1
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Rani K, Pal A, Gurnani B, Agarwala P, Sasmal DK, Jain N. An Innate Host Defense Protein β 2-Microglobulin Keeps a Check on α-Synuclein amyloid Assembly: Implications in Parkinson's Disease. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168285. [PMID: 37741548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168285] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid formation due to protein misfolding has gained significant attention due to its association with neurodegenerative diseases. α-Synuclein (α-syn) is one such protein that undergoes a profound conformational switch to form higher order cross-β-sheet structures, resulting in amyloid formation, which is linked to the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). The present status of research on α-syn aggregation and PD reveals that the disease progression may be linked with many other diseases, such as kidney-related disorders. Unraveling the link between PD and non-neurological diseases may help in early detection and a better understanding of PD progression. Herein, we investigated the modulation of α-syn in the presence of β2-microglobulin (β2m), a structural protein associated with dialysis-related amyloidosis. We took a multi-disciplinary approach to establish that β2m mitigates amyloid formation by α-syn. Our fluorescence, microscopy and toxicity data demonstrated that sub-stoichiometric ratio of β2m drives α-syn into off-pathway non-toxic aggregates incompetent of transforming into amyloids. Using AlphaFold2 and all-atom MD simulation, we showed that the β-strand segments (β1 and β2) of α-synuclein, which frequently engage in interactions within amyloid fibrils, interact with the last β-strand at the C-terminal of β2m. The outcome of this study will unravel the yet unknown potential linkage of PD with kidney-related disorders. Insights from the cross-talk between two amyloidogenic proteins will lead to early diagnosis and new therapeutic approaches for treating Parkinson's disease. Finally, disruption of the nucleation process of α-syn amyloids by targeting the β1-β2 region will constitute a potential therapeutic approach for inhibiting amyloid formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushboo Rani
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India. https://twitter.com/khushboo251995
| | - Arumay Pal
- School of Bioengineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India. https://twitter.com/Arumay_Pal
| | - Bharat Gurnani
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India. https://twitter.com/bgurnani05
| | - Pratibha Agarwala
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India
| | - Dibyendu K Sasmal
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India
| | - Neha Jain
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, NH 62, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India; Centre for Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development (CETSD), Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Nagaur Road, Karwar 342030, Rajasthan, India.
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2
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Tang Y, Zhang D, Zheng J. Repurposing Antimicrobial Protegrin-1 as a Dual-Function Amyloid Inhibitor via Cross-seeding. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3143-3155. [PMID: 37589476 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00293] [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: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloids and antimicrobial peptides have traditionally been recognized as distinct families with separate biological functions and targets. However, certain amyloids and antimicrobial peptides share structural and functional characteristics that contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, the aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and microbial infections are interconnected pathological factors in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we propose and demonstrate a novel repurposing strategy for an antimicrobial peptide of protegrin-1 (PG-1), which exhibits the ability to simultaneously prevent Aβ aggregation and microbial infection both in vitro and in vivo. Through a comprehensive analysis using protein, cell, and worm assays, we uncover multiple functions of PG-1 against Aβ, including the following: (i) complete inhibition of Aβ aggregation at a low molar ratio of PG-1/Aβ = 0.25:1, (ii) disassembly of the preformed Aβ fibrils into amorphous aggregates, (iii) reduction of Aβ-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and transgenic GMC101 nematodes, and (iv) preservation of original antimicrobial activity against P.A., E.coli., S.A., and S.E. strains in the presence of Aβ. Mechanistically, the dual anti-amyloid and anti-bacterial functions of PG-1 primarily arise from its strong binding to distinct Aβ seeds (KD = 1.24-1.90 μM) through conformationally similar β-sheet associations. This work introduces a promising strategy to repurpose antimicrobial peptides as amyloid inhibitors, effectively targeting multiple pathological pathways in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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3
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Tang Y, Zhang D, Robinson S, Zheng J. Inhibition of Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Different Amyloid Proteins Reveals an Inverse Relationship between Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cancer. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2300070. [PMID: 37080947 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases and cancers are considered to be two families of diseases caused by completely opposite cell-death mechanisms: the former caused by premature cell death, with the latter due to the increased resistance to cell death. Growing epidemiologic evidence appear to suggest an inverse correlation between neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. However, pathological links, particularly from a protein-cell interaction perspective, between these two families of diseases remains to be proven. Here, a fundamental study investigates the effects of three amyloid proteins of Aβ (associated with AD), hIAPP (associated with T2D), and hCT (associated with MTC) on pancreatic cancer (PANC-1) cells. Collective results demonstrate a general inhibitory activity of all of three amyloid proteins on cancer cell proliferation, but inhibition efficiencies are strongly dependent on amyloid sequence (Aβ, hIAPP, hCT), concentration (IC25, IC50, IC75), and aggregation states (monomers, oligomers). Amyloid proteins exhibit two pathways against cancer cells: amyloid monomer-induced ROS production to inhibit cell growth and amyloid oligomer-induced membrane disruption to kill cells. Collectively, the results demonstrate a general inhibition function of amyloid proteins to induce cancer cell death by preventing cell proliferation, suppressing cell migration, promoting reactive oxygen species production, and disrupting cell membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Sarah Robinson
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
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4
