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McCalpin SD, Khemtemourian L, Suladze S, Ivanova MI, Reif B, Ramamoorthy A. Zinc and pH modulate the ability of insulin to inhibit aggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide. Commun Biol 2024; 7:776. [PMID: 38937578 PMCID: PMC11211420 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06388-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) contributes to the development and progression of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). hIAPP aggregates within a few hours at few micromolar concentration in vitro but exists at millimolar concentrations in vivo. Natively occurring inhibitors of hIAPP aggregation might therefore provide a model for drug design against amyloid formation associated with T2D. Here, we describe the combined ability of low pH, zinc, and insulin to inhibit hIAPP fibrillation. Insulin dose-dependently slows hIAPP aggregation near neutral pH but had less effect on the aggregation kinetics at acidic pH. We determine that insulin alters hIAPP aggregation in two manners. First, insulin diverts the aggregation pathway to large nonfibrillar aggregates with ThT-positive molecular structure, rather than to amyloid fibrils. Second, soluble insulin suppresses hIAPP dimer formation, which is an important early aggregation event. Further, we observe that zinc significantly modulates the inhibition of hIAPP aggregation by insulin. We hypothesize that this effect arose from controlling the oligomeric state of insulin and show that hIAPP interacts more strongly with monomeric than oligomeric insulin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel D McCalpin
- Biophysics Program, University of Michigan, Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Lucie Khemtemourian
- Institute of Chemistry and Biology of Membranes and Nanoobjects (CBMN), CNRS - UMR 5248, Institut Polytechnique Bordeaux, University of Bordeaux, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Saba Suladze
- Bayerisches NMR Zentrum (BNMRZ) at the Department of Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum München (HMGU), Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Institute of Structural Biology (STB), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Magdalena I Ivanova
- Biophysics Program, University of Michigan, Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Bernd Reif
- Bayerisches NMR Zentrum (BNMRZ) at the Department of Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum München (HMGU), Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Institute of Structural Biology (STB), Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy
- Biophysics Program, University of Michigan, Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA.
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2
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Dear AJ, Teng X, Ball SR, Lewin J, Horne RI, Clow D, Stevenson A, Harper N, Yahya K, Yang X, Brewerton SC, Thomson J, Michaels TCT, Linse S, Knowles TPJ, Habchi J, Meisl G. Molecular mechanism of α-synuclein aggregation on lipid membranes revealed. Chem Sci 2024; 15:7229-7242. [PMID: 38756798 PMCID: PMC11095391 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc05661a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The central hallmark of Parkinson's disease pathology is the aggregation of the α-synuclein protein, which, in its healthy form, is associated with lipid membranes. Purified monomeric α-synuclein is relatively stable in vitro, but its aggregation can be triggered by the presence of lipid vesicles. Despite this central importance of lipids in the context of α-synuclein aggregation, their detailed mechanistic role in this process has not been established to date. Here, we use chemical kinetics to develop a mechanistic model that is able to globally describe the aggregation behaviour of α-synuclein in the presence of DMPS lipid vesicles, across a range of lipid and protein concentrations. Through the application of our kinetic model to experimental data, we find that the reaction is a co-aggregation process involving both protein and lipids and that lipids promote aggregation as much by enabling fibril elongation as by enabling their initial formation. Moreover, we find that the primary nucleation of lipid-protein co-aggregates takes place not on the surface of lipid vesicles in bulk solution but at the air-water and/or plate interfaces, where lipids and proteins are likely adsorbed. Our model forms the basis for mechanistic insights, also in other lipid-protein co-aggregation systems, which will be crucial in the rational design of drugs that inhibit aggregate formation and act at the key points in the α-synuclein aggregation cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Dear
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Xiangyu Teng
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Sarah R Ball
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Joshua Lewin
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Robert I Horne
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Daniel Clow
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Alisdair Stevenson
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich Otto Stern Weg 3 8093 Zurich Switzerland
- Bringing Materials to Life Initiative, ETH Zurich Switzerland
| | - Natasha Harper
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Kim Yahya
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Xiaoting Yang
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Suzanne C Brewerton
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - John Thomson
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Thomas C T Michaels
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, ETH Zurich Otto Stern Weg 3 8093 Zurich Switzerland
- Bringing Materials to Life Initiative, ETH Zurich Switzerland
| | - Sara Linse
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Johnny Habchi
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Georg Meisl
- WaveBreak Therapeutics Ltd, Chemistry of Health Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
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3
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Mondal A, Dolui S, Dhabal S, Kundu S, Das L, Bhattacharjee A, Maiti NC. Structure specific neuro-toxicity of α-synuclein oligomer. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:126683. [PMID: 37666396 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is linked to α-synuclein (aS) aggregation and deposition of amyloid in the substantia nigra region of the brain tissues. In the current investigation we produced two distinct classes of aS oligomer of differed protein conformation, stability and compared their toxic nature to cultured neuronal cells. Lyophilized oligomer (LO) was produced in storage of aS at-20 °C for 7 days and it was enriched with loosely hold molten globule like structure with residues having preferences for α-helical conformational space. The size of the oligomer was 4-5.5 nm under AFM. This kind of oligomer exhibited potential toxicity towards neuronal cell lines and did not transform into compact β-sheet rich amyloid fiber even after incubation at 37 °C for several days. Formation of another type of oligomer was often observed in the lag phase of aS fibrillation that often occurred at an elevated temperature (37 °C). This kind of heat induced oligomer (IO) was more hydrophobic and relatively less toxic to neuronal cells compared to lyophilized oligomer (LO). Importantly, initiation of hydrophobic zipping of aS caused the transformation of IO into thermodynamically stable β-sheet rich amyloid fibril. On the other hand, the presence of molten globule like conformation in LO, rendered greater toxicity to cultured neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Animesh Mondal
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India; Department of Zoology, Government General Degree College-Mangalkote, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal 713132, India.
