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Jurcau A, Simion A, Jurcau MC. Emerging antibody-based therapies for Huntington's disease: current status and perspectives for future development. Expert Rev Neurother 2024; 24:299-312. [PMID: 38324338 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2314183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Being an inherited neurodegenerative disease with an identifiable genetic defect, Huntington's disease (HD) is a suitable candidate for early intervention, possibly even in the pre-symptomatic stage. Our recent advances in elucidating the pathogenesis of HD have revealed a series of novel potential therapeutic targets, among which immunotherapies are actively pursued in preclinical experiments. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the potential of antibody-based treatments targeting various epitopes (of mutant huntingtin as well as phosphorylated tau) that are currently evaluated in vitro and in animal experiments. The references used in this review were retrieved from the PubMed database, searching for immunotherapies in HD, and clinical trial registries were reviewed for molecules already evaluated in clinical trials. EXPERT OPINION Antibody-based therapies have raised considerable interest in a series of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by deposition of aggregated of aberrantly folded proteins, HD included. Intrabodies and nanobodies can interact with mutant huntingtin inside the nervous cells. However, the conflicting results obtained with some of these intrabodies highlight the need for proper choice of epitopes and for developing animal models more closely mimicking human disease. Approval of these strategies will require a considerable financial and logistic effort on behalf of healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamaria Jurcau
- Department of Psycho-Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
| | - Aurel Simion
- Department of Psycho-Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
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2
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Alpaugh M, Masnata M, de Rus Jacquet A, Lepinay E, Denis HL, Saint-Pierre M, Davies P, Planel E, Cicchetti F. Passive immunization against phosphorylated tau improves features of Huntington's disease pathology. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1500-1522. [PMID: 35051614 PMCID: PMC9077324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is classically described as a neurodegenerative disorder of monogenic aetiology. The disease is characterized by an abnormal polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin gene, which drives the toxicity of the mutated form of the protein. However, accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau, which is involved in a number of neurological disorders, has also been observed in patients with Huntington's disease. In order to unravel the contribution of tau hyperphosphorylation to hallmark features of Huntington's disease, we administered weekly intraperitoneal injections of the anti-tau pS202 CP13 monoclonal antibody to zQ175 mice and characterized the resulting behavioral and biochemical changes. After 12 weeks of treatment, motor impairments, cognitive performance and general health were improved in zQ175 mice along with a significant reduction in hippocampal pS202 tau levels. Despite the lack of effect of CP13 on neuronal markers associated with Huntington's disease pathology, tau-targeting enzymes and gliosis, CP13 was shown to directly impact mutant huntingtin aggregation such that brain levels of amyloid fibrils and huntingtin oligomers were decreased, while larger huntingtin protein aggregates were increased. Investigation of CP13 treatment of Huntington's disease patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) revealed a reduction in pS202 levels in differentiated cortical neurons and a rescue of neurite length. Collectively, these findings suggest that attenuating tau pathology could mitigate behavioral and molecular hallmarks associated with Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Alpaugh
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Maria Masnata
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Aurelie de Rus Jacquet
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Eva Lepinay
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Hélèna L Denis
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Martine Saint-Pierre
- Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Peter Davies
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Emmanuel Planel
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Francesca Cicchetti
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada.