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Chandrasekhar G, Pengyong H, Pravallika G, Hailei L, Caixia X, Rajasekaran R. Defensin-based therapeutic peptide design in attenuating V30M TTR-induced Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:227. [PMID: 37304406 PMCID: PMC10250285 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03646-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we aimed to formulate an effective therapeutic candidate against V30M mutant transthyretin (TTR) protein to hinder its pathogenic misfolding. Nicotiana alata Defensin 1 (NaD1) Antimicrobial Peptide (AMP) was availed due to its tendency to aggregate, which may compete for aggregation-prone regions of pathogenic TTR protein. Based on NaD1's potential to bind to V30M TTR, we proposed NaD1-derived tetra peptides: CKTE and SKIL to be initial therapeutic candidates. Based on their association with mutant TTR protein, CKTE tetra peptide showed considerable interaction and curative potential as compared to SKIL tetra peptide. Further analyses from discrete molecular dynamics simulation corroborate CKTE tetra peptide's effectiveness as a 'beta-sheet breaker' against V30M TTR. Various post-simulation trajectory analyses suggested that CKTE tetra peptide alters the structural dynamics of pathogenic V30M TTR protein, thereby potentially attenuating its beta-sheets and impeding its aggregation. Normal mode analysis simulation corroborated that V30M TTR conformation is altered upon its interaction with CKTE peptide. Moreover, simulated thermal denaturation findings suggested that CKTE-V30M TTR complex is more susceptible to simulated denaturation, relative to pathogenic V30M TTR; further substantiating CKTE peptide's potential to alter V30M TTR's pathogenic conformation. Moreover, the residual frustration analysis augmented CKTE tetra peptide's proclivity in reorienting the conformation of V30M TTR. Therefore, we predicted that the tetra peptide, CKTE could be a promising therapeutic candidate in mitigating the amyloidogenic detrimental effects of V30M TTR-mediated familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03646-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Chandrasekhar
- Quantitative Biology Lab, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT, Deemed to Be University), Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014 India
| | - H. Pengyong
- Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, 046000 China
| | - G. Pravallika
- Quantitative Biology Lab, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT, Deemed to Be University), Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014 India
| | - L. Hailei
- Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, 046000 China
| | - X. Caixia
- Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, 046000 China
| | - R. Rajasekaran
- Quantitative Biology Lab, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT, Deemed to Be University), Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014 India
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5
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Wang Y, Xu J, Huang F, Yan J, Fan X, Zou Y, Wang C, Ding F, Sun Y. SEVI Inhibits Aβ Amyloid Aggregation by Capping the β-Sheet Elongation Edges. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:3567-3578. [PMID: 37246935 PMCID: PMC10363411 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Inhibiting the aggregation of amyloid peptides with endogenous peptides has broad interest due to their intrinsically high biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. Here, we investigated the inhibition mechanism of the prostatic acidic phosphatase fragment SEVI (semen-derived enhancer of viral infection) against Aβ42 fibrillization using atomistic discrete molecular dynamic simulations. Our result revealed that SEVI was intrinsically disordered with dynamic formation of residual helices. With a high positive net charge, the self-aggregation tendency of SEVI was weak. Aβ42 had a strong aggregation propensity by readily self-assembling into β-sheet-rich aggregates. SEVI preferred to interact with Aβ42, rather than SEVI themselves. In the heteroaggregates, Aβ42 mainly adopted β-sheets buried inside and capped by SEVI in the outer layer. SEVI could bind to various Aβ aggregation species─including monomers, dimers, and proto-fibrils─by capping the exposed β-sheet elongation edges. The aggregation processes Aβ42 from the formation of oligomers to conformational nucleation into fibrils and fibril growth should be inhibited as their β-sheet elongation edges are being occupied by the highly charged SEVI. Overall, our computational study uncovered the molecular mechanism of experimentally observed inhibition of SEVI against Aβ42 aggregation, providing novel insights into the development of therapeutic strategies against Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering (NIIME), Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jia Xu
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Fengjuan Huang
- Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering (NIIME), Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Jiajia Yan
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Xinjie Fan
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Yu Zou
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chuang Wang
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
- Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering (NIIME), Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo 315211, China
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
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6
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Indig RY, Landau M. Designed inhibitors to reduce amyloid virulence and cytotoxicity and combat neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 75:102318. [PMID: 37196450 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The review highlights the role of amyloids in various diseases and the challenges associated with targeting human amyloids in therapeutic development. However, due to the better understanding of microbial amyloids' role as virulence factors, there is a growing interest in repurposing and designing anti-amyloid compounds for antivirulence therapy. The identification of amyloid inhibitors has not only significant clinical implications but also provides valuable insights into the structure and function of amyloids. The review showcases small molecules and peptides that specifically target amyloids in both humans and microbes, reducing cytotoxicity and biofilm formation, respectively. The review emphasizes the importance of further research on amyloid structures, mechanisms, and interactions across all life forms to yield new drug targets and improve the design of selective treatments. Overall, the review highlights the potential for amyloid inhibitors in therapeutic development for both human diseases and microbial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinat Yona Indig
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Meytal Landau
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel; Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) and Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany; Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg, Germany.