| | - Sandip Dolui
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Sukhamoy Dhabal
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology-Durgapur, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, A-Zone, Durgapur, West Bengal 713209, India
| | - Shubham Kundu
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Lopamudra Das
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Ashish Bhattacharjee
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology-Durgapur, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, A-Zone, Durgapur, West Bengal 713209, India
| | - Nakul C Maiti
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India.
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4
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Ramirez J, Pancoe SX, Rhoades E, Petersson EJ. The Effects of Lipids on α-Synuclein Aggregation In Vitro. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1476. [PMID: 37892158 PMCID: PMC10604467 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The small neuronal protein α-synuclein (αS) is found in pre-synaptic terminals and plays a role in vesicle recycling and neurotransmission. Fibrillar aggregates of αS are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. In both health and disease, interactions with lipids influence αS's structure and function, prompting much study of the effects of lipids on αS aggregation. A comprehensive collection (126 examples) of aggregation rate data for various αS/lipid combinations was presented, including combinations of lipid variations and mutations or post-translational modifications of αS. These data were interpreted in terms of lipid structure to identify general trends. These tabulated data serve as a resource for the community to help in the interpretation of aggregation experiments with lipids and to be potentially used as inputs for computational models of lipid effects on aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ramirez
- Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Samantha X. Pancoe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rhoades
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - E. James Petersson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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5
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Singh BP, Morris RJ, Kunath T, MacPhee CE, Horrocks MH. Lipid-induced polymorphic amyloid fibril formation by α-synuclein. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4736. [PMID: 37515406 PMCID: PMC10521247 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Many proteins that self-assemble into amyloid and amyloid-like fibers can adopt diverse polymorphic forms. These forms have been observed both in vitro and in vivo and can arise through variations in the steric-zipper interactions between β-sheets, variations in the arrangements between protofilaments, and differences in the number of protofilaments that make up a given fiber class. Different polymorphs arising from the same precursor molecule not only exhibit different levels of toxicity, but importantly can contribute to different disease conditions. However, the factors which contribute to formation of polymorphic forms of amyloid fibrils are not known. In this work, we show that in the presence of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine, a highly abundant lipid in the plasma membrane of neurons, the aggregation of α-synuclein is markedly accelerated and yields a diversity of polymorphic forms under identical experimental conditions. This morphological diversity includes thin and curly fibrils, helical ribbons, twisted ribbons, nanotubes, and flat sheets. Furthermore, the amyloid fibrils formed incorporate lipids into their structures, which corroborates the previous report of the presence of α-synuclein fibrils with high lipid content in Lewy bodies. Thus, the present study demonstrates that an interface, such as that provided by a lipid membrane, can not only modulate the kinetics of α-synuclein amyloid aggregation but also plays an important role in the formation of morphological variants by incorporating lipid molecules in the process of amyloid fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhanu P. Singh
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Ryan J. Morris
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Tilo Kunath
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Cait E. MacPhee
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Mathew H. Horrocks
- EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- IRR Chemistry Hub, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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6
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Devi S, Garg DK, Bhat R. Kinetic control in amyloid polymorphism: Different agitation and solution conditions promote distinct amyloid polymorphs of alpha-synuclein. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2023; 1871:140917. [PMID: 37061153 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Aggregation of neuronal protein α-synuclein is implicated in synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease. Despite abundant in vitro studies, the mechanism of α-synuclein assembly process remains ambiguous. In this work, α-synuclein aggregation was induced by its constant mixing in two separate modes, either by agitation in a 96-well microplate reader (MP) or in microcentrifuge tubes using a shaker incubator (SI). Aggregation in both modes occurred through a sigmoidal growth pattern with a well-defined lag, growth, and saturation phase. The end-stage MP- and SI-derived aggregates displayed distinct differences in morphological, biochemical, and spectral signatures as discerned through AFM, proteinase-K digestion, FTIR, Raman, and CD spectroscopy. The MP-derived aggregates showed irregular morphology with a significant random coil conformation, contrary to SI-derived aggregates, which showed typical β-sheet fibrillar structures. The end-stage MP aggregates convert to β-rich SI-like aggregates upon 1) seeding with SI-derived aggregates and 2) agitating in SI. We conclude that end-stage MP aggregates were in a kinetically trapped conformation, whose kinetic barrier was bypassed upon either seeding by SI-derived fibrils or shaking in SI. We further show that MP-derived aggregates that form in the presence of sorbitol, an osmolyte, displayed a β-rich signature, indicating that the preferential exclusion effect of osmolytes helped overcome the kinetic barrier. Our findings help in unravelling the kinetic origin of different α-synuclein aggregated polymorphs (strains) that encode diverse variants of synucleinopathies. We demonstrate that kinetic control shapes the polymorphic landscape of α-synuclein aggregates, both through de novo generation of polymorphs, and by their interconversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Devi
