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de Bruyn E, Dorn AE, Zimmermann O, Rossetti G. SPEADI: Accelerated Analysis of IDP-Ion Interactions from MD-Trajectories. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040581. [PMID: 37106781 PMCID: PMC10135740 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The disordered nature of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) makes their structural ensembles particularly susceptible to changes in chemical environmental conditions, often leading to an alteration of their normal functions. A Radial Distribution Function (RDF) is considered a standard method for characterizing the chemical environment surrounding particles during atomistic simulations, commonly averaged over an entire or part of a trajectory. Given their high structural variability, such averaged information might not be reliable for IDPs. We introduce the Time-Resolved Radial Distribution Function (TRRDF), implemented in our open-source Python package SPEADI, which is able to characterize dynamic environments around IDPs. We use SPEADI to characterize the dynamic distribution of ions around the IDPs Alpha-Synuclein (AS) and Humanin (HN) from Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, and some of their selected mutants, showing that local ion-residue interactions play an important role in the structures and behaviors of IDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emile de Bruyn
- Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Anton Emil Dorn
- Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Olav Zimmermann
- Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Giulia Rossetti
- Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Advanced Simulation IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
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2
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Iyer A, Sidhu A, Subramaniam V. How important is the N-terminal acetylation of alpha-synuclein for its function and aggregation into amyloids? Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1003997. [PMID: 36466161 PMCID: PMC9709446 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1003997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
N-α-acetylation is a frequently occurring post-translational modification in eukaryotic proteins. It has manifold physiological consequences on the regulation and function of several proteins, with emerging studies suggesting that it is a global regulator of stress responses. For decades, in vitro biochemical investigations into the precise role of the intrinsically disordered protein alpha-synuclein (αS) in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) were performed using non-acetylated αS. The N-terminus of α-synuclein is now unequivocally known to be acetylated in vivo, however, there are many aspects of this post-translational modifications that are not understood well. Is N-α-acetylation of αS a constitutive modification akin to most cellular proteins, or is it spatio-temporally regulated? Is N-α-acetylation of αS relevant to the as yet elusive function of αS? How does the N-α-acetylation of αS influence the aggregation of αS into amyloids? Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge and discuss prevailing hypotheses on the impact of N-α-acetylation of αS on its conformational, oligomeric, and fibrillar states. The extent to which N-α-acetylation of αS is vital for its function, membrane binding, and aggregation into amyloids is also explored here. We further discuss the overall significance of N-α-acetylation of αS for its functional and pathogenic implications in Lewy body formation and synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Iyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Arshdeep Sidhu
- Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research, Nitte University (DU), Mangalore, India
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3
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α-Synuclein phosphorylation at serine 129 occurs after initial protein deposition and inhibits seeded fibril formation and toxicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2109617119. [PMID: 35353605 PMCID: PMC9169642 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109617119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
SignificanceConverging evidence points to the build-up of phosphorylated α-synuclein (α-syn) at residue serine 129 (pS129) in Lewy body disease, suggesting its central role in the regulation of α-syn aggregation and neuronal degeneration. However, a comprehensive understanding of the role of α-syn phosphorylation at pS129 in α-synuclenopathies pathogenesis is still lacking. Herein, we study the phosphorylation incidence and its effect on α-syn aggregation propensity and cellular toxicity. Collectively, our data suggest that pS129 occurred subsequent to initial α-syn aggregation, lessened aggregation propensity, and attenuated cytotoxicity through diverse assays. Our findings highlight major implications for a better understanding of the role of a molecular modification on protein aggregation.
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4
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Passive Immunization in Alpha-Synuclein Preclinical Animal Models. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020168. [PMID: 35204668 PMCID: PMC8961624 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synucleinopathies include Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, pure autonomic failure and multiple system atrophy. These are all progressive neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by pathological misfolding and accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein (αsyn) in neurons, axons or glial cells in the brain, but also in other organs. The abnormal accumulation and propagation of pathogenic αsyn across the autonomic connectome is associated with progressive loss of neurons in the brain and peripheral organs, resulting in motor and non-motor symptoms. To date, no cure is available for synucleinopathies, and therapy is limited to symptomatic treatment of motor and non-motor symptoms upon diagnosis. Recent advances using passive immunization that target different αsyn structures show great potential to block disease progression in rodent studies of synucleinopathies. However, passive immunotherapy in clinical trials has been proven safe but less effective than in preclinical conditions. Here we review current achievements of passive immunotherapy in animal models of synucleinopathies. Furthermore, we propose new research strategies to increase translational outcome in patient studies, (1) by using antibodies against immature conformations of pathogenic αsyn (monomers, post-translationally modified monomers, oligomers and protofibrils) and (2) by focusing treatment on body-first synucleinopathies where damage in the brain is still limited and effective immunization could potentially stop disease progression by blocking the spread of pathogenic αsyn from peripheral organs to the brain.