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7
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Rani K, Pippal B, Singh SK, Karmakar A, Vankayala R, Jain N. Effects of the aspect ratio of plasmonic gold nanorods on the inhibition of lysozyme amyloid formation. Biomater Sci 2023. [PMID: 37161699 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm00400g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid formation due to altered protein folding and aggregation has gained significant attention due to its association with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and systemic lysozyme amyloidosis. Amyloids are characterized by parallel and anti-parallel cross-β-strands arranged to form stacks of sheets that provide stability and rigidity to the amyloid core. The prototypic protein Hen Egg White Lysozyme (HEWL) has been extensively used to understand protein hydrolysis, fragmentation, folding, misfolding, and amyloid formation. In the present study, we have examined the efficacy of plasmonic gold nanorods (GNRs) as an anti-amyloid agent against HEWL amyloids. Our results reveal that (i) the amyloid inhibition by plasmonic GNRs is dependent on their aspect ratio, (ii) the large aspect ratio GNRs ameliorate amyloid assembly completely, and (iii) GNRs interfere at several stages along the lysozyme fibril-formation pathway and block the conversion of monomeric and oligomeric intermediates into mature fibrils. Using a multi-parametric approach, we demonstrate that GNRs drive HEWL into off-pathway and amyloid-incompetent forms. To establish GNRs as generic amyloid inhibitors, we extended our studies to another archetypal protein, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), and observed similar results of GNRs inhibiting BSA aggregation. We believe that our results will pave the way for the potential use of GNRs with current therapeutics to reduce the burden of amyloid-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushboo Rani
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar 342030, India.
| | - Bhumika Pippal
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar 342030, India.
| | - Shubham Kumar Singh
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar 342030, India.
| | - Anurupa Karmakar
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar 342030, India.
| | - Raviraj Vankayala
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar 342030, India.
- Interdisciplinary Research Platform Smart Healthcare, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar 342030, India
| | - Neha Jain
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar 342030, India.
- Centre for Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development (CETSD), Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar 342030, India
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8
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Puneeth Kumar DRGKR, Reja RM, Senapati DK, Singh M, Nalawade SA, George G, Kaul G, Akhir A, Chopra S, Raghothama S, Gopi HN. A cationic amphiphilic peptide chaperone rescues Aβ 42 aggregation and cytotoxicity. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:332-340. [PMID: 36846376 PMCID: PMC9945854 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00414c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Directing Aβ42 to adopt a conformation that is free from aggregation and cell toxicity is an attractive and viable strategy to design therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease. Over the years, extensive efforts have been made to disrupt the aggregation of Aβ42 using various types of inhibitors but with limited success. Herein, we report the inhibition of aggregation of Aβ42 and disintegration of matured fibrils of Aβ42 into smaller assemblies by a 15-mer cationic amphiphilic peptide. The biophysical analysis comprising thioflavin T (ThT) mediated amyloid aggregation kinetic analysis, dynamic light scattering, ELISA, AFM, and TEM suggested that the peptide effectively disrupts Aβ42 aggregation. The circular dichroism (CD) and 2D-NMR HSQC analysis reveal that upon interaction, the peptide induces a conformational change in Aβ42 that is free from aggregation. Further, the cell assay experiments revealed that this peptide is non-toxic to cells and also rescues the cells from the toxicity of Aβ42. Peptides with a shorter length displayed either weak or no inhibitory effect on Aβ42 aggregation and cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the 15-residue cationic amphiphilic peptide reported here may serve as a potential therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- DRGKoppalu R. Puneeth Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and ResearchDr. Homi Bhabha Road, PashanPune-411008India
| | - Rahi M. Reja
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and ResearchDr. Homi Bhabha Road, PashanPune-411008India
| | | | - Manjeet Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan Pune-411008 India
| | - Sachin A. Nalawade
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and ResearchDr. Homi Bhabha Road, PashanPune-411008India
| | - Gijo George
- NMR Research Centre, Indian Institute of ScienceBangalore-560012India
| | - Grace Kaul
- Division of Microbiology and Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research InstituteSitapur Road, Sector 10, Janakipuram ExtensionLucknow-226031Uttar PradeshIndia,AcSIR: Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)Ghaziabad 201002India
| | - Abdul Akhir
- Division of Microbiology and Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research InstituteSitapur Road, Sector 10, Janakipuram ExtensionLucknow-226031Uttar PradeshIndia
| | - Sidharth Chopra
- Division of Microbiology and Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research InstituteSitapur Road, Sector 10, Janakipuram ExtensionLucknow-226031Uttar PradeshIndia,AcSIR: Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)Ghaziabad 201002India
| | | | - Hosahudya N. Gopi
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and ResearchDr. Homi Bhabha Road, PashanPune-411008India
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9