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3
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Bailus BJ, Scheeler SM, Simons J, Sanchez MA, Tshilenge KT, Creus-Muncunill J, Naphade S, Lopez-Ramirez A, Zhang N, Lakshika Madushani K, Moroz S, Loureiro A, Schreiber KH, Hausch F, Kennedy BK, Ehrlich ME, Ellerby LM. Modulating FKBP5/FKBP51 and autophagy lowers HTT (huntingtin) levels. Autophagy 2021; 17:4119-4140. [PMID: 34024231 PMCID: PMC8726715 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2021.1904489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Current disease-modifying therapies for Huntington disease (HD) focus on lowering mutant HTT (huntingtin; mHTT) levels, and the immunosuppressant drug rapamycin is an intriguing therapeutic for aging and neurological disorders. Rapamycin interacts with FKBP1A/FKBP12 and FKBP5/FKBP51, inhibiting the MTORC1 complex and increasing cellular clearance mechanisms. Whether the levels of FKBP (FK506 binding protein) family members are altered in HD models and if these proteins are potential therapeutic targets for HD have not been investigated. Here, we found levels of FKBP5 are significantly reduced in HD R6/2 and zQ175 mouse models and human HD isogenic neural stem cells and medium spiny neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Moreover, FKBP5 interacts and colocalizes with HTT in the striatum and cortex of zQ175 mice and controls. Importantly, when we decreased FKBP5 levels or activity by genetic or pharmacological approaches, we observed reduced levels of mHTT in our isogenic human HD stem cell model. Decreasing FKBP5 levels by siRNA or pharmacological inhibition increased LC3-II levels and macroautophagic/autophagic flux, suggesting autophagic cellular clearance mechanisms are responsible for mHTT lowering. Unlike rapamycin, the effect of pharmacological inhibition with SAFit2, an inhibitor of FKBP5, is MTOR independent. Further, in vivo treatment for 2 weeks with SAFit2, results in reduced HTT levels in both HD R6/2 and zQ175 mouse models. Our studies establish FKBP5 as a protein involved in the pathogenesis of HD and identify FKBP5 as a potential therapeutic target for HD.Abbreviations : ACTB/β-actin: actin beta; AD: Alzheimer disease; BafA1: bafilomycin A1; BCA: bicinchoninic acid; BBB: blood brain barrier; BSA: bovine serum albumin; CoIP: co-immunoprecipitation; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; DTT: dithiothreitol; FKBPs: FK506 binding proteins; HD: Huntington disease; HTT: huntingtin; iPSC: induced pluripotent stem cells; MAP1LC3/LC3:microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPT/tau: microtubule associated protein tau; MES: 2-ethanesulfonic acid; MOPS: 3-(N-morphorlino)propanesulfonic acid); MSN: medium spiny neurons; mHTT: mutant huntingtin; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; NSC: neural stem cells; ON: overnight; PD: Parkinson disease; PPIase: peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans-isomerases; polyQ: polyglutamine; PPP1R1B/DARPP-32: protein phosphatase 1 regulatory inhibitor subunit 1B; PTSD: post-traumatic stress disorder; RT: room temperature; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; SDS-PAGE: sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; TBST:Tris-buffered saline, 0.1% Tween 20; TUBA: tubulin; ULK1: unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1; VCL: vinculin; WT: littermate controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara J. Bailus
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
- School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont, CA, USA
| | - Stephen M. Scheeler
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jesse Simons
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Swati Naphade
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | | | - Ningzhe Zhang
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Felix Hausch
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Brian K. Kennedy
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
- Departments of Biochemistry and Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore
- Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Michelle E. Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Fpr1 functions as a chaperone to inhibit protein aggregation. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 191:40-50. [PMID: 34534579 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.09.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Peptidyl prolyl isomerases (PPIases) accelerate the rate limiting step of protein folding by catalyzing cis/trans isomerization of peptidyl prolyl bonds. The larger PPIases have been shown to be multi-domain proteins, with functions other than isomerization of the proline-containing peptide bond. Recently, a few smaller PPIases have also been described for their ability to stabilize folding intermediates. The yeast Fpr1 (FK506-sensitive proline rotamase) is a homologue of the mammalian prolyl isomerase FKBP12 (FK506-binding protein of 12 kDa). Its ability to stabilize stressed cellular proteins has not been reported yet. We had earlier reported upregulation of Fpr1 in yeast cells exposed to proteotoxic stress conditions. In this work, we show that yeast Fpr1 exhibits characteristics typical of a general chaperone of the proteostasis network. Aggregation of mutant huntingtin fragment was higher in Fpr1-deleted as compared to parental yeast cells. Overexpression of Fpr1 led to reduced protein aggregation by decreasing the amount of oligomers and diverting the aggregation pathway towards the formation of detergent-soluble species. This correlated well with higher survival of these cells. Purified and enzymatically active yeast Fpr1 was able to inhibit aggregation of mutant huntingtin fragment and luciferase in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner; suggesting a direct action for aggregation inhibitory action of Fpr1. Overexpression of yeast Fpr1 was able to protect E. coli cells against thermal shock. This work establishes the role of Fpr1 in the protein folding network and will be used for the identification of novel pharmacological leads in disease conditions.