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Dushyant Kumar Garg
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Rajiv Bhat
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
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7
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Liquid-liquid Phase Separation of α-Synuclein: A New Mechanistic Insight for α-Synuclein Aggregation Associated with Parkinson's Disease Pathogenesis. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167713. [PMID: 35787838 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant aggregation of the misfolded presynaptic protein, α-Synuclein (α-Syn) into Lewy body (LB) and Lewy neuritis (LN) is a major pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. Numerous studies have suggested that prefibrillar and fibrillar species of the misfolded α-Syn aggregates are responsible for cell death in PD pathogenesis. However, the precise molecular events during α-Syn aggregation, especially in the early stages, remain elusive. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of α-Syn occurs in the nucleation step of α-Syn aggregation, which offers an alternate non-canonical aggregation pathway in the crowded microenvironment. The liquid-like α-Syn droplets gradually undergo an irreversible liquid-to-solid phase transition into amyloid-like hydrogel entrapping oligomers and fibrils. This new mechanism of α-Syn LLPS and gel formation might represent the molecular basis of cellular toxicity associated with PD. This review aims to demonstrate the recent development of α-Syn LLPS, the underlying mechanism along with the microscopic events of aberrant phase transition. This review further discusses how several intrinsic and extrinsic factors regulate the thermodynamics and kinetics of α-Syn LLPS and co-LLPS with other proteins, which might explain the pathophysiology of α-Syn in various neurodegenerative diseases.
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8
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Dias SB, de Lemos L, Sousa L, Bitoque DB, Silva GA, Seabra MC, Tenreiro S. Age-Related Changes of the Synucleins Profile in the Mouse Retina. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13010180. [PMID: 36671565 PMCID: PMC9855780 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (aSyn) plays a central role in Parkinson's disease (PD) and has been extensively studied in the brain. This protein is part of the synuclein family, which is also composed of beta-synuclein (bSyn) and gamma-synuclein (gSyn). In addition to its neurotoxic role, synucleins have important functions in the nervous system, modulating synaptic transmission. Synucleins are expressed in the retina, but they have been poorly characterized. However, there is evidence that they are important for visual function and that they can play a role in retinal degeneration. This study aimed to profile synucleins in the retina of naturally aged mice and to correlate their patterns with specific retinal cells. With aging, we observed a decrease in the thickness of specific retinal layers, accompanied by an increase in glial reactivity. Moreover, the aSyn levels decreased, whereas bSyn increased with aging. The colocalization of both proteins was decreased in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the aged retina. gSyn presented an age-related decrease at the inner nuclear layer but was not significantly changed in the ganglion cell layer. The synaptic marker synaptophysin was shown to be preferentially colocalized with aSyn in the IPL with aging. At the same time, aSyn was found to exist at the presynaptic endings of bipolar cells and was affected by aging. Overall, this study suggests that physiological aging can be responsible for changes in the retinal tissue, implicating functional alterations that could affect synuclein family function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Batista Dias
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luísa de Lemos
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís Sousa
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Diogo B. Bitoque
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Araújo Silva
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel C. Seabra
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Sandra Tenreiro
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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9
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Bell R, Castellana-Cruz M, Nene A, Thrush RJ, Xu CK, Kumita JR, Vendruscolo M. Effects of N-terminal Acetylation on the Aggregation of Disease-related α-synuclein Variants. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167825. [PMID: 36099961 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the SNCA gene, which encodes the protein α-synuclein, have been linked with early onset Parkinson's disease. The exact nature of this association, however, is still poorly understood. To investigate this problem, we started from the observation that α-synuclein is constitutively N-terminally acetylated, a post-translational modification that alters the charge and structure of α-synuclein molecules and affects their interaction with lipid membranes, as well as their aggregation process. We thus studied five N-terminal acetylated familial variants (A30P, E46K, H50Q, G51D and A53T) of α-synuclein through a wide range of biophysical assays to probe the microscopic steps in their aggregation process and the structures of the resulting aggregates. Our results reveal a great complexity in the combined effects of the disease-related mutations with N-terminal acetylation on the aggregation of α-synuclein, which underscores the great sensitivity to even relatively small perturbations of the behaviour of this protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie Bell
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Marta Castellana-Cruz
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Aishwarya Nene
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Rebecca J Thrush
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Catherine K Xu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Janet R Kumita
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK.