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Vázquez-Lorente H, Dunđerović DM, Tatić SB, Radojević-Škodrić S, Gomes CM, Paunović IR, Dragutinović V. Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and Their Tissue Inhibitors in the Diagnostics of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2023; 31:121-127. [PMID: 36512647 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000001092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) is a tumor of the neuroendocrine system. In recent years, the need to assess the MTC diagnostic-related parameters has emerged with the aim to elucidate the mechanisms involved in this pathology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9, their tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs), S100 protein, and amyloid in the diagnostic of MTC. Thirty-two samples with MTC (72% women) were included in this cross-sectional study and divided by groups: T category 1 (T1)≤20 mm and T category 2 (T2) 20 to 40 mm of tumor size. MMPs 2 and 9, TIMPs 2 and 1, S100 protein, and calcitonin in tissues were obtained by immunohistochemical techniques. The presence of amyloid in tissue sections was detected on Thioflavin T-stained slides under fluorescent microscope. Percentage of positive cells (P) observed for MMP-2 was higher in those samples presenting T2 MTC with respect to those with T1 MTC ( P <0.05). Moreover, P-MMP-2 showed a direct correlation with higher T category of MTC (Rho=0.439, P < 0.001), whereas P-MPP-9 was directly correlated with S100 protein and the intensity of calcitonin in tissues (Rho=0.419, P =0.017; Rho=0.422, P =0.016, respectively. Therefore, MMPs were directly correlated with some traditional biomarkers of MTC. In this regard, P-MMP-2 was more expressed in type 2 MTC. Combining the analysis of traditional and other useful biomarkers of MTC as MMPs 2 and 9 could be a useful strategy in the diagnostic of MTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Vázquez-Lorente
- Department of Physiology, School of Pharmacy, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology "José Mataix," University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Cláudio M Gomes
- Institute of Biosystems & Integrative Sciences
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ivan R Paunović
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade
- Center for Endocrine Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia
| | - Vesna Dragutinović
- Institute of Chemistry in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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10
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Tang Y, Zhang D, Chang Y, Zheng J. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Associated with Cardiovascular Diseases Inhibits Amyloid-β Aggregation via Cross-Seeding. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:312-322. [PMID: 36577130 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Both cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) share some common risk factors (e.g., age, obesity, oxidative stress, inflammation, hypertension) that contribute to their overlapping pathogenesis, indicating a "head-to-heart" pathological connection between CVDs and AD. To explore this potential connection at the protein level, we study the potential cross-seeding (heterotypic interactions) between CVD-associated atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and AD-associated β-amyloid (Aβ). Collective aggregation and cell assays demonstrate the cross-seeding of ANP with different Aβ species including monomers, oligomers, and fibrils with high binding affinity (KD = 1.234-1.797 μM) in a dose-dependent manner. Such ANP-induced cross-seeding also modifies the Aβ aggregation pathway, fibril morphology, and cell deposition pattern by inhibiting Aβ fibrillization from small aggregates, disassembling preformed Aβ fibrils, and alleviating Aβ-associated cytotoxicity. Finally, using transgenic C. elegans worms that express the human muscle-specific Aβ1-42, ANP can also effectively delay Aβ-induced worm paralysis, decrease Aβ plaques in worm brains, and reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, confirming its in vivo inhibition ability to prevent neurodevelopmental toxicity in worms. This work discovers not only a new cross-seeding system between the two disease-related proteins but also a new finding that ANP possesses a new biological function as an Aβ inhibitor in the nonaggregated state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Yung Chang
- R&D Center for Membrane Technology and Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan 32023, Taiwan
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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11
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Gagat P, Duda-Madej A, Ostrówka M, Pietluch F, Seniuk A, Mackiewicz P, Burdukiewicz M. Testing Antimicrobial Properties of Selected Short Amyloids. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24010804. [PMID: 36614244 PMCID: PMC9821130 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010804] [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: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloids and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have many similarities, e.g., both kill microorganisms by destroying their membranes, form aggregates, and modulate the innate immune system. Given these similarities and the fact that the antimicrobial properties of short amyloids have not yet been investigated, we chose a group of potentially antimicrobial short amyloids to verify their impact on bacterial and eukaryotic cells. We used AmpGram, a best-performing AMP classification model, and selected ten amyloids with the highest AMP probability for our experimental research. Our results indicate that four tested amyloids: VQIVCK, VCIVYK, KCWCFT, and GGYLLG, formed aggregates under the conditions routinely used to evaluate peptide antimicrobial properties, but none of the tested amyloids exhibited antimicrobial or cytotoxic properties. Accordingly, they should be included in the negative datasets to train the next-generation AMP prediction models, based on experimentally confirmed AMP and non-AMP sequences. In the article, we also emphasize the importance of reporting non-AMPs, given that only a handful of such sequences have been officially confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław Gagat
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Fryderyka Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-137 Wrocław, Poland
- Correspondence: (P.G.); (M.B.)
| | - Anna Duda-Madej
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wrocław Medical University, Chałubińskiego 4, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Michał Ostrówka
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Fryderyka Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-137 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Filip Pietluch
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Fryderyka Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-137 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Alicja Seniuk
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wrocław Medical University, Chałubińskiego 4, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Paweł Mackiewicz
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Fryderyka Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-137 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Michał Burdukiewicz
- Clinical Research Centre, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Białystok, Poland
- Correspondence: (P.G.); (M.B.)