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Cryo-electron tomography provides topological insights into mutant huntingtin exon 1 and polyQ aggregates. Commun Biol 2021; 4:849. [PMID: 34239038 PMCID: PMC8266869 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02360-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative trinucleotide repeat disorder caused by an expanded poly-glutamine (polyQ) tract in the mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. The formation and topology of filamentous mHTT inclusions in the brain (hallmarks of HD implicated in neurotoxicity) remain elusive. Using cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging, here we show that mHTT exon 1 and polyQ-only aggregates in vitro are structurally heterogenous and filamentous, similar to prior observations with other methods. Yet, we find filaments in both types of aggregates under ~2 nm in width, thinner than previously reported, and regions forming large sheets. In addition, our data show a prevalent subpopulation of filaments exhibiting a lumpy slab morphology in both aggregates, supportive of the polyQ core model. This provides a basis for future cryoET studies of various aggregated mHTT and polyQ constructs to improve their structure-based modeling as well as their identification in cells without fusion tags.
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Inhibition of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Ameliorates HAP40 Depletion-Induced Toxicity and Proteasomal Defect in Huntington's Disease Model. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:2704-2723. [PMID: 33492644 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02280-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of polyglutamine stretch (polyQ) at the N-terminus of huntingtin (Htt) protein. The abnormally expanded polyQ stretch of mutant Htt makes it prone to aggregate, leading to neuropathology. HAP40 is a 40-kDa huntingtin-associated protein with undefined functions. HAP40 protein has been shown to increase in HD patients and HD mouse model cells. However, recent proteomic analysis provides new evidence that HAP40 protein is decreased in the striatum of HD knockin model mice. In this study, we developed HAP40-specific antibody and showed that both HAP40 mRNA and its encoded protein were reduced in HD striatal neuronal STHDHQ111/Q111 cells. Depletion of endogenous HAP40 led to cytotoxicity that was linked to increased accumulation of aggregated and soluble forms of mutant Htt, which recapitulates HD pathology. Moreover, we found that HAP40 depletion reduced the proteasomal chymotrypsin-like activity and increased the autophagic flux. Importantly, inhibition of p38 MAPK pathway by PD169316 increased chymotrypsin-like activity and reduced accumulation of aggregated and soluble forms of mutant Htt in HAP40-depleted cells to alleviate HAP40-depletion induced cytotoxicity. Taken together, our results suggest that modulation of p38 MAPK-mediated proteasomal peptidase activity may provide a new therapeutic target to restore proteostasis in neurodegenerative diseases.
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7
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Kumar MJV, Shah D, Giridharan M, Yadav N, Manjithaya R, Clement JP. Spatiotemporal analysis of soluble aggregates and autophagy markers in the R6/2 mouse model. Sci Rep 2021; 11:96. [PMID: 33420088 PMCID: PMC7794371 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78850-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of cellular proteostasis is vital for post-mitotic cells like neurons to sustain normal physiological function and homeostasis, defects in which are established hallmarks of several age-related conditions like AD, PD, HD, and ALS. The Spatio-temporal accumulation of aggregated proteins in the form of inclusion bodies/plaques is one of the major characteristics of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease (HD). Toxic accumulation of HUNTINGTIN (HTT) aggregates in neurons bring about the aberrant phenotypes of HD, including severe motor dysfunction, dementia, and cognitive impairment at the organismal level, in an age-dependent manner. In several cellular and animal models, aggrephagy induction has been shown to clear aggregate-prone proteins like HTT and ameliorate disease pathology by conferring neuroprotection. In this study, we used the mouse model of HD, R6/2, to understand the pathogenicity of mHTT aggregates, primarily focusing on autophagy dysfunction. We report that basal autophagy is not altered in R6/2 mice, whilst being functional at a steady-state level in neurons. Moreover, we tested the efficacy of a known autophagy modulator, Nilotinib (Tasigna™), presently in clinical trials for PD, and HD, in curbing mHTT aggregate growth and their potential clearance, which was ineffective in both inducing autophagy and rescuing the pathological phenotypes in R6/2 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Vijay Kumar
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, India
| | - Devanshi Shah
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, India
| | - Mridhula Giridharan
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, India
| | - Niraj Yadav
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, India
| | - Ravi Manjithaya
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, India.