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5
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Bhattacharya S, Xu L, Thompson D. Characterization of Amyloidogenic Peptide Aggregability in Helical Subspace. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2340:401-448. [PMID: 35167084 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1546-1_18] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Prototypical amyloidogenic peptides amyloid-β (Aβ) and α-synuclein (αS) can undergo helix-helix associations via partially folded helical conformers, which may influence pathological progression to Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), respectively. At the other extreme, stable folded helical conformers have been reported to resist self-assembly and amyloid formation. Experimental characterisation of such disparities in aggregation profiles due to subtle differences in peptide stabilities is precluded by the conformational heterogeneity of helical subspace. The diverse physical models used in molecular simulations allow sampling distinct regions of the phase space and are extensive in capturing the ensemble of rich helical subspace. Robust and powerful computational predictive methods utilizing network theory and free energy mapping can model the origin of helical population shifts in amyloidogenic peptides, which highlight their inherent aggregability. In this chapter, we discuss computational models, methods, design rules, and strategies to identify the driving force behind helical self-assembly and the molecular origin of aggregation resistance in helical intermediates of Aβ42 and αS. By extensive multiscale mapping of intrapeptide interactions, we show that the computational models can capture features that are otherwise imperceptible to experiments. Our models predict that targeting terminal residues may allow modulation and control of initial pathogenic aggregability of amyloidogenic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayon Bhattacharya
- Department of Physics, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of Physics, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Damien Thompson
- Department of Physics, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
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6
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Chen J, Zaer S, Drori P, Zamel J, Joron K, Kalisman N, Lerner E, Dokholyan NV. The structural heterogeneity of α-synuclein is governed by several distinct subpopulations with interconversion times slower than milliseconds. Structure 2021; 29:1048-1064.e6. [PMID: 34015255 PMCID: PMC8419013 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein plays an important role in synaptic functions by interacting with synaptic vesicle membrane, while its oligomers and fibrils are associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. The specific monomer structures that promote its membrane binding and self-association remain elusive due to its transient nature as an intrinsically disordered protein. Here, we use inter-dye distance distributions from bulk time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer as restraints in discrete molecular dynamics simulations to map the conformational space of the α-synuclein monomer. We further confirm the generated conformational ensemble in orthogonal experiments utilizing far-UV circular dichroism and cross-linking mass spectrometry. Single-molecule protein-induced fluorescence enhancement measurements show that within this conformational ensemble, some of the conformations of α-synuclein are surprisingly stable, exhibiting conformational transitions slower than milliseconds. Our comprehensive analysis of the conformational ensemble reveals essential structural properties and potential conformations that promote its various functions in membrane interaction or oligomer and fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Sofia Zaer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Paz Drori
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Joanna Zamel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Khalil Joron
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Nir Kalisman
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Eitan Lerner
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel; The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel.
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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7
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Nguyen PH, Ramamoorthy A, Sahoo BR, Zheng J, Faller P, Straub JE, Dominguez L, Shea JE, Dokholyan NV, De Simone A, Ma B, Nussinov R, Najafi S, Ngo ST, Loquet A, Chiricotto M, Ganguly P, McCarty J, Li MS, Hall C, Wang Y, Miller Y, Melchionna S, Habenstein B, Timr S, Chen J, Hnath B, Strodel B, Kayed R, Lesné S, Wei G, Sterpone F, Doig AJ, Derreumaux P. Amyloid Oligomers: A Joint Experimental/Computational Perspective on Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Type II Diabetes, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Chem Rev 2021; 121:2545-2647. [PMID: 33543942 PMCID: PMC8836097 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 122.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation is observed in many amyloidogenic diseases affecting either the central nervous system or a variety of peripheral tissues. Structural and dynamic characterization of all species along the pathways from monomers to fibrils is challenging by experimental and computational means because they involve intrinsically disordered proteins in most diseases. Yet understanding how amyloid species become toxic is the challenge in developing a treatment for these diseases. Here we review what computer, in vitro, in vivo, and pharmacological experiments tell us about the accumulation and deposition of the oligomers of the (Aβ, tau), α-synuclein, IAPP, and superoxide dismutase 1 proteins, which have been the mainstream concept underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), type II diabetes (T2D), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, respectively, for many years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong H Nguyen
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy
- Biophysics and Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Bikash R Sahoo
- Biophysics and Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1055, United States
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Peter Faller
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - John E Straub
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Laura Dominguez