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12
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Santos J, Ventura S, Pallarès I. LL-37 and CsgC exemplify the crosstalk between anti-amyloid, antimicrobial, and anti-biofilm protein activities. Neural Regen Res 2022; 18:1027-1028. [PMID: 36254986 PMCID: PMC9827758 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.355757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Santos
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain,Correspondence to: Salvador Ventura, ; Irantzu Pallarès, .
| | - Irantzu Pallarès
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain,Correspondence to: Salvador Ventura, ; Irantzu Pallarès, .
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13
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Bruno F, Malvaso A, Canterini S, Bruni AC. Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease: Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11060726. [PMID: 35740133 PMCID: PMC9220182 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11060726] [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: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents the most frequent type of dementia in elderly people. There are two major forms of the disease: sporadic (SAD)—whose causes are not completely understood—and familial (FAD)—with clear autosomal dominant inheritance. The two main hallmarks of AD are extracellular deposits of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide and intracellular deposits of the hyperphosphorylated form of the tau protein (P-tau). An ever-growing body of research supports the infectious hypothesis of sporadic forms of AD. Indeed, it has been documented that some pathogens, such as herpesviruses and certain bacterial species, are commonly present in AD patients, prompting recent clinical research to focus on the characterization of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in this pathology. The literature also demonstrates that Aβ can be considered itself as an AMP; thus, representing a type of innate immune defense peptide that protects the host against a variety of pathogens. Beyond Aβ, other proteins with antimicrobial activity, such as lactoferrin, defensins, cystatins, thymosin β4, LL37, histatin 1, and statherin have been shown to be involved in AD. Here, we summarized and discussed these findings and explored the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of AMPs in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bruno
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre (CRN), Department of Primary Care, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
- Association for Neurogenetic Research (ARN), 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy;
- Correspondence:
| | - Antonio Malvaso
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Sonia Canterini
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University La Sapienza, 00158 Rome, Italy;
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14
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Lu P, Ji X, Xue J, Dong Y, Chen X. Proteomic Analysis Revealed Metabolic Inhibition and Elongation Factor Tu Deamidation by p-Coumaric Acid in Cronobacter sakazakii. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:888103. [PMID: 35615519 PMCID: PMC9125189 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.888103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Screening drugs and compounds to fight against Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii), one of the most common pathogens that can cause fatal necrotizing enterocolitis, septicema and meningitis, is still needed. We found that p-coumaric acid (pCA) has an inhibitory effect on C. sakazakii in vitro and in vivo. Proteomic changes of C. sakazakii BAA-894 exposed to pCA were studied to reveal the antibacterial mechanisms involved. A total of 1,553 proteins were identified in C. sakazakii BAA-894 by label-free proteomics analysis. Fuzzy cluster analysis showed that 33 were up-regulated, and 110 were down-regulated with pCA treatment. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis concluded that pCA caused the change of metabolic state of bacteria and generally in the state of metabolic inhibition. KEGG Enrichment Analysis (KEGG) analysis showed that pCA inhibited energy metabolism and distorted the balance of amino acid metabolism. Posttranslational modification analysis showed that pCA affected the deamidation of three proteins, including Elongation factor Tu, one of the vital proteins in bacteria. Molecular docking suggested the hydrogen bond between the pCA carboxyl group and Elongation factor Tu Asn-64 might contribute to deamidation. Overall, we found that pCA interfered with cellular energy and amino acid metabolism and promoted elongation factor Tu deamidation, suggesting that pCA can be an effective natural substitute to control C. sakazakii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Lu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuemeng Ji
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Food Science and Health, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Juan Xue
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Yinping Dong
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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15
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Tang Y, Zhang D, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Miller Y, Gong K, Zheng J. Cross-seeding between Aβ and SEVI indicates a pathogenic link and gender difference between alzheimer diseases and AIDS. Commun Biol 2022; 5:417. [PMID: 35513705 PMCID: PMC9072343 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03343-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) and semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI) are considered as the two causative proteins for central pathogenic cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and HIV/AIDS, respectively. Separately, Aβ-AD and SEVI-HIV/AIDS systems have been studied extensively both in fundamental research and in clinical trials. Despite significant differences between Aβ-AD and SEVI-HIV/AIDS systems, they share some commonalities on amyloid and antimicrobial characteristics between Aβ and SEVI, there are apparent overlaps in dysfunctional neurological symptoms between AD and HIV/AIDS. Few studies have reported a potential pathological link between Aβ-AD and SEVI-HIV/AIDS at a protein level. Here, we demonstrate the cross-seeding interactions between Aβ and SEVI proteins using in vitro and in vivo approaches. Cross-seeding of SEVI with Aβ enabled to completely prevent Aβ aggregation at sub-stoichiometric concentrations, disaggregate preformed Aβ fibrils, reduce Aβ-induced cell toxicity, and attenuate Aβ-accumulated paralysis in transgenic AD C. elegans. This work describes a potential crosstalk between AD and HIV/AIDS via the cross-seeding between Aβ and SEVI, identifies SEVI as Aβ inhibitor for possible treatment or prevention of AD, and explains the role of SEVI in the gender difference in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, 44325, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, 44325, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Yanxian Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, 44325, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Yonglan Liu
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, 44325, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Yifat Miller
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion, University of the Negev, 84105, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Keven Gong
- Western Reserve Academy, Hudson, 44236, OH, USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, 44325, Akron, OH, USA.
