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Di Fede G, Giaccone G, Salmona M, Tagliavini F. Translational Research in Alzheimer's and Prion Diseases. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 62:1247-1259. [PMID: 29172000 PMCID: PMC5869996 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Translational neuroscience integrates the knowledge derived by basic neuroscience with the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools that may be applied to clinical practice in neurological diseases. This information can be used to improve clinical trial designs and outcomes that will accelerate drug development, and to discover novel biomarkers which can be efficiently employed to early recognize neurological disorders and provide information regarding the effects of drugs on the underlying disease biology. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and prion disease are two classes of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by incomplete knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying their occurrence and the lack of valid biomarkers and effective treatments. For these reasons, the design of therapies that prevent or delay the onset, slow the progression, or improve the symptoms associated to these disorders is urgently needed. During the last few decades, translational research provided a framework for advancing development of new diagnostic devices and promising disease-modifying therapies for patients with prion encephalopathies and AD. In this review, we provide present evidence of how supportive can be the translational approach to the study of dementias and show some results of our preclinical studies which have been translated to the clinical application following the ‘bed-to-bench-and-back’ research model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Fede
- IRCCS Foundation "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Giaccone
- IRCCS Foundation "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Salmona
- IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy
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2
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Choi J, Kim HJ, Jin X, Lim H, Kim S, Roh IS, Kang HE, No KT, Sohn HJ. Application of the fragment molecular orbital method to discover novel natural products for prion disease. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13063. [PMID: 30166585 PMCID: PMC6117342 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31080-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Conformational conversion of the normal cellular isoform of the prion protein PrPC into an infectious isoform PrPSc causes pathogenesis in prion diseases. To date, numerous antiprion compounds have been developed to block this conversion and to detect the molecular mechanisms of prion inhibition using several computational studies. Thus far, no suitable drug has been identified for clinical use. For these reasons, more accurate and predictive approaches to identify novel compounds with antiprion effects are required. Here, we have applied an in silico approach that integrates our previously described pharmacophore model and fragment molecular orbital (FMO) calculations, enabling the ab initio calculation of protein-ligand complexes. The FMO-based virtual screening suggested that two natural products with antiprion activity exhibited good binding interactions, with hotspot residues within the PrPC binding site, and effectively reduced PrPSc levels in a standard scrapie cell assay. Overall, the outcome of this study will be used as a promising strategy to discover antiprion compounds. Furthermore, the SAR-by-FMO approach can provide extremely powerful tools in quickly establishing virtual SAR to prioritise compounds for synthesis in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwon Choi
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center (BMDRC), Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Hyo-Jin Kim
- OIE Reference Laboratory for CWD, Foreign Animal Disease Research Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbukdo, 39660, Korea
| | - Xuemei Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Hocheol Lim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Songmi Kim
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center (BMDRC), Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - In-Soon Roh
- OIE Reference Laboratory for CWD, Foreign Animal Disease Research Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbukdo, 39660, Korea
| | - Hae-Eun Kang
- OIE Reference Laboratory for CWD, Foreign Animal Disease Research Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbukdo, 39660, Korea
| | - Kyoung Tai No
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center (BMDRC), Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
- Department of Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
| | - Hyun-Joo Sohn
- OIE Reference Laboratory for CWD, Foreign Animal Disease Research Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbukdo, 39660, Korea.
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3
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Zhou S, Liu X, An X, Yao X, Liu H. Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study on the Binding and Stabilization Mechanism of Antiprion Compounds to the "Hot Spot" Region of PrP C. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:2446-2456. [PMID: 28795797 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural transitions in the prion protein from the cellular form, PrPC, into the pathological isoform, PrPSc, are regarded as the main cause of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, also known as prion diseases. Hence, discovering and designing effective antiprion drugs that can inhibit PrPC to PrPSc conversion is regarded as a promising way to cure prion disease. Among several strategies to inhibit PrPC to PrPSc conversion, stabilizing the native PrPC via specific binding is believed to be one of the valuable approaches and many antiprion compounds have been reported based on this strategy. However, the detailed mechanism to stabilize the native PrPC is still unknown. As such, to unravel the stabilizing mechanism of these compounds to PrPC is valuable for the further design and discovery of antiprion compounds. In this study, by molecular dynamics simulation method, we investigated the stabilizing mechanism of several antiprion compounds on PrPC that were previously reported to have specific binding to the "hot spot" region of PrPC. Our simulation results reveal that the stabilization mechanism of specific binding compounds can be summarized as (I) to stabilize both the flexible C-terminal of α2 and the hydrophobic core, such as BMD42-29 and GN8; (II) to stabilize the hydrophobic core, such as J1 and GJP49; (III) to stabilize the overall structure of PrPC by high binding affinity, as NPR-056. In addition, as indicated by the H-bond analysis and decomposition analysis of binding free energy, the residues N159 and Q160 play an important role in the specific binding of the studied compounds and all these compounds interact with PrPC in a similar way with the key interacting residues L130 in the β1 strand, P158, N159, Q160, etc. in the α1-β2 loop, and H187, T190, T191, etc. in the α2 C-terminus although the compounds have large structural difference. As a whole, our obtained results can provide some insights into the specific binding mechanism of main antiprion compounds to the "hot spot" region of PrPC at the molecular level and also provide guidance for effective antiprion drug design in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyan Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xuewei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and
Department of Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiaoli An
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and
Department of Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiaojun Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and
Department of Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research