- Facultad de Química, Departamento de Fisicoquímica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Joan-Emma Shea
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
- Department of Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
- Molecular Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80138, Italy
| | - Buyong Ma
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Saeed Najafi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Son Tung Ngo
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Biophysics & Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Antoine Loquet
- Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nanoobjects, (UMR5248 CBMN), CNRS, Université Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Mara Chiricotto
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Pritam Ganguly
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - James McCarty
- Chemistry Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington 98225, United States
| | - Mai Suan Li
- Institute for Computational Science and Technology, SBI Building, Quang Trung Software City, Tan Chanh Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Carol Hall
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Yiming Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7905, United States
| | - Yifat Miller
- Department of Chemistry and The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva 84105, Israel
| | | | - Birgit Habenstein
- Institute of Chemistry & Biology of Membranes & Nanoobjects, (UMR5248 CBMN), CNRS, Université Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Stepan Timr
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Jiaxing Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
| | - Brianna Hnath
- Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, United States
| | - Birgit Strodel
- Institute of Complex Systems: Structural Biochemistry (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Sylvain Lesné
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Guanghong Wei
- Department of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, and Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Science, Multiscale Research Institute of Complex Systems, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Fabio Sterpone
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
| | - Andrew J Doig
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, U.K
| | - Philippe Derreumaux
- CNRS, UPR9080, Université de Paris, Laboratory of Theoretical Biochemistry, IBPC, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, PSL Research University, Paris 75005, France
- Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ton Duc Thang University, 33000 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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8
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Xie H, Guo C. Albumin Alters the Conformational Ensemble of Amyloid-β by Promiscuous Interactions: Implications for Amyloid Inhibition. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 7:629520. [PMID: 33708792 PMCID: PMC7940760 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.629520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human serum albumin (HSA) is a key endogenous inhibitor of amyloid-β (Αβ) aggregation. In vitro HSA inhibits Aβ fibrillization and targets multiple species along the aggregation pathway including monomers, oligomers, and protofibrils. Amyloid inhibition by HSA has both pathological implications and therapeutic potential, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. As a first step towards addressing this complex question, we studied the interactions of an Aβ42 monomer with HSA by molecular dynamics simulations. To adequately sample the conformational space, we adapted the replica exchange with solute tempering (REST2) method to selectively heat the Aβ42 peptide in the absence and presence of HSA. Aβ42 binds to multiple sites on HSA with a preference to domain III and adopts various conformations that all differ from the free state. The β-sheet abundances of H14-E22 and A30-M33 regions are significantly reduced by HSA, so are the β-sheet lengths. HSA shifts the conformational ensemble towards more disordered states and alters the β-sheet association patterns. In particular, the frequent association of Q15-V24 and N27-V36 regions into β-hairpin which is critical for aggregation is impeded. HSA primarily interacts with the latter β-region and the N-terminal charged residues. They form promiscuous interactions characterized by salt bridges at the edge of the peptide-protein interface and hydrophobic cores at the center. Consequently, intrapeptide interactions crucial for β-sheet formation are disrupted. Our work builds the bridge between the modification of Aβ conformational ensemble and amyloid inhibition by HSA. It also illustrates the potential of the REST2 method in studying interactions between intrinsically disordered peptides and globular proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cong Guo
- Department of Physics and International Centre for Quantum and Molecular Structures, College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
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9
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Klein F, Barrera EE, Pantano S. Assessing SIRAH's Capability to Simulate Intrinsically Disordered Proteins and Peptides. J Chem Theory Comput 2021; 17:599-604. [PMID: 33411518 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c00948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The challenges posed by intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) to atomistic and coarse-grained (CG) simulations are boosting efforts to develop and reparametrize current force fields. An assessment of the dynamical behavior of IDPs' and unstructured peptides with the CG SIRAH force field suggests that the current version achieves a fair description of IDPs' conformational flexibility. Moreover, we found a remarkable capability to capture the effect of point mutations in loosely structured peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Klein
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo, CP 11400, Uruguay.,Graduate Program in Chemistry, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Exequiel E Barrera
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo, CP 11400, Uruguay.,Instituto de Histología y Embriología (IHEM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC56, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo), M5500 Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Sergio Pantano