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16
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Tang H, Sun Y, Ding F. Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Ratio of Amphiphilic Helix Mimetics Determines the Effects on Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Aggregation. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:1760-1770. [PMID: 35311274 PMCID: PMC9123946 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid depositions of human islet amyloid polypeptides (hIAPP) are associated with type II diabetes (T2D) impacting millions of people globally. Accordingly, strategies against hIAPP aggregation are essential for the prevention and eventual treatment of the disease. Helix mimetics, which modulate the protein-protein interaction by mimicking the side chain residues of a natural α-helix, were found to be a promising strategy for inhibiting hIAPP aggregation. Here, we applied molecular dynamics simulations to investigate two helix mimetics reported to have opposite effects on hIAPP aggregation in solution, the oligopyridylamide-based scaffold 1e promoted, whereas naphthalimide-appended oligopyridylamide scaffold DM 1 inhibited the aggregation of hIAPP in solution. We found that 1e promoted hIAPP aggregation because of the recruiting effects through binding with the N-termini of hIAPP peptides. In contrast, DM 1 with a higher hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio effectively inhibited hIAPP aggregation by strongly binding with the C-termini of hIAPP peptides, which competed for the interpeptide contacts between amyloidogenic regions in the C-termini and impaired the fibrillization of hIAPP. Structural analyses revealed that DM 1 formed the core of hIAPP-DM 1 complexes and stabilized the off-pathway oligomers, whereas 1e formed the corona outside the hIAPP-1e complexes and remained active in recruiting free hIAPP peptides. The distinct interaction mechanisms of DM 1 and 1e, together with other reported potent antagonists in the literature, emphasized the effective small molecule-based amyloid inhibitors by disrupting peptide interactions that should reach a balanced hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio, providing a viable and generic strategy for the rational design of novel anti-amyloid nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huayuan Tang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States.,Department of Physics, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
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17
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Lu T, Guo W, Datar PM, Xin Y, Marsh ENG, Chen Z. Probing protein aggregation at buried interfaces: distinguishing between adsorbed protein monomers, dimers, and a monomer-dimer mixture in situ. Chem Sci 2022; 13:975-984. [PMID: 35211262 PMCID: PMC8790787 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc04300e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein adsorption on surfaces greatly impacts many applications such as biomedical materials, anti-biofouling coatings, bio-separation membranes, biosensors, antibody protein drugs etc. For example, protein drug adsorption on the widely used lubricant silicone oil surface may induce protein aggregation and thus affect the protein drug efficacy. It is therefore important to investigate the molecular behavior of proteins at the silicone oil/solution interface. Such an interfacial study is challenging because the targeted interface is buried. By using sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG) with Hamiltonian local mode approximation method analysis, we studied protein adsorption at the silicone oil/protein solution interface in situ in real time, using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model. The results showed that the interface was mainly covered by BSA dimers. The deduced BSA dimer orientation on the silicone oil surface from the SFG study can be explained by the surface distribution of certain amino acids. To confirm the BSA dimer adsorption, we treated adsorbed BSA dimer molecules with dithiothreitol (DTT) to dissociate these dimers. SFG studies on adsorbed BSA after the DTT treatment indicated that the silicone oil surface is covered by BSA dimers and BSA monomers in an approximate 6 : 4 ratio. That is to say, about 25% of the adsorbed BSA dimers were converted to monomers after the DTT treatment. Extensive research has been reported in the literature to determine adsorbed protein dimer formation using ex situ experiments, e.g., by washing off the adsorbed proteins from the surface then analyzing the washed-off proteins, which may induce substantial errors in the washing process. Dimerization is a crucial initial step for protein aggregation. This research developed a new methodology to investigate protein aggregation at a solid/liquid (or liquid/liquid) interface in situ in real time using BSA dimer as an example, which will greatly impact many research fields and applications involving interfacial biological molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tieyi Lu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
| | - Wen Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
| | - Prathamesh M Datar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
| | - Yue Xin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
| | - E Neil G Marsh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
| | - Zhan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan 48109 USA
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18
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Tang JJ, Huang LF, Deng JL, Wang YM, Guo C, Peng XN, Liu Z, Gao JM. Cognitive enhancement and neuroprotective effects of OABL, a sesquiterpene lactone in 5xFAD Alzheimer's disease mice model. Redox Biol 2022; 50:102229. [PMID: 35026701 PMCID: PMC8760418 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease in which oxidative stress and neuroinflammation were demonstrated to be associated with neuronal loss and cognitive deficits. However, there are still no specific treatments that can prevent the progression of AD. In this study, a screening of anti-inflammatory hits from 4207 natural compounds of two different molecular libraries indicated 1,6-O,O-diacetylbritannilactone (OABL), a 1,10-seco-eudesmane sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the herb Inula britannica L., exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity in vitro as well as favorable BBB penetration property. OABL reduced LPS-induced neuroinflammation in BV-2 microglial cells as assessed by effects on the levels of inflammatory mediators including NO, PGE2, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX-2, as well as the translocation of NF-κB. Besides, OABL also exhibited pronounced neuroprotective effects against oxytosis and ferroptosis in the rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line. For in vivo research, OABL (20 mg/kg B.W., i.p.) for 21 d attenuated the impairments in cognitive function observed in 6-month-old 5xFAD mice, as assessed with the Morris water maze test. OABL restored neuronal damage and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) expression in the hippocampus. OABL also significantly reduced the accumulation of amyloid plaques, the Aβ expression, the phosphorylation of Tau protein, and the expression of BACE1 in AD mice brain. In addition, OABL attenuated the overactivation of microglia and astrocytes by suppressing the expressions of inflammatory cytokines, and increased glutathione (GSH) and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and super oxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the 5xFAD mice brain. In conclusion, these results highlight the beneficial effects of the natural product OABL as a novel treatment with potential application for drug discovery in AD due to its pharmacological profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Jiang Tang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, PR China.