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, India.
| | - James P Clement
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, India.
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Boatz JC, Piretra T, Lasorsa A, Matlahov I, Conway JF, van der Wel PCA. Protofilament Structure and Supramolecular Polymorphism of Aggregated Mutant Huntingtin Exon 1. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:4722-4744. [PMID: 32598938 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2020.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of the polyglutamine domain in the first exon of huntingtin (HttEx1). The extent of expansion correlates with disease progression and formation of amyloid-like protein deposits within the brain. The latter display polymorphism at the microscopic level, both in cerebral tissue and in vitro. Such polymorphism can dramatically influence cytotoxicity, leading to much interest in the conditions and mechanisms that dictate the formation of polymorphs. We examine conditions that govern HttEx1 polymorphism in vitro, including concentration and the role of the non-polyglutamine flanking domains. Using electron microscopy, we observe polymorphs that differ in width and tendency for higher-order bundling. Strikingly, aggregation yields different polymorphs at low and high concentrations. Narrow filaments dominate at low concentrations that may be more relevant in vivo. We dissect the role of N- and C-terminal flanking domains using protein with the former (httNT or N17) largely removed. The truncated protein is generated by trypsin cleavage of soluble HttEx1 fusion protein, which we analyze in some detail. Dye binding and solid-state NMR studies reveal changes in fibril surface characteristics and flanking domain mobility. Higher-order interactions appear facilitated by the C-terminal tail, while the polyglutamine forms an amyloid core resembling those of other polyglutamine deposits. Fibril-surface-mediated branching, previously attributed to secondary nucleation, is reduced in absence of httNT. A new model for the architecture of the HttEx1 filaments is presented and discussed in context of the assembly mechanism and biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Boatz
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 5th Ave, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Talia Piretra
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 5th Ave, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Alessia Lasorsa
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Irina Matlahov
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 5th Ave, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - James F Conway
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 5th Ave, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Patrick C A van der Wel
- Department of Structural Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3501 5th Ave, Biomedical Science Tower 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747, AG, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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He R, Lai X, Sun C, Kung T, Hong J, Jheng Y, Liao W, Chen J, Liao Y, Tu P, Huang JJ. Nanoscopic Insights of Amphiphilic Peptide against the Oligomer Assembly Process to Treat Huntington's Disease. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2020; 7:1901165. [PMID: 31993280 PMCID: PMC6974936 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201901165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Finding an effective therapeutic regimen is an urgent demand for various neurodegenerative disorders including Huntington's disease (HD). For the difficulties in observing the dynamic aggregation and oligomerization process of mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) in vivo, the evaluation of potential drugs at the molecular protein level is usually restricted. By combing lifetime-based fluorescence microscopies and biophysical tools, it is showcased that a designed amphiphilic peptide, which targets the mHtt at an early stage, can perturb the oligomer assembly process nanoscopically, suppress the amyloid property of mHtt, conformationally transform the oligomers and/or aggregates of mHtt, and ameliorate mHtt-induced neurological damage and aggregation in cell and HD mouse models. It is also found that this amphiphilic peptide is able to transport to the brain and rescue the memory deficit through intranasal administration, indicating its targeting specificity in vivo. In summary, a biophotonic platform is provided to investigate the oligomerization/aggregation process in detail that offers insight into the design and effect of a targeted therapeutic agent for Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruei‐Yu He
- Institute of ChemistryAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Xiang‐Me Lai
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
- Division of UrologyDepartment of SurgeryTri‐Service General HospitalNational Defense Medical CenterTaipei11490Taiwan
| | - Chia‐Sui Sun
- Institute of ChemistryAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Te‐Shien Kung
- Institute of ChemistryAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNational Taiwan University of Science and TechnologyTaipei10607Taiwan
| | - Jhu‐Ying Hong