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo, CP 11400, Uruguay.,Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
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10
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Wu K, Li D, Xiu P, Ji B, Diao J. O-GlcNAcylation inhibits the oligomerization of alpha-synuclein by declining intermolecular hydrogen bonds through a steric effect. Phys Biol 2020; 18:016002. [DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/abb6dc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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11
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Brocca S, Grandori R, Longhi S, Uversky V. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation by Intrinsically Disordered Protein Regions of Viruses: Roles in Viral Life Cycle and Control of Virus-Host Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9045. [PMID: 33260713 PMCID: PMC7730420 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are unable to adopt a unique 3D structure under physiological conditions and thus exist as highly dynamic conformational ensembles. IDPs are ubiquitous and widely spread in the protein realm. In the last decade, compelling experimental evidence has been gathered, pointing to the ability of IDPs and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a phenomenon driving the formation of membrane-less organelles (MLOs). These biological condensates play a critical role in the spatio-temporal organization of the cell, where they exert a multitude of key biological functions, ranging from transcriptional regulation and silencing to control of signal transduction networks. After introducing IDPs and LLPS, we herein survey available data on LLPS by IDPs/IDRs of viral origin and discuss their functional implications. We distinguish LLPS associated with viral replication and trafficking of viral components, from the LLPS-mediated interference of viruses with host cell functions. We discuss emerging evidence on the ability of plant virus proteins to interfere with the regulation of MLOs of the host and propose that bacteriophages can interfere with bacterial LLPS, as well. We conclude by discussing how LLPS could be targeted to treat phase separation-associated diseases, including viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Brocca
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Rita Grandori
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Sonia Longhi
- Laboratoire Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), Aix-Marseille University and CNRS, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Vladimir Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Byrd Alzheimer’s Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33601, USA
- Laboratory of New Methods in Biology, Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
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12
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Palomino-Hernandez O, Buratti FA, Sacco PS, Rossetti G, Carloni P, Fernandez CO. Role of Tyr-39 for the Structural Features of α-Synuclein and for the Interaction with a Strong Modulator of Its Amyloid Assembly. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21145061. [PMID: 32709107 PMCID: PMC7404028 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that Tyr-39 might play a critical role for both the normal function and the pathological dysfunction of α-synuclein (αS), an intrinsically disordered protein involved in Parkinson’s disease. We perform here a comparative analysis between the structural features of human αS and its Y39A, Y39F, and Y39L variants. By the combined application of site-directed mutagenesis, biophysical techniques, and enhanced sampling molecular simulations, we show that removing aromatic functionality at position 39 of monomeric αS leads to protein variants populating more compact conformations, conserving its disordered nature and secondary structure propensities. Contrasting with the subtle changes induced by mutations on the protein structure, removing aromaticity at position 39 impacts strongly on the interaction of αS with the potent amyloid inhibitor phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (PcTS). Our findings further support the role of Tyr-39 in forming essential inter and intramolecular contacts that might have important repercussions for the function and the dysfunction of αS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Palomino-Hernandez
- Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9) and Institute for Advanced Simulations (IAS-5), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (O.P.-H.); (G.R.)
- Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen, 52425 Aachen, Germany
- Computation-Based Science and Technology Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Nicosia, Cyprus
- Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Fiamma A. Buratti
- Max Planck Laboratory for Structural Biology, Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics of Rosario (MPLbioR, UNR-MPIbpC) and Instituto de Investigaciones para el Descubrimiento de Fármacos de Rosario (IIDEFAR, UNR-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2002LRK Rosario, Argentina; (F.A.B.); (P.S.S.)
| | - Pamela S. Sacco
- Max Planck Laboratory for Structural Biology, Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics of Rosario (MPLbioR, UNR-MPIbpC) and Instituto de Investigaciones para el Descubrimiento de Fármacos de Rosario (IIDEFAR, UNR-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2002LRK Rosario, Argentina; (F.A.B.); (P.S.S.)
| | - Giulia Rossetti
- Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9) and Institute for Advanced Simulations (IAS-5), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (O.P.-H.); (G.R.)
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Paolo Carloni
- Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-9) and Institute for Advanced Simulations (IAS-5), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (O.P.-H.); (G.R.)
- Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen, 52425 Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-11) Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- Correspondence: (P.C.); (C.O.F.); Tel.: +54-341-4237868 (ext. 752) (C.O.F)
| | - Claudio O. Fernandez
- Max Planck Laboratory for Structural Biology, Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics of Rosario (MPLbioR, UNR-MPIbpC) and Instituto de Investigaciones para el Descubrimiento de Fármacos de Rosario (IIDEFAR, UNR-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, S2002LRK Rosario, Argentina; (F.A.B.); (P.S.S.)
