1
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Chen G, Johansson J. Potential of molecular chaperones for treating Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:2343-2344. [PMID: 38526266 PMCID: PMC11090427 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
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2
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Chen G, Wang Y, Zheng Z, Jiang W, Leppert A, Zhong X, Belorusova A, Siegal G, Jegerschöld C, Koeck PJB, Abelein A, Hebert H, Knight SD, Johansson J. Molecular basis for different substrate-binding sites and chaperone functions of the BRICHOS domain. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5063. [PMID: 38864729 PMCID: PMC11168071 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Proteins can misfold into fibrillar or amorphous aggregates and molecular chaperones act as crucial guardians against these undesirable processes. The BRICHOS chaperone domain, found in several otherwise unrelated proproteins that contain amyloidogenic regions, effectively inhibits amyloid formation and toxicity but can in some cases also prevent non-fibrillar, amorphous protein aggregation. Here, we elucidate the molecular basis behind the multifaceted chaperone activities of the BRICHOS domain from the Bri2 proprotein. High-confidence AlphaFold2 and RoseTTAFold predictions suggest that the intramolecular amyloidogenic region (Bri23) is part of the hydrophobic core of the proprotein, where it occupies the proposed amyloid binding site, explaining the markedly reduced ability of the proprotein to prevent an exogenous amyloidogenic peptide from aggregating. However, the BRICHOS-Bri23 complex maintains its ability to form large polydisperse oligomers that prevent amorphous protein aggregation. A cryo-EM-derived model of the Bri2 BRICHOS oligomer is compatible with surface-exposed hydrophobic motifs that get exposed and come together during oligomerization, explaining its effects against amorphous aggregation. These findings provide a molecular basis for the BRICHOS chaperone domain function, where distinct surfaces are employed against different forms of protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Zihan Zheng
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- Department of PharmacologyXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Wangshu Jiang
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Axel Leppert
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
- Present address:
Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell BiologyKarolinska InstitutetSolnaSweden
| | - Xueying Zhong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and HealthKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | | | | | - Caroline Jegerschöld
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and HealthKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | - Philip J. B. Koeck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and HealthKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Hans Hebert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and HealthKTH Royal Institute of TechnologyHuddingeSweden
| | - Stefan D. Knight
- Department of Cell and Molecular BiologyUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and NutritionKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
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3
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Johansson J. Treatment with BRICHOS domain helps to clarify issues with Alzheimer mouse models. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:715-716. [PMID: 38480933 PMCID: PMC11018833 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00041-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
This correspondence offers clarifications on the utility of BRICHOS domains in understanding pathology in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models and the potential of these domains as a treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
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4
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Kumar R, Le Marchand T, Adam L, Bobrovs R, Chen G, Fridmanis J, Kronqvist N, Biverstål H, Jaudzems K, Johansson J, Pintacuda G, Abelein A. Identification of potential aggregation hotspots on Aβ42 fibrils blocked by the anti-amyloid chaperone-like BRICHOS domain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:965. [PMID: 38302480 PMCID: PMC10834949 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45192-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding can generate toxic intermediates, which underlies several devastating diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The surface of AD-associated amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) fibrils has been suggested to act as a catalyzer for self-replication and generation of potentially toxic species. Specifically tailored molecular chaperones, such as the BRICHOS protein domain, were shown to bind to amyloid fibrils and break this autocatalytic cycle. Here, we identify a site on the Aβ42 fibril surface, consisting of three C-terminal β-strands and particularly the solvent-exposed β-strand stretching from residues 26-28, which is efficiently sensed by a designed variant of Bri2 BRICHOS. Remarkably, while only a low amount of BRICHOS binds to Aβ42 fibrils, fibril-catalyzed nucleation processes are effectively prevented, suggesting that the identified site acts as a catalytic aggregation hotspot, which can specifically be blocked by BRICHOS. Hence, these findings provide an understanding how toxic nucleation events can be targeted by molecular chaperones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Tanguy Le Marchand
- Université de Lyon, Centre de Resonance Magnétique Nucléaire (CRMN) à Très Hauts Champs de Lyon (UMR 5082 - CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCB Lyon 1), 69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Laurène Adam
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Raitis Bobrovs
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jēkabs Fridmanis
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Nina Kronqvist
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Henrik Biverstål
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Kristaps Jaudzems
- Department of Physical Organic Chemistry, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Guido Pintacuda
- Université de Lyon, Centre de Resonance Magnétique Nucléaire (CRMN) à Très Hauts Champs de Lyon (UMR 5082 - CNRS, ENS Lyon, UCB Lyon 1), 69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden.