- Institute of ChemistryAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Yu‐Song Jheng
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Wei‐Neng Liao
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and NanomedicineNational Health Research InstitutesMiaoli35053Taiwan
| | - Jen‐Kun Chen
- Division of UrologyDepartment of SurgeryTri‐Service General HospitalNational Defense Medical CenterTaipei11490Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and NanomedicineNational Health Research InstitutesMiaoli35053Taiwan
| | - Yung‐Feng Liao
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
| | - Pang‐Hsien Tu
- Institute of Biomedical SciencesAcademia SinicaTaipei11529Taiwan
- Division of UrologyDepartment of SurgeryTri‐Service General HospitalNational Defense Medical CenterTaipei11490Taiwan
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Discovery of a potent small molecule inhibiting Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis via targeting CAG repeats RNA and Poly Q protein. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16872. [PMID: 31728006 PMCID: PMC6856162 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53410-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CAG repeats RNA causes various fatal neurodegenerative diseases exemplified by Huntington's disease (HD) and several spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). Although there are differences in the pathogenic mechanisms, these diseases share the common cause, i.e., expansion of CAG repeats. The shared cause of these diseases raises the possibility for the exploiting the common target as a potential therapeutic approach. Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics are designed earlier with the help of the base pairing rule but are not very promiscuous, considering the nonspecific stimulation of the immune system and the poor cellular delivery. Therefore, small molecules-based therapeutics are preferred for targeting the repeats expansion disorders. Here, we have used the chemical similarity search approach to discern the small molecules that selectively target toxic CAG RNA. The lead compounds showed the specificity towards AA mismatch in biophysical studies including CD, ITC, and NMR spectroscopy and thus aided to forestall the polyQ mediated pathogenicity. Furthermore, the lead compounds also explicitly alleviate the polyQ mediated toxicity in HD cell models and patient-derived cells. These findings suggest that the lead compound could act as a chemical probe for AA mismatch containing RNA as well as plays a neuroprotective role in fatal neurodegenerative diseases like HD and SCAs.
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Wahyuningtyas D, Chen WH, Huang CH, He YJ, Huang JJT. Biocompatible Inhibitor Based on Chitosan and Amphiphilic Peptide against Mutant Huntingtin Toxicity. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2133-2140. [PMID: 31166067 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is classified as a protein-misfolding disease correlated with the mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) protein with abnormally expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) domains. Because no effective drugs have yet been reported, attempts to develop better therapy to delay the age of onset are in urgent demand. In this study, an amphiphilic peptide consisting of negatively charged hexaglutamic acid and a stretch of decaglutamine (E6 Q10 ) was chemically synthesized as an inhibitor against polyQ and mHtt toxicity. It is found that E6 Q10 selfassembles into spherical vesicles, as shown by means of TEM, cryoelectron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Assembled E6 Q10 prevented the polyQ-rich peptide (KKWQ20 AKK) from forming amyloid fibrils. To enable the cell-penetration ability of E6 Q10 , the E6 Q10 ⋅chitosan complex was generated. It is demonstrated that the complex penetrates cells, interferes with the mHtt oligomerization and aggregation process, and prevents mHtt cytotoxicity. By combining positively charged chitosan and amphiphilic peptides with a negatively charge moiety, a new strategy is provided to develop biocompatible and biodegradable inhibitors against mHtt toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devi Wahyuningtyas
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.,Sustainable Chemical Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.,Department of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University, Science Building 2, 1001 Ta Hsueh Road, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hao Chen
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Han Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jung He
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Joseph Jen-Tse Huang
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
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12