- Department of NMR-Based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (P.C.); (C.O.F.); Tel.: +54-341-4237868 (ext. 752) (C.O.F)
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13
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Cai B, Liu J, Zhao Y, Xu X, Bu B, Li D, Zhang L, Dong W, Ji B, Diao J. Single-vesicle imaging quantifies calcium's regulation of nanoscale vesicle clustering mediated by α-synuclein. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2020; 6:38. [PMID: 34567651 PMCID: PMC8433175 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-020-0147-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although numerous studies have shown that the protein α-synuclein (α-Syn) plays a central role in Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and other neurodegenerative diseases, the protein's physiological function remains poorly understood. Furthermore, despite recent reports suggesting that, under the influence of Ca2+, α-Syn can interact with synaptic vesicles, the mechanisms underlying that interaction are far from clear. Thus, we used single-vesicle imaging to quantify the extent to which Ca2+ regulates nanoscale vesicle clustering mediated by α-Syn. Our results revealed not only that vesicle clustering required α-Syn to bind to anionic lipid vesicles, but also that different concentrations of Ca2+ exerted different effects on how α-Syn induced vesicle clustering. In particular, low concentrations of Ca2+ inhibited vesicle clustering by blocking the electrostatic interaction between the lipid membrane and the N terminus of α-Syn, whereas high concentrations promoted vesicle clustering, possibly due to the electrostatic interaction between Ca2+ and the negatively charged lipids that is independent of α-Syn. Taken together, our results provide critical insights into α-Syn's physiological function, and how Ca2+ regulates vesicle clustering mediated by α-Syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Cai
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267 USA
| | - Jie Liu
- Biomechanics and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Applied Mechanics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Yunfei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000 China
| | - Xiangyu Xu
- Biomechanics and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Applied Mechanics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081 China
| | - Bing Bu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164 China
| | - Dechang Li
- Institute of Applied Mechanics, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter (Ministry of Education), School of Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 China
| | - Wei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000 China
| | - Baohua Ji
- Institute of Applied Mechanics, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beijing, 100191 China
| | - Jiajie Diao
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267 USA
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14
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Bogaert A, Fernandez E, Gevaert K. N-Terminal Proteoforms in Human Disease. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 45:308-320. [PMID: 32001092 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The collection of chemically different protein variants, or proteoforms, by far exceeds the number of protein-coding genes in the human genome. Major contributors are alternative splicing and protein modifications. In this review, we focus on those proteoforms that differ at their N termini with a molecular link to disease. We describe the main underlying mechanisms that give rise to such N-terminal proteoforms, these being splicing, initiation of protein translation, and protein modifications. Given their role in several human diseases, it is becoming increasingly clear that several of these N-terminal proteoforms may have potential as therapeutic interventions and/or for diagnosing and prognosing their associated disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelies Bogaert
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Esperanza Fernandez
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Gevaert
- VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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15
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Masetti M, Bernetti M, Cavalli A. Enhanced Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2141:391-411. [PMID: 32696368 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0524-0_19] [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] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics simulations represent a powerful tool to gain insights into structural and dynamical features of biomolecular systems. Nevertheless, their recognized limitation in terms of achievable timescales becomes particularly severe when dealing with slow processes. In such cases, the employment of enhanced sampling methods, which allow accelerating the characterization of rare events in a timeframe consistent with conventional computational resources, results as crucial. In particular, such advanced techniques have proven highly valuable in the context of protein folding and, specifically, to explore the conformational ensemble spanned by intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Here, we describe how to set up molecular dynamics simulations with one of these enhanced sampling approaches (namely, Parallel Tempering Metadynamics in the Well-Tempered Ensemble) using the NTAIL peptide as a test case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Masetti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mattia Bernetti
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. .,Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy.
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16
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Depicting Conformational Ensembles of α-Synuclein by Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy and Native Mass Spectroscopy. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20205181. [PMID: 31635031 PMCID: PMC6829300 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Description of heterogeneous molecular ensembles, such as intrinsically disordered proteins, represents a challenge in structural biology and an urgent question posed by biochemistry to interpret many physiologically important, regulatory mechanisms. Single-molecule techniques can provide a unique contribution to this field. This work applies single molecule force spectroscopy to probe conformational properties of α-synuclein in solution and its conformational changes induced by ligand binding. The goal is to compare data from such an approach with those obtained by native mass spectrometry. These two orthogonal, biophysical methods are found to deliver a complex picture, in which monomeric α-synuclein in solution spontaneously populates compact and partially compacted states, which are differently stabilized by binding to aggregation inhibitors, such as dopamine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Analyses by circular dichroism and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy show that these transitions do not involve formation of secondary structure. This comparative analysis provides support to structural interpretation of charge-state distributions obtained by native mass spectrometry and helps, in turn, defining the conformational components detected by single molecule force spectroscopy.
