. Hippocampal theta oscillations depend on cholinergic and GABAergic input from the medial septum-diagonal band of Broca. These projecting neurons undergo degeneration during aging and maintain high levels of neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR). p75NTR mediates both apoptosis and survival and its expression is increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Here, we investigate the importance of p75NTR for the cholinergic input to the hippocampus. Performing extracellular recordings in brain slices from p75NTR knockout mice (p75-/-) in presence of the muscarinic agonist carbachol, we find that gamma oscillation power and rhythmicity are increased compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Furthermore, gamma activity is more phase-locked to the underlying theta rhythm, which renders a stronger coupling of both rhythms. On the cellular level, we find that fast-spiking interneurons (FSNs) fire more synchronized to a preferred gamma phase in p75-/- mice. The excitatory input onto FSN is more rhythmic displaying a higher similarity with the concomitant gamma rhythm. Notably, the ablation of p75NTR counteracts the Aβ-induced degradation of gamma oscillations and its nesting within the underlying theta rhythm. Our results show that the lack of p75NTR signaling could promote stronger cholinergic modulation of the hippocampal gamma rhythm, suggesting an involvement of p75NTR in the downregulation of cognition-relevant hippocampal network dynamics in pathologies. Moreover, functional data provided here suggest p75NTR as a suitable target in the search for efficacious treatments to counteract the loss of cognitive function observed in amyloid-driven pathologies such as AD.
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Functionalization of amyloid fibrils via the Bri2 BRICHOS domain. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21765. [PMID: 33303867 PMCID: PMC7730125 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78732-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are mechanically robust and partly resistant to proteolytic degradation, making them potential candidates for scaffold materials in cell culture, tissue engineering, drug delivery and other applications. Such applications of amyloids would benefit from the possibility to functionalize the fibrils, for example by adding growth factors or cell attachment sites. The BRICHOS domain is found in a family of human proteins that harbor particularly amyloid-prone regions and can reduce aggregation as well as toxicity of several different amyloidogenic peptides. Recombinant human (rh) BRICHOS domains have been shown to bind to the surface of amyloid-β (Aβ) fibrils by immune electron microscopy. Here we produce fusion proteins between mCherry and rh Bri2 BRICHOS and show that they can bind to different amyloid fibrils with retained fluorescence of mCherry in vitro as well as in cultured cells. This suggests a “generic” ability of the BRICHOS domain to bind fibrillar surfaces that can be used to synthesize amyloid decorated with different protein functionalities.
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González-Sanmiguel J, Burgos CF, Bascuñán D, Fernández-Pérez EJ, Riffo-Lepe N, Boopathi S, Fernández-Pérez A, Bobadilla-Azócar C, González W, Figueroa M, Vicente B, Aguayo LG. Gabapentin Inhibits Multiple Steps in the Amyloid Beta Toxicity Cascade. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:3064-3076. [PMID: 32886489 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligomeric β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is one of the main neurotoxic agents of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oligomers associate to neuronal membranes, forming "pore-like" structures that cause intracellular calcium and neurotransmitter dyshomeostasis, leading to synaptic failure and death. Through molecular screening targeting the C terminal region of Aβ, a region involved in the toxic properties of the peptide, we detected an FDA approved compound, gabapentin (GBP), with neuroprotective effects against Aβ toxicity. At micromolar concentrations, GBP antagonized peptide aggregation over time and reduced the Aβ absorbance plateau to 28% of control. In addition, GBP decreased Aβ association to membranes by almost half, and the effects of Aβ on intracellular calcium in hippocampal neurons were antagonized without causing effects on its own. Finally, we found that GBP was able to block the synaptotoxicity induced by Aβ in hippocampal neurons, increasing post-synaptic currents from 1.7 ± 0.9 to 4.2 ± 0.7 fC and mean relative fluorescence intensity values of SV2, a synaptic protein, from 0.7 ± 0.09 to 1.00 ± 0.08. The results show that GBP can interfere with Aβ-induced toxicity by blocking multiple steps, resulting in neuroprotection, which justifies advancing toward additional animal and human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana González-Sanmiguel
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Carlos F. Burgos
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Denisse Bascuñán
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Eduardo J. Fernández-Pérez
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Nicolás Riffo-Lepe
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Subramanian Boopathi
- The Center for Bioinformatics and Molecular Simulations (CBSM), Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | | | - Catalina Bobadilla-Azócar