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Wentink A, Nussbaum-Krammer C, Bukau B. Modulation of Amyloid States by Molecular Chaperones. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2019; 11:a033969. [PMID: 30755450 PMCID: PMC6601462 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a033969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant protein aggregation is a defining feature of most neurodegenerative diseases. During pathological aggregation, key proteins transition from their native state to alternative conformations, which are prone to oligomerize into highly ordered fibrillar states. As part of the cellular quality control machinery, molecular chaperones can intervene at many stages of the aggregation process to inhibit or reverse aberrant protein aggregation or counteract the toxicity associated with amyloid species. Although the action of chaperones is considered cytoprotective, essential housekeeping functions can be hijacked for the propagation and spreading of protein aggregates, suggesting the cellular protein quality control system constitutes a double-edged sword in neurodegeneration. Here, we discuss the various mechanisms used by chaperones to influence protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils to understand how the interplay of these activities produces specific cellular outcomes and to define mechanisms that may be targeted by pharmacological agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Wentink
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carmen Nussbaum-Krammer
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bernd Bukau
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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Buee L. Dementia Therapy Targeting Tau. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1184:407-416. [PMID: 32096053 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9358-8_30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tau is a microtubule-associated tau proteins but it has also non-microtubular functions. It aggregates in Alzheimer's disease and many neurodegenerative disorders referred to as tauopathies. Such aggregation may result from mutations on the tau gene, MAPT, dysregulation in alternative splicing, post-translational modifications or truncation. This final chapter addresses some of the various researches on a therapeutic potential around the tau protein and its gene, MAPT. Many therapeutic strategies are ongoing but they are hampered by the lack of knowledge on tau physiological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc Buee
- University of Lille, INSERM, CHU-Lille, Alzheimer & Tauopathies, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France.
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14
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Hashimoto M, Ho G, Takamatsu Y, Wada R, Sugama S, Takenouchi T, Masliah E, Waragai M. Possible Role of the Polyglutamine Elongation in Evolution of Amyloid-Related Evolvability. J Huntingtons Dis 2018; 7:297-307. [PMID: 30372687 PMCID: PMC6294593 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-180309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, such as Huntington's disease and the spinocerebellar ataxias, are characterized by the accumulation of elongated polyQ sequences (epolyQ) and mostly occur during midlife. Considering that polyQ disorders have not been selected out in evolution, there might be important physiological functions of epolyQ during development and/or reproduction. In a similar context, the physiological functions of neurodegeneration-associated amyloidogenic proteins (APs), such as β-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease and α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease, remain elusive. In this regard, we recently proposed that evolvability for coping with diverse stressors in the brain, which is beneficial for offspring, might be relevant to the physiological functions of APs. Given analogous properties of APs and epolyQ in terms of neurotoxic amyloid-fibril formation, the objective of this paper is to determine whether evolvability could also be applied to the physiological functions of epolyQ. Indeed, APs and epolyQ are similar in many ways, including functional redundancy of non-amyloidogenic homologues, hormesis conferred by the heterogeneity of the stress-induced protein aggregates, the transgenerational prion-like transmission of the protein aggregates via germ cells, and the antagonistic pleiotropy relationship between evolvability and neurodegenerative disease. Given that epolyQ is widely expressed from microorganisms to human brain, whereas APs are only identified in vertebrates, evolvability of epolyQ is considered to be much more primitive compared to those of APs during evolution. Collectively, epolyQ may be not only be important in the pathophysiology of polyQ diseases, but also in the evolution of amyloid-related evolvability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Hashimoto
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gilbert Ho
- PCND Neuroscience Research Institute, Poway, CA, USA
| | - Yoshiki Takamatsu
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoko Wada
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuei Sugama
- Department of Physiology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takato Takenouchi
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Division of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Masaaki Waragai