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17
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Schramm A, Bignon C, Brocca S, Grandori R, Santambrogio C, Longhi S. An arsenal of methods for the experimental characterization of intrinsically disordered proteins - How to choose and combine them? Arch Biochem Biophys 2019; 676:108055. [PMID: 31356778 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2019.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we detail the most common experimental approaches to assess and characterize protein intrinsic structural disorder, with the notable exception of NMR and EPR spectroscopy, two ideally suited approaches that will be described in depth in two other reviews within this special issue. We discuss the advantages, the limitations, as well as the caveats of the various methods. We also describe less common and more demanding approaches that enable achieving further insights into the conformational properties of IDPs. Finally, we present recent developments that have enabled assessment of structural disorder in living cells, and discuss the currently available methods to model IDPs as conformational ensembles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Schramm
- CNRS and Aix-Marseille Univ, Laboratoire Architecture et Fonction des Macromolecules Biologiques (AFMB), UMR 7257, Marseille, France
| | - Christophe Bignon
- CNRS and Aix-Marseille Univ, Laboratoire Architecture et Fonction des Macromolecules Biologiques (AFMB), UMR 7257, Marseille, France
| | - Stefania Brocca
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Rita Grandori
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Santambrogio
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Longhi
- CNRS and Aix-Marseille Univ, Laboratoire Architecture et Fonction des Macromolecules Biologiques (AFMB), UMR 7257, Marseille, France.
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18
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Investigating targets for neuropharmacological intervention by molecular dynamics simulations. Biochem Soc Trans 2019; 47:909-918. [PMID: 31085614 DOI: 10.1042/bst20190048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Medical research has identified over 500 brain disorders. Among these, there are still only very few neuropathologies whose causes are fully understood and, consequently, very few drugs whose mechanism of action is known. No FDA drug has been identified for major neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. We still lack effective treatments and strategies for modulating progression or even early neurodegenerative disease onset diagnostic tools. A great support toward the highly needed identification of neuroactive drugs comes from computer simulation methods and, in particular, from molecular dynamics (MD). This provides insight into structure-function relationship of a target and predicts structure, dynamics and energetics of ligand/target complexes under biologically relevant conditions like temperature and physiological saline concentration. Here, we present examples of the predictive power of MD for neuroactive ligands/target complexes. This brief survey from our own research shows the usefulness of partnerships between academia and industry, and from joint efforts between experimental and theoretical groups.
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19
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Brodie NI, Popov KI, Petrotchenko EV, Dokholyan NV, Borchers CH. Conformational ensemble of native α-synuclein in solution as determined by short-distance crosslinking constraint-guided discrete molecular dynamics simulations. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1006859. [PMID: 30917118 PMCID: PMC6453469 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Combining structural proteomics experimental data with computational methods is a powerful tool for protein structure prediction. Here, we apply a recently-developed approach for de novo protein structure determination based on the incorporation of short-distance crosslinking data as constraints in discrete molecular dynamics simulations (CL-DMD) for the determination of conformational ensemble of the intrinsically disordered protein α-synuclein in the solution. The predicted structures were in agreement with hydrogen-deuterium exchange, circular dichroism, surface modification, and long-distance crosslinking data. We found that α-synuclein is present in solution as an ensemble of rather compact globular conformations with distinct topology and inter-residue contacts, which is well-represented by movements of the large loops and formation of few transient secondary structure elements. Non-amyloid component and C-terminal regions were consistently found to contain β-structure elements and hairpins. As the population ages, neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease will become an increasing problem in many countries. Aggregation of the protein α-synuclein is the primary cause of Parkinson’s disease, but there is still a dearth of structural information pertaining to the native, non-aggregating form of this protein. A better understanding the structural state of the native protein may prove useful for the design of new therapeutics to combat this disease. In order to obtain more structural information on this protein, we have recently modelled the native α-synuclein protein. These models were generated using a novel approach which combines protein crosslinking and discrete molecular dynamics simulations. We have found that the α-synuclein protein can adopt several shapes, all with a similar topology, resembling a three fingered closed claw. A region of the protein important for aggregation was found to be protected from the surrounding biological environment in these conformations, and the stabilization of these structures may be a fruitful avenue for future drug research into mitigating the cause and effect of Parkinson’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas I. Brodie
- University of Victoria -Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Vancouver Island Technology Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Konstantin I. Popov
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Evgeniy V. Petrotchenko
- University of Victoria -Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Vancouver Island Technology Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Segal Cancer Proteomics Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Departments of Pharmacology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (NVD); (CHB)
| | - Christoph H. Borchers
- University of Victoria -Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Vancouver Island Technology Park, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Segal Cancer Proteomics Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail: (NVD); (CHB)
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20
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Santambrogio C, Natalello A, Brocca S, Ponzini E, Grandori R. Conformational Characterization and Classification of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins by Native Mass Spectrometry and Charge‐State Distribution Analysis. Proteomics 2018; 19:e1800060. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201800060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Santambrogio
- Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 20126 Milan Italy
| | - Antonino Natalello
- Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 20126 Milan Italy
| | - Stefania Brocca
- Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 20126 Milan Italy
| | - Erika Ponzini
- Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 20126 Milan Italy
| | - Rita Grandori
- Department of Biotechnology and BiosciencesUniversity of Milano‐Bicocca Piazza della Scienza 2 20126 Milan Italy
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21
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Bu B, Tong X, Li D, Hu Y, He W, Zhao C, Hu R, Li X, Shao Y, Liu C, Zhao Q, Ji B, Diao J. N-Terminal Acetylation Preserves α-Synuclein from Oligomerization by Blocking Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonds. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:2145-2151. [PMID: 28741930 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) is closely associated with Parkinson's disease. Different post-translational modifications of α-Syn have been identified and contribute distinctly in α-Syn aggregation and cytotoxicity. Recently, α-Syn was reported to be N-terminally acetylated in cells, yet the functional implication of this modification, especially in α-Syn oligomerization, remains unclear. By using a solid-state nanopore system, we found that N-terminal acetylation can significantly decrease α-Syn oligomerization. Replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations further revealed that addition of an acetyl group at the N-terminus disrupts intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which slows down the initial α-Syn oligomerization. Our finding highlights the essential role of N-terminal acetylation of α-Syn in preserving its native conformation against pathological aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Bu
- Biomechanics
and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Applied Mechanics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xin Tong
- State
Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Electron Microscopy Laboratory,
School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Dechang Li
- Biomechanics
and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Applied Mechanics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yachong Hu
- Department
of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, United States
- Key
Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of
Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Wangxiao He
- Key
Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of
Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Chunyu Zhao
- Interdisciplinary
Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic
Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Rui Hu
- State
Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Electron Microscopy Laboratory,
School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiaoqing Li
- State
Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Electron Microscopy Laboratory,
School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yongping Shao
- Key
Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of
Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary
Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic
Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qing Zhao
- State
Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Electron Microscopy Laboratory,
School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Baohua Ji
- Biomechanics
and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Applied Mechanics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jiajie Diao
- Department
of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, United States
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22
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Bernetti M, Masetti M, Pietrucci F, Blackledge M, Jensen MR, Recanatini M, Mollica L, Cavalli A. Structural and Kinetic Characterization of the Intrinsically Disordered Protein SeV NTAIL through Enhanced Sampling Simulations. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:9572-9582. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b08925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Bernetti
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum − Università di Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
- CompuNet, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Matteo Masetti
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum − Università di Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Pietrucci
- Institut
de Minéralogie,
de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, Sorbonne Universités−Université
Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, CNRS UMR 7590, IRD UMR 206, Museum national d’Histoire naturelle, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Martin Blackledge
- Protein
Dynamics and Flexibility by NMR Group, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Malene Ringkjobing Jensen
- Protein
Dynamics and Flexibility by NMR Group, Institut de Biologie Structurale, 38044 Grenoble, France
| | - Maurizio Recanatini
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum − Università di Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Mollica
- CompuNet, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum − Università di Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126, Bologna, Italy
- CompuNet, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
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23
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Shuaib S, Saini RK, Goyal D, Goyal B. Insights into the Inhibitory Mechanism of Dicyanovinyl-Substituted J147 Derivative against Aβ42
Aggregation and Protofibril Destabilization: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study. ChemistrySelect 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201601970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Suniba Shuaib
- Department of Chemistry; School of Basic and Applied Sciences; Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University; Fatehgarh Sahib- 140406, Punjab India
| | - Rajneet Kaur Saini
- Department of Chemistry; School of Basic and Applied Sciences; Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University; Fatehgarh Sahib- 140406, Punjab India
| | - Deepti Goyal
- Department of Chemistry; School of Basic and Applied Sciences; Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University; Fatehgarh Sahib- 140406, Punjab India
| | - Bhupesh Goyal
- Department of Chemistry; School of Basic and Applied Sciences; Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University; Fatehgarh Sahib- 140406, Punjab India
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24