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5
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Iqbal M, Lewis SL, Padhye S, Jinwal UK. Updates on Aβ Processing by Hsp90, BRICHOS, and Newly Reported Distinctive Chaperones. Biomolecules 2023; 14:16. [PMID: 38254616 PMCID: PMC10812967 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an extremely devastating neurodegenerative disease, and there is no cure for it. AD is specified as the misfolding and aggregation of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) and abnormalities in hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Current approaches to treat Alzheimer's disease have had some success in slowing down the disease's progression. However, attempts to find a cure have been largely unsuccessful, most likely due to the complexity associated with AD pathogenesis. Hence, a shift in focus to better understand the molecular mechanism of Aβ processing and to consider alternative options such as chaperone proteins seems promising. Chaperone proteins act as molecular caretakers to facilitate cellular homeostasis under standard conditions. Chaperone proteins like heat shock proteins (Hsps) serve a pivotal role in correctly folding amyloid peptides, inhibiting mitochondrial dysfunction, and peptide aggregation. For instance, Hsp90 plays a significant role in maintaining cellular homeostasis through its protein folding mechanisms. In this review, we analyze the most recent studies from 2020 to 2023 and provide updates on Aβ regulation by Hsp90, BRICHOS domain chaperone, and distinctive newly reported chaperones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Umesh Kumar Jinwal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, USF-Health Taneja College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; (M.I.)
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Abelein A, Johansson J. Amyloid inhibition by molecular chaperones in vitro can be translated to Alzheimer's pathology in vivo. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:848-857. [PMID: 37252101 PMCID: PMC10211315 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00040k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular chaperones are important components in the cellular quality-control machinery and increasing evidence points to potential new roles for them as suppressors of amyloid formation in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Approaches to treat Alzheimer's disease have not yet resulted in an effective treatment, suggesting that alternative strategies may be useful. Here, we discuss new treatment approaches based on molecular chaperones that inhibit amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation by different microscopic mechanisms of action. Molecular chaperones that specifically target secondary nucleation reactions during Aβ aggregation in vitro - a process closely associated with Aβ oligomer generation - have shown promising results in animal treatment studies. The inhibition of Aβ oligomer generation in vitro seemingly correlates with the effects of treatment, giving indirect clues about the molecular mechanisms present in vivo. Interestingly, recent immunotherapy advances, which have demonstrated significant improvements in clinical phase III trials, have used antibodies that selectively act against Aβ oligomer formation, supporting the notion that specific inhibition of Aβ neurotoxicity is more rewarding than reducing overall amyloid fibril formation. Hence, specific modulation of chaperone activity represents a promising new strategy for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 83 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet 141 83 Huddinge Sweden
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7
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Chen G, Leppert A, Poska H, Nilsson HE, Alvira CP, Zhong X, Koeck P, Jegerschöld C, Abelein A, Hebert H, Johansson J. Short hydrophobic loop motifs in BRICHOS domains determine chaperone activity against amorphous protein aggregation but not against amyloid formation. Commun Biol 2023; 6:497. [PMID: 37156997 PMCID: PMC10167226 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04883-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
ATP-independent molecular chaperones are important for maintaining cellular fitness but the molecular determinants for preventing aggregation of partly unfolded protein substrates remain unclear, particularly regarding assembly state and basis for substrate recognition. The BRICHOS domain can perform small heat shock (sHSP)-like chaperone functions to widely different degrees depending on its assembly state and sequence. Here, we observed three hydrophobic sequence motifs in chaperone-active domains, and found that they get surface-exposed when the BRICHOS domain assembles into larger oligomers. Studies of loop-swap variants and site-specific mutants further revealed that the biological hydrophobicities of the three short motifs linearly correlate with the efficiency to prevent amorphous protein aggregation. At the same time, they do not at all correlate with the ability to prevent ordered amyloid fibril formation. The linear correlations also accurately predict activities of chimeras containing short hydrophobic sequence motifs from a sHSP that is unrelated to BRICHOS. Our data indicate that short, exposed hydrophobic motifs brought together by oligomerisation are sufficient and necessary for efficient chaperone activity against amorphous protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gefei Chen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden.
| | - Axel Leppert
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65, Solna, Sweden
| | - Helen Poska
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Harriet E Nilsson
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | - Xueying Zhong
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Philip Koeck
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Caroline Jegerschöld
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Hans Hebert
- School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 141 52, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 83, Huddinge, Sweden.