| | - Lan-Fang Huang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Jia-Le Deng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Yi-Meng Wang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Cong Guo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Xiao-Na Peng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Zhigang Liu
- Laboratory of Functional Chemistry and Nutrition of Food, College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, PR China.
| | - Jin-Ming Gao
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, PR China.
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19
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Tang Y, Zhang D, Gong X, Zheng J. Repurposing of intestinal defensins as multi-target, dual-function amyloid inhibitors via cross-seeding. Chem Sci 2022; 13:7143-7156. [PMID: 35799805 PMCID: PMC9214849 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01447e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid formation and microbial infection are the two common pathological causes of neurogenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), type II diabetes (T2D), and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). While significant efforts have been made to develop different prevention strategies and preclinical hits for these diseases, conventional design strategies of amyloid inhibitors are mostly limited to either a single prevention mechanism (amyloid cascade vs. microbial infection) or a single amyloid protein (Aβ, hIAPP, or hCT), which has prevented the launch of any successful drug on the market. Here, we propose and demonstrate a new “anti-amyloid and anti-bacteria” strategy to repurpose two intestinal defensins, human α-defensin 6 (HD-6) and human β-defensin 1 (HBD-1), as multiple-target, dual-function, amyloid inhibitors. Both HD-6 and HBD-1 can cross-seed with three amyloid peptides, Aβ (associated with AD), hIAPP (associated with T2D), and hCT (associated with MTC), to prevent their aggregation towards amyloid fibrils from monomers and oligomers, rescue SH-SY5Y and RIN-m5F cells from amyloid-induced cytotoxicity, and retain their original antimicrobial activity against four common bacterial strains at sub-stoichiometric concentrations. Such sequence-independent anti-amyloid and anti-bacterial functions of intestinal defensins mainly stem from their cross-interactions with amyloid proteins through amyloid-like mimicry of β-sheet associations. In a broader view, this work provides a new out-of-the-box thinking to search and repurpose a huge source of antimicrobial peptides as amyloid inhibitors, allowing the blocking of the two interlinked pathological pathways and bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and intestines via the gut–brain axis associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Amyloid formation and microbial infection are the two common pathological causes of neurogenerative diseases. Here, we proposed a new “anti-amyloid and anti-bacteria” strategy to repurpose two intestinal defensins as multiple-target, dual-function amyloid inhibitors.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
| | - Xiong Gong
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, Ohio, USA
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20
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Ren B, Tang Y, Zhang D, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Chen H, Hu R, Zhang M, Zheng J. Conformational-Specific Self-Assembled Peptides as Dual-Mode, Multi-target Inhibitors and Detectors for Different Amyloid Pro-teins. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:1754-1762. [DOI: 10.1039/d1tb02775a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Prevention and detection of misfolded amyloid proteins and their β-structure-rich aggregates are the two promising but differ-ent (pre)clinical strategies to treat and diagnose neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s diseases (AD) and...
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21
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Tang Y, Zhang D, Gong X, Zheng J. A mechanistic survey of Alzheimer's disease. Biophys Chem 2021; 281:106735. [PMID: 34894476 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2021.106735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common, age-dependent neurodegenerative disorder. While AD has been intensively studied from different aspects, there is no effective cure for AD, largely due to a lack of a clear mechanistic understanding of AD. In this mini-review, we mainly focus on the discussion and summary of mechanistic causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). While different AD mechanisms illustrate different molecular and cellular pathways in AD pathogenesis, they do not necessarily exclude each other. Instead, some of them could work together to initiate, trigger, and promote the onset and development of AD. In a broader viewpoint, some AD mechanisms (e.g., amyloid aggregation mechanism, microbial infection/neuroinflammation mechanism, and amyloid cross-seeding mechanism) could also be applicable to other amyloid diseases including type II diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and prion disease. Such common mechanisms for AD and other amyloid diseases explain not only the pathogenesis of individual amyloid diseases, but also the spreading of pathologies between these diseases, which will inspire new strategies for therapeutic intervention and prevention for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, OH, United States of America
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, OH, United States of America
| | - Xiong Gong
- Department of Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron, OH, United States of America
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, The University of Akron, OH, United States of America.