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
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10
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Peelaerts W, Baekelandt V. ⍺-Synuclein Structural Diversity and the Cellular Environment in ⍺-Synuclein Transmission Models and Humans. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:67-82. [PMID: 37052776 PMCID: PMC10119367 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01365-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are termed synucleinopathies, disorders that are characterized by the intracellular aggregation of the protein ɑ-synuclein. The cellular tropism of synuclein pathology in these syndromes is notably distinct since in the Lewy disorders, PD and DLB, ɑSyn forms aggregates in neurons whereas in MSA ɑSyn forms aggregates in oligodendrocytes. Studies examining ɑSyn pathology in experimental models and in human brain have now identified fibrillar ɑSyn with unique but distinct molecular signatures, suggesting that the structure of these ɑSyn fibrils might be closely tied to their cellular ontogeny. In contrast to the native structural heterogeneity of ɑSyn in vitro, the conformational landscape of fibrillar ɑSyn in human brain and in vivo transmission models appears to be remarkably uniform. Here, we review the studies by which we propose a hypothesis that the cellular host environment might be in part responsible for how ɑSyn filaments assemble into phenotype-specific strains. We postulate that the maturation of ɑSyn strains develops as a function of their in vivo transmission routes and cell-specific risk factors. The impact of the cellular environment on the structural diversity of ɑSyn might have important implications for the design of preclinical studies and their use for the development of ɑSyn-based biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. By combining phenotype-specific fibrils and relevant synucleinopathy transmission models, preclinical models might more closely reflect unique disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Peelaerts
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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11
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Bell R, Thrush RJ, Castellana-Cruz M, Oeller M, Staats R, Nene A, Flagmeier P, Xu CK, Satapathy S, Galvagnion C, Wilson MR, Dobson CM, Kumita JR, Vendruscolo M. N-Terminal Acetylation of α-Synuclein Slows down Its Aggregation Process and Alters the Morphology of the Resulting Aggregates. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1743-1756. [PMID: 35944093 PMCID: PMC9454101 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is associated with the aberrant aggregation of α-synuclein. Although the causes of this process are still unclear, post-translational modifications of α-synuclein are likely to play a modulatory role. Since α-synuclein is constitutively N-terminally acetylated, we investigated how this post-translational modification alters the aggregation behavior of this protein. By applying a three-pronged aggregation kinetics approach, we observed that N-terminal acetylation results in a reduced rate of lipid-induced aggregation and slows down both elongation and fibril-catalyzed aggregate proliferation. An analysis of the amyloid fibrils produced by the aggregation process revealed different morphologies for the acetylated and non-acetylated forms in both lipid-induced aggregation and seed-induced aggregation assays. In addition, we found that fibrils formed by acetylated α-synuclein exhibit a lower β-sheet content. These findings indicate that N-terminal acetylation of α-synuclein alters its lipid-dependent aggregation behavior, reduces its rate of in vitro aggregation, and affects the structural properties of its fibrillar aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie Bell
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Rebecca J. Thrush
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Marta Castellana-Cruz
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Marc Oeller
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Roxine Staats
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Aishwarya Nene
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Patrick Flagmeier
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Catherine K. Xu
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Sandeep Satapathy
- Department
of Cell Biology, Blavantik Institute, Harvard
Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Celine Galvagnion
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Mark R. Wilson
- School
of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Janet R. Kumita
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, U.K.
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for
Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
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12
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Dasari AKR, Dillard L, Yi S, Viverette E, Hojjatian A, Sengupta U, Kayed R, Taylor KA, Borgnia MJ, Lim KH. Untwisted α-Synuclein Filaments Formed in the Presence of Lipid Vesicles. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1766-1773. [PMID: 36001818 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Accumulation of filamentous aggregates of α-synuclein is a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). The interaction between α-synuclein and phospholipids has been shown to play a critical role in the aggregation of α-synuclein. Most structural studies have, however, been focused on α-synuclein filaments formed in the absence of lipids. Here, we report the structural investigation of α-synuclein filaments assembled under the quiescent condition in the presence of anionic lipid vesicles using electron microscopy (EM), including cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Our transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses reveal that α-synuclein forms curly protofilaments at an early stage of aggregation. The flexible protofilaments were then converted to long filaments after a longer incubation of 30 days. More detailed structural analyses using cryo-EM reveal that the long filaments adopt untwisted structures with different diameters, which have not been observed in previous α-synuclein fibrils formed in vitro. The untwisted filaments are rather similar to straight filaments with no observable twist that are extracted from patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. Our structural studies highlight the conformational diversity of α-synuclein filaments, requiring additional structural investigation of not only more ex vivo α-synuclein filaments but also in vitro α-synuclein filaments formed in the presence of diverse cofactors to better understand the molecular basis of diverse molecular conformations of α-synuclein filaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anvesh K R Dasari
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
| | - Lucas Dillard
- Department of Health and Human Services, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Sujung Yi
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
| | - Elizabeth Viverette
- Department of Health and Human Services, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Alimohammad Hojjatian
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4380, United States
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Kenneth A Taylor
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4380, United States
| | - Mario Juan Borgnia
- Department of Health and Human Services, Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Kwang Hun Lim
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, United States
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13
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Taylor AIP, Staniforth RA. General Principles Underpinning Amyloid Structure. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:878869. [PMID: 35720732 PMCID: PMC9201691 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.878869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are a pathologically and functionally relevant state of protein folding, which is generally accessible to polypeptide chains and differs fundamentally from the globular state in terms of molecular symmetry, long-range conformational order, and supramolecular scale. Although amyloid structures are challenging to study, recent developments in techniques such as cryo-EM, solid-state NMR, and AFM have led to an explosion of information about the molecular and supramolecular organization of these assemblies. With these rapid advances, it is now possible to assess the prevalence and significance of proposed general structural features in the context of a diverse body of high-resolution models, and develop a unified view of the principles that control amyloid formation and give rise to their unique properties. Here, we show that, despite system-specific differences, there is a remarkable degree of commonality in both the structural motifs that amyloids adopt and the underlying principles responsible for them. We argue that the inherent geometric differences between amyloids and globular proteins shift the balance of stabilizing forces, predisposing amyloids to distinct molecular interaction motifs with a particular tendency for massive, lattice-like networks of mutually supporting interactions. This general property unites previously characterized structural features such as steric and polar zippers, and contributes to the long-range molecular order that gives amyloids many of their unique properties. The shared features of amyloid structures support the existence of shared structure-activity principles that explain their self-assembly, function, and pathogenesis, and instill hope in efforts to develop broad-spectrum modifiers of amyloid function and pathology.