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Kumar R, Arroyo-García LE, Manchanda S, Adam L, Pizzirusso G, Biverstål H, Nilsson P, Fisahn A, Johansson J, Abelein A. Molecular Mechanisms of Amyloid-β Self-Assembly Seeded by In Vivo-Derived Fibrils and Inhibitory Effects of the BRICHOS Chaperone. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37023330 PMCID: PMC10119923 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-replication of amyloid-β-peptide (Aβ) fibril formation is a hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Detailed insights have been obtained in Aβ self-assembly in vitro, yet whether similar mechanisms are relevant in vivo has remained elusive. Here, we investigated the ability of in vivo-derived Aβ fibrils from two different amyloid precursor protein knock-in AD mouse models to seed Aβ42 aggregation, where we quantified the microscopic rate constants. We found that the nucleation mechanism of in vivo-derived fibril-seeded Aβ42 aggregation can be described with the same kinetic model as that in vitro. Further, we identified the inhibitory mechanism of the anti-amyloid BRICHOS chaperone on seeded Aβ42 fibrillization, revealing a suppression of secondary nucleation and fibril elongation, which is strikingly similar as observed in vitro. These findings hence provide a molecular understanding of the Aβ42 nucleation process triggered by in vivo-derived Aβ42 propagons, providing a framework for the search for new AD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Luis Enrique Arroyo-García
- Division of Neurogeriatrics; Center for Alzheimer Research; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - Shaffi Manchanda
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Laurène Adam
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Giusy Pizzirusso
- Division of Neurogeriatrics; Center for Alzheimer Research; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - Henrik Biverstål
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsson
- Division of Neurogeriatrics; Center for Alzheimer Research; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - André Fisahn
- Division of Neurogeriatrics; Center for Alzheimer Research; Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64 Solna, Sweden
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Axel Abelein
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
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9
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Shimozawa M, Tigro H, Biverstål H, Shevchenko G, Bergquist J, Moaddel R, Johansson J, Nilsson P. Identification of cytoskeletal proteins as binding partners of Bri2 BRICHOS domain. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103843. [PMID: 36935047 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins must fold into three-dimensional structures to execute their biological functions. Therefore, maintenance of protein homeostasis, proteostasis, including prevention of protein misfolding is essential for cellular activity and health. Molecular chaperones are key actors in proteostasis. BRICHOS domain is an intramolecular chaperone that also interferes with several aggregation-prone proteins including amyloid β (Aβ), involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To extend the knowledge about Bri2 BRICHOS interactome we here used recombinant human (rh) Bri2 BRICHOS-mCherry fusion protein to probe for potential binding partners. Firstly, exogenously added Bri2 BRICHOS-mCherry was used to stain brain sections of wildtype and amyloid precursor protein (App) knock-in AD mice exhibiting robust Aβ pathology. Unexpectedly, we found that rh Bri2 BRICHOS-mCherry stained the cytoplasm of neurons which are devoid of Aβ deposits. To identify these intraneuronal proteins that bind to the rh Bri2 BRICHOS domain, we performed co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) of mouse brain hippocampi homogenates using the Bri2 BRICHOS-mCherry probe and analyzed co-IP proteins by LC-MS/MS. This identified several cytoskeletal proteins including spectrin alpha and beta chain, drebrin, tubulin β3, and β-actin as binding partners. The interactions were confirmed by a second round of pulldown experiments using rh Bri2 BRICHOS linked to magnetic beads. The interaction of rh Bri2 BRICHOS and tubulin β3 was further investigated by staining both mouse brain sections and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with rh Bri2 BRICHOS-mCherry and tubulin β3 immunostaining, which revealed partial co-localization. These data suggest a possible interplay of extracellular chaperone Bri2 BRICHOS domain in the intracellular space including the cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Shimozawa
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
| | - Helene Tigro
- School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallin, Estonia; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Henrik Biverstål
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ganna Shevchenko
- Analytical Chemistry and Neurochemistry, Department of Chemistry - Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonas Bergquist
- Analytical Chemistry and Neurochemistry, Department of Chemistry - Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Jan Johansson
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
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