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22
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Zhou Z, Gu YQ, Wang HX. Artificial Chiral Interfaces against Amyloid-β Peptide Aggregation: Research Progress and Challenges. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:4236-4248. [PMID: 34724384 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by an imbalance between the production and clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) species. AD not only influences the life quality of the patients but also heavily burdens the families and society. Therefore, it is an urgent mission to research and develop some new anti-amyloid aggregation drugs. In recent years, there were research and development of engineered nanostructures as Aβ amyloid inhibitors have attracted extensive attention and become a new frontier in nanomedicine. The effects of nanostructural surface properties (e.g., morphology, charge, hydrophobicity) on inhibition of Aβ aggregation are modulated by adsorbed Aβ peptides. Nevertheless, chirality has been seldom considered in recognition of Aβ species and modulation of Aβ aggregations. Moreover, a more relevant question for chiral inhibitors is little known about the molecular mechanism of how to interface chiral effects Aβ targeting recognition and effective mitigation of amyloidosis at the molecular level. Herein, we review recent experimental and theoretical results acquired in the specific areas of artificial chiral nanostructure inhibitors. This article will be essential to provide a microlevel insight into the effects of chiral nanointerfaces on amyloidosis processes as well as the development of chiral inhibitor drugs against Aβ fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - You-Quan Gu
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hang-Xing Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
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23
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Yu P, Liu Y, Xie J, Li J. Spatiotemporally controlled calcitonin delivery: Long-term and targeted therapy of skeletal diseases. J Control Release 2021; 338:486-504. [PMID: 34481022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.08.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Bone is a connective tissue that support the entire body and protect the internal organs. However, there are great challenges on curing intractable skeletal diseases such as hypercalcemia, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. To address these issues, calcitonin (CT) therapy is an effective treatment alternative to regulate calcium metabolism and suppress inflammation response, which are closely related to skeletal diseases. Traditional calcitonin formulation requires frequent administration due to the low bioavailability resulting from the short half-life and abundant calcitonin receptors distributed through the whole body. Therefore, long-term and targeted calcitonin delivery systems (LCDS and TCDS) have been widely explored as the popular strategies to overcome the intrinsic limitations of calcitonin and improve the functions of calcium management and inflammation inhibition in recent years. In this review, we first explain the physiological effects of calcitonin on bone remodeling: (i) inhibitory effects on osteoclasts and (ii) facilitated effects on osteoblasts. Then we summarized four strategies for spatiotemporally controlled delivery of calcitonin: micro-/nanomedicine (e.g. inorganic micro-/nanomedicine, polymeric micro-/nanomedicine and supramolecular assemblies), hydrogels (especially thermosensitive hydrogels), prodrug (PEGylation and targeting design) and hybrid biomaterials. Subsequently, we discussed the application of LCDS and TCDS in treating hypercalcemia, osteoporosis, and arthritis. Understanding and analyzing these advanced calcitonin delivery applications are essential for future development of calcitonin therapies toward skeletal diseases with superior efficacy in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yu
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Yanpeng Liu
- Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311200, PR China
| | - Jing Xie
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China.
| | - Jianshu Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
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Is It Possible to Create Antimicrobial Peptides Based on the Amyloidogenic Sequence of Ribosomal S1 Protein of P. aeruginosa? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189776. [PMID: 34575940 PMCID: PMC8469417 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The development and testing of new antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent an important milestone toward the development of new antimicrobial drugs that can inhibit the growth of pathogens and multidrug-resistant microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Gram-negative bacteria. Most AMPs achieve these goals through mechanisms that disrupt the normal permeability of the cell membrane, which ultimately leads to the death of the pathogenic cell. Here, we developed a unique combination of a membrane penetrating peptide and peptides prone to amyloidogenesis to create hybrid peptide: "cell penetrating peptide + linker + amyloidogenic peptide". We evaluated the antimicrobial effects of two peptides that were developed from sequences with different propensities for amyloid formation. Among the two hybrid peptides, one was found with antibacterial activity comparable to antibiotic gentamicin sulfate. Our peptides showed no toxicity to eukaryotic cells. In addition, we evaluated the effect on the antimicrobial properties of amino acid substitutions in the non-amyloidogenic region of peptides. We compared the results with data on the predicted secondary structure, hydrophobicity, and antimicrobial properties of the original and modified peptides. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the promise of hybrid peptides based on amyloidogenic regions of the ribosomal S1 protein for the development of new antimicrobial drugs against P. aeruginosa.
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