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Ghosh R, Tabrizi SJ. Clinical Features of Huntington's Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1049:1-28. [PMID: 29427096 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71779-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is the most common monogenic neurodegenerative disease and the commonest genetic dementia in the developed world. With autosomal dominant inheritance, typically mid-life onset, and unrelenting progressive motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms over 15-20 years, its impact on patients and their families is devastating. The causative genetic mutation is an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat in the gene encoding the Huntingtin protein, which leads to a prolonged polyglutamine stretch at the N-terminus of the protein. Since the discovery of the gene over 20 years ago much progress has been made in HD research, and although there are currently no disease-modifying treatments available, there are a number of exciting potential therapeutic developments in the pipeline. In this chapter we discuss the epidemiology, genetics and pathogenesis of HD as well as the clinical presentation and management of HD, which is currently focused on symptomatic treatment. The principles of genetic testing for HD are also explained. Recent developments in therapeutics research, including gene silencing and targeted small molecule approaches are also discussed, as well as the search for HD biomarkers that will assist the validation of these potentially new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhia Ghosh
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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16
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Bonner JM, Boulianne GL. Diverse structures, functions and uses of FK506 binding proteins. Cell Signal 2017; 38:97-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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17
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Fibril polymorphism affects immobilized non-amyloid flanking domains of huntingtin exon1 rather than its polyglutamine core. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15462. [PMID: 28537272 PMCID: PMC5458082 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein is the primary genetic cause of Huntington's disease (HD). Fragments coinciding with mutant huntingtin exon1 aggregate in vivo and induce HD-like pathology in mouse models. The resulting aggregates can have different structures that affect their biochemical behaviour and cytotoxic activity. Here we report our studies of the structure and functional characteristics of multiple mutant htt exon1 fibrils by complementary techniques, including infrared and solid-state NMR spectroscopies. Magic-angle-spinning NMR reveals that fibrillar exon1 has a partly mobile α-helix in its aggregation-accelerating N terminus, and semi-rigid polyproline II helices in the proline-rich flanking domain (PRD). The polyglutamine-proximal portions of these domains are immobilized and clustered, limiting access to aggregation-modulating antibodies. The polymorphic fibrils differ in their flanking domains rather than the polyglutamine amyloid structure. They are effective at seeding polyglutamine aggregation and exhibit cytotoxic effects when applied to neuronal cells. Huntington's disease is caused by a polyglutamine stretch expansion in the first exon of huntingtin. Here, the authors use infrared spectroscopy and solid-state NMR and show that polymorphic huntingtin exon1 fibres differ in their flanking regions but not their core polyglutamine amyloid structures.
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18
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Wong MM, Chong GL, Verslues PE. Epigenetics and RNA Processing: Connections to Drought, Salt, and ABA? Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1631:3-21. [PMID: 28735388 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7136-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
There have been great research advances in epigenetics, RNA splicing, and mRNA processing over recent years. In parallel, there have been many advances in abiotic stress and Abscisic Acid (ABA) signaling. Here we overview studies that have examined stress-induced changes in the epigenome and RNA processing as well as cases where disrupting these processes changes the plant response to abiotic stress. We also highlight some examples where specific connections of stress or ABA signaling to epigenetics or RNA processing have been found. By implication, this also points out cases where such mechanistic connections are likely to exist but are yet to be characterized. In the absence of such specific connections to stress signaling, it should be kept in mind that stress sensitivity phenotypes of some epigenetic or RNA processing mutants maybe the result of indirect, pleiotropic effects and thus may perhaps not indicate a direct function in stress acclimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min May Wong
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.,Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Geeng Loo Chong
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.,Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Paul E Verslues
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Road, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan. .,Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan.