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14
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Scheibe C, Karreman C, Schildknecht S, Leist M, Hauser K. Synuclein Family Members Prevent Membrane Damage by Counteracting α-Synuclein Aggregation. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11081067. [PMID: 34439733 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The 140 amino acid protein α-synuclein (αS) is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) with various roles and locations in healthy neurons that plays a key role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Contact with biomembranes can lead to α-helical conformations, but can also act as s seeding event for aggregation and a predominant β-sheet conformation. In PD patients, αS is found to aggregate in various fibrillary structures, and the shift in aggregation and localization is associated with disease progression. Besides full-length αS, several related polypeptides are present in neurons. The role of many αS-related proteins in the aggregation of αS itself is not fully understood Two of these potential aggregation modifiers are the αS splicing variant αS Δexon3 (Δ3) and the paralog β-synuclein (βS). Here, polarized ATR-FTIR spectroscopy was used to study the membrane interaction of these proteins individually and in various combinations. The method allowed a continuous monitoring of both the lipid structure of biomimetic membranes and the aggregation state of αS and related proteins. The use of polarized light also revealed the orientation of secondary structure elements. While αS led to a destruction of the lipid membrane upon membrane-catalyzed aggregation, βS and Δ3 aggregated significantly less, and they did not harm the membrane. Moreover, the latter proteins reduced the membrane damage triggered by αS. There were no major differences in the membrane interaction for the different synuclein variants. In combination, these observations suggest that the formation of particular protein aggregates is the major driving force for αS-driven membrane damage. The misbalance of αS, βS, and Δ3 might therefore play a crucial role in neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Scheibe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Schildknecht
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Life Sciences, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences, 72488 Sigmaringen, Germany
| | - Marcel Leist
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Karin Hauser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
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15
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Fast kinetics of environmentally induced α-synuclein aggregation mediated by structural alteration in NAC region and result in structure dependent cytotoxicity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18412. [PMID: 33110167 PMCID: PMC7591854 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75361-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) is associated with the manifestation of various pathogenic synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s disease attributed to both genetic and environmental stress factors. The initial events triggering α-syn aggregation and disease initiation due to environmental stress factors are still largely unknown. Here, to understand the mechanism of misfolding and aggregation initiation, we induced α-syn aggregation with rotenone, an established chemical inducer of PD like symptoms. We found that rotenone accelerates the formation of structurally distinct oligomers and fibrils that act as templates and increase the formation of conformers capable of spreading to the neighboring neuronal cells. Molecular dynamics simulations and NMR studies revealed the involvement of NAC region and formation of helical conformations resulting in structural variations in oligomers and fibrils. These structural variations affect the cytotoxic potential of oligomers and fibrils, where, the beta sheet rich oligomers and fibrils alter the membrane potential of neuronal cells and lead to early apoptosis. Our results describe the initial mechanistic events in pathogenic protein aggregation, where initial structural alterations in response to external stress factors dictate the toxicity of resulting conformers. This information will further provide insights in the understanding of protein aggregation, disease progression and pathogenesis.
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16
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Yang J, Dear AJ, Yao QQ, Liu Z, Dobson CM, Knowles TPJ, Wu S, Perrett S. Amelioration of aggregate cytotoxicity by catalytic conversion of protein oligomers into amyloid fibrils. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:18663-18672. [PMID: 32794533 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr01481h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The aggregation of peptides and proteins into amyloid fibrils is a molecular self-assembly phenomenon associated with both biological function and malfunction, notably in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. Oligomeric species formed early in the aggregation process are generally associated with cytotoxicity. Extrinsic molecules such as peptides have been found to influence amyloid formation kinetics and regulate this cellular process. Here, we use single-molecule FRET and bulk assays combined with global kinetic analysis to study quantitatively the effect of an 8-residue peptide (LQVNIGNR) on fibril formation by the yeast prion protein Ure2. This peptide, which is derived from a segment of the Ure2 prion domain, forms vesicular assemblies that accelerate fibril formation of Ure2 by promoting conformational conversion of oligomeric intermediates into fibrillar species in a catalytic manner. This reduces oligomer longevity and consequently ameliorates cytotoxicity. The LQVNIGNR peptide was found to accelerate fibril formation of unrelated proteins including Tau and α-Synuclein, suggesting a general ability to catalyse fibrillation. This study provides a general strategy for investigating the microscopic mechanism of extrinsic factors on amyloid aggregation. This approach can readily be applied to other amyloid systems and demonstrates that acceleration of oligomer conversion is a promising strategy to reduce amyloid toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.