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Wendy González
- The Center for Bioinformatics and Molecular Simulations (CBSM), Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channels-Associated Diseases (MiNICAD), Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | - Maximiliano Figueroa
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Benjamín Vicente
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepción 4030000, Chile
- Program on Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Luis G. Aguayo
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4030000, Chile
- Program on Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Universidad de Concepcion, Concepción 4030000, Chile
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Chaplot K, Jarvela TS, Lindberg I. Secreted Chaperones in Neurodegeneration. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:268. [PMID: 33192447 PMCID: PMC7481362 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, is a combination of cellular processes that govern protein quality control, namely, protein translation, folding, processing, and degradation. Disruptions in these processes can lead to protein misfolding and aggregation. Proteostatic disruption can lead to cellular changes such as endoplasmic reticulum or oxidative stress; organelle dysfunction; and, if continued, to cell death. A majority of neurodegenerative diseases involve the pathologic aggregation of proteins that subverts normal neuronal function. While prior reviews of neuronal proteostasis in neurodegenerative processes have focused on cytoplasmic chaperones, there is increasing evidence that chaperones secreted both by neurons and other brain cells in the extracellular - including transsynaptic - space play important roles in neuronal proteostasis. In this review, we will introduce various secreted chaperones involved in neurodegeneration. We begin with clusterin and discuss its identification in various protein aggregates, and the use of increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clusterin as a potential biomarker and as a potential therapeutic. Our next secreted chaperone is progranulin; polymorphisms in this gene represent a known genetic risk factor for frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and progranulin overexpression has been found to be effective in reducing Alzheimer's- and Parkinson's-like neurodegenerative phenotypes in mouse models. We move on to BRICHOS domain-containing proteins, a family of proteins containing highly potent anti-amyloidogenic activity; we summarize studies describing the biochemical mechanisms by which recombinant BRICHOS protein might serve as a therapeutic agent. The next section of the review is devoted to the secreted chaperones 7B2 and proSAAS, small neuronal proteins which are packaged together with neuropeptides and released during synaptic activity. Since proteins can be secreted by both classical secretory and non-classical mechanisms, we also review the small heat shock proteins (sHsps) that can be secreted from the cytoplasm to the extracellular environment and provide evidence for their involvement in extracellular proteostasis and neuroprotection. Our goal in this review focusing on extracellular chaperones in neurodegenerative disease is to summarize the most recent literature relating to neurodegeneration for each secreted chaperone; to identify any common mechanisms; and to point out areas of similarity as well as differences between the secreted chaperones identified to date.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Iris Lindberg
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Andrade-Talavera Y, Arroyo-García LE, Chen G, Johansson J, Fisahn A. Modulation of Kv3.1/Kv3.2 promotes gamma oscillations by rescuing Aβ-induced desynchronization of fast-spiking interneuron firing in an AD mouse model in vitro. J Physiol 2020; 598:3711-3725. [PMID: 32638407 DOI: 10.1113/jp279718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Gamma oscillations (30-80 Hz) are important for cognitive functions and depend on the synchronized activity of fast-spiking interneurons (FSN), which is crucial for network stability. Gamma oscillations are degraded in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients exhibiting cognitive impairment, with the degree of cognitive decline correlating with the severity of gamma disruption in response to neurotoxic amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ). Small molecule compounds EX15 and RE01 modulate Kv3.1/Kv3.2 potassium channels on FSN, resulting in faster activation kinetics and increased firing frequency, suggesting direct consequences for cognition-relevant gamma oscillations, particularly in a situation where network activity is pathologically compromised in the presence of neurotoxic Aβ. Using electrophysiological techniques in an in vitro AD model, we found a significant effect of EX15 and RE01 with respect to counteracting toxic Aβ effects on neuronal dynamics, advocating for targeting FSN activity to rescue cognitive performance from impairment caused by neurodegenerative triggers. ABSTRACT Rhythmic electrical activity in neuronal networks such as gamma oscillations (30-80 Hz) underlies cognitive functions such as sensory perception, attention and memory. Gamma oscillations are disrupted in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and