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19
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Shen K, Calamini B, Fauerbach JA, Ma B, Shahmoradian SH, Serrano Lachapel IL, Chiu W, Lo DC, Frydman J. Control of the structural landscape and neuronal proteotoxicity of mutant Huntingtin by domains flanking the polyQ tract. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 27751235 PMCID: PMC5135392 DOI: 10.7554/elife.18065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative diseases are linked to amyloid aggregation. In Huntington’s disease (HD), neurotoxicity correlates with an increased aggregation propensity of a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in exon 1 of mutant huntingtin protein (mHtt). Here we establish how the domains flanking the polyQ tract shape the mHtt conformational landscape in vitro and in neurons. In vitro, the flanking domains have opposing effects on the conformation and stabilities of oligomers and amyloid fibrils. The N-terminal N17 promotes amyloid fibril formation, while the C-terminal Proline Rich Domain destabilizes fibrils and enhances oligomer formation. However, in neurons both domains act synergistically to engage protective chaperone and degradation pathways promoting mHtt proteostasis. Surprisingly, when proteotoxicity was assessed in rat corticostriatal brain slices, either flanking region alone sufficed to generate a neurotoxic conformation, while the polyQ tract alone exhibited minimal toxicity. Linking mHtt structural properties to its neuronal proteostasis should inform new strategies for neuroprotection in polyQ-expansion diseases. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.18065.001 Huntington’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder in which misshapen proteins accumulate in the brain and kill neurons. The misshapen proteins form as a result of specific mutations in the gene that encodes a protein called huntingtin. These mutations result in a region of the protein called the polyQ tract being longer than normal. Other regions of huntingtin that are near to the polyQ tract can dramatically change the behavior of the mutant protein. Shen et al. investigated how these regions control the shape of mutant huntingtin and how this affects the toxicity of the mutant protein in neurons. The experiments found that the two regions on either side of the polyQ tract dramatically change the shape of mutant huntingtin proteins. In the absence of these flanking regions, the extended polyQ region is not very toxic, demonstrating that the flanking sequences play important roles in generating the toxic protein shapes. These flanking regions help mutant huntingtin to form a particular shape that was strongly linked with the death of neurons in rat brain slices. The flanking regions also change the way that the cellular machinery in neurons recognizes mutated huntingtin proteins and acts to prevent them from causing harm. Misshapen forms of other proteins are responsible for causing other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Therefore, the findings of Shen et al. may help researchers to develop new drugs for these conditions, as well as for Huntingdon’s disease. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.18065.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Koning Shen
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, United States.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
| | - Barbara Calamini
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, United States
| | - Jonathan A Fauerbach
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, United States.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
| | - Boxue Ma
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Sarah H Shahmoradian
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Ivana L Serrano Lachapel
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, United States.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
| | - Wah Chiu
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | - Donald C Lo
- Center for Drug Discovery, Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, United States
| | - Judith Frydman
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, United States.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, United States
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20
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Wen J, Scoles DR, Facelli JC. Effects of the enlargement of polyglutamine segments on the structure and folding of ataxin-2 and ataxin-3 proteins. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2016; 35:504-519. [PMID: 26861241 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2016.1152199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) and type 3 (SCA3) are two common autosomal-dominant inherited ataxia syndromes, both of which are related to the unstable expansion of trinucleotide CAG repeats in the coding region of the related ATXN2 and ATXN3 genes, respectively. The poly-glutamine (poly-Q) tract encoded by the CAG repeats has long been recognized as an important factor in disease pathogenesis and progress. In this study, using the I-TASSER method for 3D structure prediction, we investigated the effect of poly-Q tract enlargement on the structure and folding of ataxin-2 and ataxin-3 proteins. Our results show good agreement with the known experimental structures of the Josephin and UIM domains providing credence to the simulation results presented here, which show that the enlargement of the poly-Q region not only affects the local structure of these regions but also affects the structures of functional domains as well as the whole protein. The changes observed in the predicted models of the UIM domains in ataxin-3 when the poly-Q track is enlarged provide new insights on possible pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingran Wen
- a Department of Biomedical Informatics , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Daniel R Scoles
- b Department of Neurology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Julio C Facelli
- a Department of Biomedical Informatics , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
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21
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Kampinga HH, Bergink S. Heat shock proteins as potential targets for protective strategies in neurodegeneration. Lancet Neurol 2016; 15:748-759. [PMID: 27106072 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(16)00099-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 01/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein aggregates are hallmarks of nearly all age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and several polyglutamine diseases such as Huntington's disease and different forms of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA; SCA1-3, SCA6, and SCA7). The collapse of cellular protein homoeostasis can be both a cause and a consequence of this protein aggregation. Boosting components of the cellular protein quality control system has been widely investigated as a strategy to counteract protein aggregates or their toxic consequences. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a central part in regulating protein quality control and contribute to protein aggregation and disaggregation. Therefore, HSPs are viable targets for the development of drugs aimed at reducing pathogenic protein aggregates that are thought to contribute to the development of so many neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harm H Kampinga
- Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
| | - Steven Bergink
- Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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