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17
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Park G, Xue C, Wang H, Guo Z. Distinguishing the Effect on the Rate and Yield of Aβ42 Aggregation by Green Tea Polyphenol EGCG. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:21497-21505. [PMID: 32905372 PMCID: PMC7469419 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c02063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Deposition of Aβ42 aggregates in the form of amyloid plaques is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. A desired avenue of intervention is the inhibition of Aβ42 aggregation. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main polyphenol in green tea, has been generally considered an inhibitor of Aβ aggregation. However, previous experiments focused on the reduction of the amount of Aβ42 aggregates, while the effect of EGCG on the rate of Aβ42 aggregation was not critically analyzed. Here we performed an experimental evaluation of Aβ42 aggregation kinetics in the absence and presence of EGCG at a wide range of concentrations. We found that EGCG reduced thioflavin T fluorescence in an EGCG concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that EGCG reduced the amount of Aβ42 fibrils. The effect of EGCG on the rate of Aβ42 aggregation appears to be bimodal. We found that higher EGCG-to-Aβ42 ratios promoted the rate of Aβ42 aggregation, while lower EGCG-to-Aβ42 ratios inhibited the aggregation rate. To confirm that the reduction of thioflavin T fluorescence is due to the lowered aggregate quantity, but not due to perturbation of thioflavin T binding to Aβ42 fibrils, we probed the effect of EGCG on Aβ42 aggregation using site-directed spin labeling. Electron paramagnetic resonance of spin-labeled Aβ42 aggregates suggests that high EGCG-to-Aβ42 ratios led to a greatly reduced amount of Aβ42 fibrils, and these aggregates adopt similar structures as the fibrils in the no-EGCG sample. Potential implications of this work in designing prevention or therapeutic strategies using EGCG are discussed.
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18
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Vane EW, He S, Maibaum L, Nath A. Rapid Formation of Peptide/Lipid Coaggregates by the Amyloidogenic Seminal Peptide PAP 248-286. Biophys J 2020; 119:924-938. [PMID: 32814060 PMCID: PMC7474197 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein/lipid coassembly is an understudied phenomenon that is important to the function of antimicrobial peptides as well as the pathological effects of amyloid. Here, we study the coassembly process of PAP248-286, a seminal peptide that displays both amyloid-forming and antimicrobial activity. PAP248-286 is a peptide fragment of prostatic acid phosphatase and has been reported to form amyloid fibrils, known as semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI), that enhance the viral infectivity of human immunodeficiency virus. We find that in addition to forming amyloid, PAP248-286 much more readily assembles with lipid vesicles into peptide/lipid coaggregates that resemble amyloid fibrils in some important ways but are a distinct species. The formation of these PAP248-286/lipid coaggregates, which we term "messicles," is controlled by the peptide:lipid (P:L) ratio and by the lipid composition. The optimal P:L ratio is around 1:10, and at least 70% anionic lipid is required for coaggregate formation. Once formed, messicles are not disrupted by subsequent changes in P:L ratio. We propose that messicles form through a polyvalent assembly mechanism, in which a critical surface density of PAP248-286 on liposomes enables peptide-mediated particle bridging into larger species. Even at ∼50-fold lower PAP248-286 concentrations, messicles form at least 10-fold faster than amyloid fibrils. It is therefore possible that some or all of the biological activities assigned to SEVI, the amyloid form of PAP248-286, could instead be attributed to a PAP248-286/lipid coaggregate. More broadly speaking, this work could provide a potential framework for the discovery and characterization of nonamyloid peptide/lipid coaggregates by other amyloid-forming proteins and antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor W Vane
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Biological Physics, Structure and Design Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Shushan He
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Lutz Maibaum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Abhinav Nath
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Biological Physics, Structure and Design Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
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19
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Raina A, Leite K, Guerin S, Mahajani SU, Chakrabarti KS, Voll D, Becker S, Griesinger C, Bähr M, Kügler S. Dopamine promotes the neurodegenerative potential of β-synuclein. J Neurochem 2020; 156:674-691. [PMID: 32730640 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
A contribution of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) to etiology of Parkinson´s disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is currently undisputed, while the impact of the closely related β-Synuclein (β-Syn) on these disorders remains enigmatic. β-Syn has long been considered to be an attenuator of the neurotoxic effects of α-Syn, but in a rodent model of PD β-Syn induced robust neurodegeneration in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. Given that dopaminergic nigral neurons are selectively vulnerable to neurodegeneration in PD, we now investigated if dopamine can promote the neurodegenerative potential of β-Syn. We show that in cultured rodent and human neurons a dopaminergic neurotransmitter phenotype substantially enhanced β-Syn-induced neurodegeneration, irrespective if dopamine is synthesized within neurons or up-taken from extracellular space. Nuclear magnetic resonance interaction and thioflavin-T incorporation studies demonstrated that dopamine and its oxidized metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) and dopaminochrome (DCH) directly interact with β-Syn, thereby enabling structural and functional modifications. Interaction of DCH with β-Syn inhibits its aggregation, which might result in increased levels of neurotoxic oligomeric β-Syn. Since protection of outer mitochondrial membrane integrity prevented the additive neurodegenerative effect of dopamine and β-Syn, such oligomers might act at a mitochondrial level similar to what is suggested for α-Syn. In conclusion, our results suggest that β-Syn can play a significant pathophysiological role in etiology of PD through its interaction with dopamine metabolites and thus should be re-considered as a disease-relevant factor, at least for those symptoms of PD that depend on degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupam Raina