animal AD models, with the severity of cognitive decline correlating with the degree of rhythm disruption. Misfolded amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is assumed to be a key trigger of AD pathology and has been show to de-synchronize action potential firing in fast-spiking interneurons (FSN), which is crucial for entraining neuronal network activity into the gamma rhythm. The synchronizing activity of FSN therefore has become one of the most suitable targets to counteract disease-driven degradation of gamma oscillations and consequent cognitive decline. EX15 and RE01 are small-molecule compounds that modulate Kv3.1/Kv3.2 potassium channels, resulting in faster activation kinetics and increased FSN firing frequency. In the present study, we investigated the potential pro-cognitive effects of EX15 and RE01 by testing their ability to modulate FSN activity during ongoing gamma oscillations in normal and Aβ-disrupted network states in mouse hippocampus in vitro. In the compromised, but not the uncompromised, network state with gamma oscillations partially disrupted by Aβ, both compounds improve gamma oscillation regularity by promoting re-synchronization of FSN action potential firing. Our data suggest a therapeutic potential for compounds such as EX15 and RE01, which can rescue normal action potential firing parameters in FSN, in the search for disease-modifying drug candidates counteracting the progressive dysfunction of neuronal network dynamics that underlies the cognitive impairment typical of AD and other cognitive brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gefei Chen
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
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Poska H, Leppert A, Tigro H, Zhong X, Kaldmäe M, Nilsson HE, Hebert H, Chen G, Johansson J. Recombinant Bri3 BRICHOS domain is a molecular chaperone with effect against amyloid formation and non-fibrillar protein aggregation. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9817. [PMID: 32555390 PMCID: PMC7299998 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66718-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular chaperones assist proteins in achieving a functional structure and prevent them from misfolding into aggregates, including disease-associated deposits. The BRICHOS domain from familial dementia associated protein Bri2 (or ITM2B) probably chaperones its specific proprotein region with high β-sheet propensity during biosynthesis. Recently, Bri2 BRICHOS activity was found to extend to other amyloidogenic, fibril forming peptides, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease associated amyloid-β peptide, as well as to amorphous aggregate forming proteins. However, the biological functions of the central nervous system specific homologue Bri3 BRICHOS are still to be elucidated. Here we give a detailed characterisation of the recombinant human (rh) Bri3 BRICHOS domain and compare its structural and functional properties with rh Bri2 BRICHOS. The results show that rh Bri3 BRICHOS forms more and larger oligomers, somewhat more efficiently prevents non-fibrillar protein aggregation, and less efficiently reduces Aβ42 fibril formation compared to rh Bri2 BRICHOS. This suggests that Bri2 and Bri3 BRICHOS have overlapping molecular mechanisms and that their apparently different tissue expression and processing may result in different physiological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Poska
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Axel Leppert
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Helene Tigro
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Xueying Zhong
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Margit Kaldmäe
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia.,Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet Biomedicum, Solna, Sweden
| | - Harriet E Nilsson
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Hans Hebert
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
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Undiscovered Roles for Transthyretin: From a Transporter Protein to a New Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062075. [PMID: 32197355 PMCID: PMC7139926 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Transthyretin (TTR), an homotetrameric protein mainly synthesized by the liver and the choroid plexus, and secreted into the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid, respectively, has been specially acknowledged for its functions as a transporter protein of thyroxine and retinol (the latter through binding to the retinol-binding protein), in these fluids. Still, this protein has managed to stay in the spotlight as it has been assigned new and varied functions. In this review, we cover knowledge on novel TTR functions and the cellular pathways involved, spanning from neuroprotection to vascular events, while emphasizing its involvement in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We describe details of TTR as an amyloid binding protein and discuss its interaction with the amyloid Aβ peptides, and the proposed mechanisms underlying TTR neuroprotection in AD. We also present the importance of translating advances in the knowledge of the TTR neuroprotective role into drug discovery strategies focused on TTR as a new target in AD therapeutics.
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