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Musiani F, Giorgetti A. Protein Aggregation and Molecular Crowding: Perspectives From Multiscale Simulations. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 329:49-77. [PMID: 28109331 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2016.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cells are extremely crowded environments, thus the use of diluted salted aqueous solutions containing a single protein is too simplistic to mimic the real situation. Macromolecular crowding might affect protein structure, folding, shape, conformational stability, binding of small molecules, enzymatic activity, interactions with cognate biomolecules, and pathological aggregation. The latter phenomenon typically leads to the formation of amyloid fibrils that are linked to several lethal neurodegenerative diseases, but that can also play a functional role in certain organisms. The majority of molecular simulations performed before the last few years were conducted in diluted solutions and were restricted both in the timescales and in the system dimensions by the available computational resources. In recent years, several computational solutions were developed to get close to physiological conditions. In this review we summarize the main computational techniques used to tackle the issue of protein aggregation both in a diluted and in a crowded environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Musiani
- Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - A Giorgetti
- Applied Bioinformatics Group, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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25
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Environmental and genetic factors support the dissociation between α-synuclein aggregation and toxicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E6506-E6515. [PMID: 27708160 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1606791113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Synucleinopathies are a group of progressive disorders characterized by the abnormal aggregation and accumulation of α-synuclein (aSyn), an abundant neuronal protein that can adopt different conformations and biological properties. Recently, aSyn pathology was shown to spread between neurons in a prion-like manner. Proteins like aSyn that exhibit self-propagating capacity appear to be able to adopt different stable conformational states, known as protein strains, which can be modulated both by environmental and by protein-intrinsic factors. Here, we analyzed these factors and found that the unique combination of the neurodegeneration-related metal copper and the pathological H50Q aSyn mutation induces a significant alteration in the aggregation properties of aSyn. We compared the aggregation of WT and H50Q aSyn with and without copper, and assessed the effects of the resultant protein species when applied to primary neuronal cultures. The presence of copper induces the formation of structurally different and less-damaging aSyn aggregates. Interestingly, these aggregates exhibit a stronger capacity to induce aSyn inclusion formation in recipient cells, which demonstrates that the structural features of aSyn species determine their effect in neuronal cells and supports a lack of correlation between toxicity and inclusion formation. In total, our study provides strong support in favor of the hypothesis that protein aggregation is not a primary cause of cytotoxicity.
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Coordination and redox properties of copper interaction with α-synuclein. J Inorg Biochem 2016; 163:292-300. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Iyer A, Roeters SJ, Schilderink N, Hommersom B, Heeren RMA, Woutersen S, Claessens MMAE, Subramaniam V. The Impact of N-terminal Acetylation of α-Synuclein on Phospholipid Membrane Binding and Fibril Structure. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:21110-21122. [PMID: 27531743 PMCID: PMC5076520 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.726612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Human α-synuclein (αS) has been shown to be N terminally acetylated in its physiological state. This modification is proposed to modulate the function and aggregation of αS into amyloid fibrils. Using bacterially expressed acetylated-αS (NTAc-αS) and endogenous αS (Endo-αS) from human erythrocytes, we show that N-terminal acetylation has little impact on αS binding to anionic membranes and thus likely not relevant for regulating membrane affinity. N-terminal acetylation does have an effect on αS aggregation, resulting in a narrower distribution of the aggregation lag times and rates. 2D-IR spectra show that acetylation changes the secondary structure of αS in fibrils. This difference may arise from the slightly higher helical propensity of acetylated-αS in solution leading to a more homogenous fibril population with different fibril structure than non-acetylated αS. We speculate that N-terminal acetylation imposes conformational restraints on N-terminal residues in αS, thus predisposing αS toward specific interactions with other binding partners or alternatively decrease nonspecific interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Iyer
- From the Nanoscale Biophysics Group, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, the Nanobiophysics Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede
| | - Steven J Roeters
- the Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
| | - Nathalie Schilderink
- the Nanobiophysics Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede
| | - Bob Hommersom
- the BioImaging MS Group, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ron M A Heeren
- the BioImaging MS Group, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the M4I, The Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging Institute, University of Maastricht, and
| | - Sander Woutersen
- the Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam,
| | | | - Vinod Subramaniam
- From the Nanoscale Biophysics Group, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, the Nanobiophysics Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Goyal B, Kumar A, Srivastava KR, Durani S. Scrutiny of chain-length and N-terminal effects in α-helix folding: a molecular dynamics study on polyalanine peptides. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2016; 35:1923-1935. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2016.1199972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bhupesh Goyal
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
- Department of Chemistry, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib 140406, Punjab, India
| | - Anil Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Kinshuk Raj Srivastava
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Susheel Durani
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
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Goyal B, Kumar A, Srivastava KR, Durani S. Computational scrutiny of the effect of N-terminal proline and residue stereochemistry in the nucleation of α-helix fold. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra10934a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
N-Terminal l- to d-residue mutation nucleate helical fold in Ac–DAla–LAla3–NHMe (Ib, m2), Ac–DPro–LAla3–NHMe (IIb, m1), and Ac–DPro–LPro–LAla2–NHMe (IIIb, m2) peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhupesh Goyal
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Mumbai-400076
- India
| | - Anil Kumar
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Mumbai-400076
- India
| | | | - Susheel Durani
- Department of Chemistry
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Mumbai-400076
- India
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