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kristian Leite
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sofia Guerin
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Diana Voll
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Becker
- Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Mathias Bähr
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kügler
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany
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20
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A series of helical α-synuclein fibril polymorphs are populated in the presence of lipid vesicles. NPJ PARKINSONS DISEASE 2020; 6:17. [PMID: 32864427 PMCID: PMC7438318 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-020-00122-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (αS) deposition is a defining characteristic of Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology, and other synucleinopathies. αS aggregates in disease, leading to the generation of neuronal inclusions known as Lewy bodies. These accumulate in the cytoplasmic space of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta region of the brain, causing cell death, resulting in decreased dopamine levels, and ultimately PD symptoms. To date, a significant proportion of structural information has arisen from in vitro studies using recombinantly purified forms of the protein, often failing to acknowledge that αS is natively located in the presence of phospholipids, where it likely plays a direct role in regulating synaptic vesicle function and neurotransmission. Here we present a series of macromolecular αS assemblies not previously described that form in the presence of lipid vesicles. These fibrillar structures are striking in both their large size relative to those previously reported and by their varying helical content, from ribbons to wave-like helices of long pitch shortening to those more compact and bulkier. These studies provide the foundation for more detailed structural analysis, and may offer new possibilities to further define disease-relevant versions of the protein that are accessible to pharmacological intervention.
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21
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Galvagnion C, Topgaard D, Makasewicz K, Buell AK, Linse S, Sparr E, Dobson CM. Lipid Dynamics and Phase Transition within α-Synuclein Amyloid Fibrils. J Phys Chem Lett 2019; 10:7872-7877. [PMID: 31790267 PMCID: PMC6937551 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b03005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The deposition of coassemblies made of the small presynaptic protein, α-synuclein, and lipids in the brains of patients is the hallmark of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we used natural abundance 13C and 31P magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy together with cryo-electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry to characterize the fibrils formed by α-synuclein in the presence of vesicles made of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine or 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine. Our results show that these lipids coassemble with α-synuclein molecules to give thin and curly amyloid fibrils. The coassembly leads to slower and more isotropic reorientation of lipid molecular segments and a decrease in both the temperature and enthalpy of the lipid chain-melting compared with those in the protein-free lipid lamellar phase. These findings provide new insights into the properties of lipids within protein-lipid assemblies that can be associated with Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Galvagnion
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- German
Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 27, 53127 Bonn,Germany
| | - Daniel Topgaard
- Division
of Physical Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Katarzyna Makasewicz
- Division
of Physical Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Alexander K. Buell
- Department
of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Soltofts Plads 227, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sara Linse
- Department
of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Emma Sparr
- Division
of Physical Chemistry, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Christopher M. Dobson
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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22
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Caminati G, Martina MR, Menichetti S, Procacci P. Blocking the FKBP12 induced dendrimeric burst in aberrant aggregation of α-synuclein by using the ElteN378 synthetic inhibitor. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2019; 34:1711-1715. [PMID: 31547734 PMCID: PMC6764402 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2019.1667342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn), a disordered cytoplasmatic protein, plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, we have shown, using photophysical measurements, that addition of FKBP12 to α-syn solutions, dramatically accelerates protein aggregation, leading to an explosion of dendritic structures revealed by fluorescence and phase-contrast microscopy. We have further demonstrated that this aberrant α-syn aggregation can be blocked using a recently discovered non-immunosuppressive synthetic inhibitor of FKBP12, ElteN378. The role of FKBP12 and of ElteN378 in the α-syn aggregation mechanism has been elucidated using molecular dynamics simulations based on an effective coarse-grained model. The reported data not only reveal a new potent synthetic drug as a candidate for early stage treatment of α-syn dependent neurodegenerations but also pave the way to a deeper understanding of the mechanism of action of FKBP12 on α-syn oligomeric aggregation, a topic which is still controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Caminati
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence , Sesto Fiorentino , Italy.,Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), University of Florence , Sesto Fiorentino , Italy
| | - Maria Raffaella Martina
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence , Sesto Fiorentino , Italy.,Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), University of Florence , Sesto Fiorentino , Italy
| | - Stefano Menichetti
- Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), University of Florence , Sesto Fiorentino , Italy
| | - Piero Procacci
- Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI), University of Florence , Sesto Fiorentino , Italy
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23
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Lee J, Lee JH, Paik SR, Yeom B, Char K. Thermally triggered self-assembly of κ-casein amyloid nanofibrils and their nanomechanical properties. POLYMER 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2019.121626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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α-Synuclein aggregation at low concentrations. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2019; 1867:701-709. [PMID: 31096048 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aggregation of the neuronal protein α-synuclein into amyloid fibrils is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. The propensity of α-synuclein to aggregate increases with the protein concentration. For the development of efficient inhibitors of α-synuclein aggregation, it is important to know the critical concentration of aggregation (the concentration of monomeric protein, below which the protein does not aggregate). METHODS We performed in vitro aggregation studies of α-synuclein at low concentrations (0.11-20 μM). Aggregation kinetics was measured by ThT fluorescence. Obtained aggregates were characterized using CD-spectroscopy, fluorescent spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and AFM imaging. RESULTS Monomeric α-synuclein at concentrations 0.45 μM and above was able to bind to fibril ends resulting in fibril growth. At the protein concentrations below 0.4 μM, monomers did not fibrillize, and fibrils disaggregated. In the absence of seeds, fibrils were formed only at monomer concentrations higher than 10 μM. At low micromolar concentrations, we observed formation of prefibrillar amyloid aggregates, which are able to induce fibril formation in α-synuclein solutions of high concentrations. CONCLUSIONS The critical concentration of α-synuclein fibril growth is ~0.4 μM. Prefibrillar amyloid aggregates appear at concentrations between 0.45 and 3 μM and are an intermediate state between monomers and fibrils. Although morphologically different from fibrils, prefibrillar aggregates have similar properties to those of fibrils. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE We determined the critical concentration of α-synuclein fibril growth. We showed that fibrils can grow at much lower monomer concentrations than that required for de novo fibril formation. We characterized a prefibrillar intermediate species formed upon aggregation of α-synuclein at low micromolar concentration.
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Falke M, Victor J, Wördehoff MM, Peduzzo A, Zhang T, Schröder GF, Buell AK, Hoyer W, Etzkorn M. α-Synuclein-derived lipoparticles in the study of α-Synuclein amyloid fibril formation. Chem Phys Lipids 2019; 220:57-65. [PMID: 30826264 PMCID: PMC6451039 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation of the protein α-Synuclein (αSyn) is of great interest due to its involvement in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease. However, under in vitro conditions αSyn is very soluble and kinetically stable for extended time periods. As a result, most αSyn aggregation assays rely on conditions that artificially induce or enhance aggregation, often by introducing rather non-native conditions. It has been shown that αSyn interacts with membranes and conditions have been identified in which membranes can promote as well as inhibit αSyn aggregation. It has also been shown that αSyn has the intrinsic capability to assemble lipid-protein-particles, in a similar way as apolipoproteins can form lipid-bilayer nanodiscs. Here we show that these αSyn-lipid particles (αSyn-LiPs) can also effectively induce, accelerate or inhibit αSyn aggregation, depending on the applied conditions. αSyn-LiPs therefore provide a general platform and additional tool, complementary to other setups, to study various aspects of αSyn amyloid fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Falke
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julian Victor
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael M Wördehoff
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Alessia Peduzzo
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tao Zhang
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gunnar F Schröder
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany
| | - Alexander K Buell
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Manuel Etzkorn
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany.
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Xu L, Bhattacharya S, Thompson D. On the ubiquity of helical α-synuclein tetramers. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:12036-12043. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cp02464f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The stability of oligomers linearly increases from dimers to octamers, but assembly of oligomers larger than tetramers requires high activation energies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Xu
- Department of Physics
- Bernal Institute
- University of Limerick
- V94 T9PX
- Ireland
| | | | - Damien Thompson
- Department of Physics
- Bernal Institute
- University of Limerick
- V94 T9PX
- Ireland
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Williams JK, Yang X, Baum J. Interactions between the Intrinsically Disordered Proteins β-Synuclein and α-Synuclein. Proteomics 2018; 18:e1800109. [PMID: 30142698 PMCID: PMC6447293 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201800109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Several intrinsically disordered proteins have been implicated in the process of amyloid fibril formation in neurodegenerative disease, and developing approaches to inhibit the aggregation of these intrinsically disordered proteins is critical for establishing effective therapies against disease progression. The aggregation pathway of the intrinsically disordered protein alpha-synuclein, which is implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases known as synucleinopathies, has been extensively characterized. Less attention has been leveraged on beta-synuclein, a homologous intrinsically disordered protein that co-localizes with alpha-synuclein and is known to delay alpha-synuclein fibril formation. In this review, we focus on beta-synuclein and the molecular-level interactions between alpha-synuclein and beta-synuclein that underlie the delay of fibril formation. We highlight studies that begin to define alpha-synuclein and beta-synuclein interactions at the monomer, oligomer, and surface levels, and suggest that beta-synuclein plays a role in regulation of inhibition at many different stages of alpha-synuclein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan K Williams
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, 08854, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Xue Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, 08854, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jean Baum
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers University, 08854, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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