in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine
and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Wolf H, Hossinger A, Fehlinger A, Büttner S, Sim V, McKenzie D, Vorberg IM. Deposition pattern and subcellular distribution of disease-associated prion protein in cerebellar organotypic slice cultures infected with scrapie. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:410. [PMID: 26581229 PMCID: PMC4631830 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Organotypic cerebellar slices represent a suitable model for characterizing and manipulating prion replication in complex cell environments. Organotypic slices recapitulate prion pathology and are amenable to drug testing in the absence of a blood-brain-barrier. So far, the cellular and subcellular distribution of disease-specific prion protein in organotypic slices is unclear. Here we report the simultaneous detection of disease-specific prion protein and central nervous system markers in wild-type mouse cerebellar slices infected with mouse-adapted prion strain 22L. The disease-specific prion protein distribution profile in slices closely resembles that in vivo, demonstrating granular spot like deposition predominately in the molecular and Purkinje cell layers. Double immunostaining identified abnormal prion protein in the neuropil and associated with neurons, astrocytes and microglia, but absence in Purkinje cells. The established protocol for the simultaneous immunohistochemical detection of disease-specific prion protein and cellular markers enables detailed analysis of prion replication and drug efficacy in an ex vivo model of the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Wolf
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Bonn, Germany
| | | | | | - Sven Büttner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Bonn, Germany
| | - Valerie Sim
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Debbie McKenzie
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ina M Vorberg
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Bonn, Germany ; Department of Neurology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn Bonn, Germany
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Figueiredo CP, Ferreira NC, Passos GF, Costa RD, Neves FS, Machado CSC, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Neuenfeldt PD, Nunes RJ, Cordeiro Y. Toxicological Evaluation of Anti-Scrapie Trimethoxychalcones and Oxadiazoles. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2015; 87:1421-34. [PMID: 26247149 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201520140712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An altered form of the cellular prion protein, the PrPScor PrPRes, is implicated in the occurrence of the still untreatable transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. We have previously synthesized and characterized aromatic compounds that inhibit protease-resistant prion protein (PrPRes) accumulation in scrapie-infected cells. These compounds belong to different chemical classes, including acylhydrazones, chalcones and oxadiazoles. Some of the active compounds were non-toxic to neuroblastoma cells in culture and seem to possess drugable properties, since they are in agreement with the Lipinski´s rule of 5 and present desirable pharmacokinetic profiles as predicted in silico. Before the evaluation of the in vivo efficacy of the aromatic compounds in scrapie-infected mice, safety assessment in healthy mice is needed. Here we used Swiss mice to evaluate the acute toxicity profile of the six most promising anti-prionic compounds, the 2,4,5-trimethoxychalcones (J1, J8, J20 and J35) and the 1,3,4-oxadiazoles (Y13 and Y17). One single oral administration (300 mg/kg) of J1, J8, J20, J35, Y13 and Y17 or repeated intraperitoneal administration (10 mg/kg, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks) of J1, J8 and J35, did not elicit toxicity in mice. We strongly believe that the investigated trimethoxychalcones and oxadiazoles are interesting compounds to be further analyzed in vivo against prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia P Figueiredo
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR
| | - Natalia C Ferreira
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR
| | - Giselle F Passos
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR
| | - Robson da Costa
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR
| | - Fernanda S Neves
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR
| | - Clarice S C Machado
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR
| | - Alessandra Mascarello
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, BR
| | | | - Patrícia D Neuenfeldt
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, BR
| | - Ricardo J Nunes
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, BR
| | - Yraima Cordeiro
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BR
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6
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Small-molecule theranostic probes: a promising future in neurodegenerative diseases. Int J Cell Biol 2013; 2013:150952. [PMID: 24324497 PMCID: PMC3845517 DOI: 10.1155/2013/150952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative illnesses, which include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and scrapie, chronic wasting disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in animals. They are caused by unconventional infectious agents consisting primarily of misfolded, aggregated, β -sheet-rich isoforms, denoted prions, of the physiological cellular prion protein (PrP(C)). Many lines of evidence suggest that prions (PrP(Sc)) act both as a template for this conversion and as a neurotoxic agent causing neuronal dysfunction and cell death. As such, PrP(Sc) may be considered as both a neuropathological hallmark of the disease and a therapeutic target. Several diagnostic imaging probes have been developed to monitor cerebral amyloid lesions in patients with neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and prion disease). Examples of these probes are Congo red, thioflavin T, and their derivatives. We synthesized a series of styryl derivatives, denoted theranostics, and studied their therapeutic and/or diagnostic potentials. Here we review the salient traits of these small molecules that are able to detect and modulate aggregated forms of several proteins involved in protein misfolding diseases. We then highlight the importance of further studies for their practical implications in therapy and diagnostics.
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7
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Kimura T, Sako T, Siqin, Hosokawa-Muto J, Cui YL, Wada Y, Kataoka Y, Doi H, Sakaguchi S, Suzuki M, Watanabe Y, Kuwata K. Synthesis of an (11) C-labeled antiprion GN8 derivative and evaluation of its brain uptake by positron emission tomography. ChemMedChem 2013; 8:1035-9. [PMID: 23712919 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A radiolabeled PET! A (11) C-labeled derivative of N,N'-(methylenedi-4,1-phenylene)bis[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl) acetamide] (GN8), an antiprion agent currently under development, was synthesized by palladium-catalyzed rapid methylation of aryltributylstannane and assessed for brain penetration and organ distribution in rats by positron emission tomography (PET).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Kimura
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, United Graduate School of Drug Discovery & Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
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8
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Synthesis of 9-substituted 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazole derivatives and evaluation of their anti-prion activity in TSE-infected cells. Eur J Med Chem 2011; 46:5675-9. [PMID: 21906853 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2011.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2011] [Revised: 08/24/2011] [Accepted: 08/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
2,3,4,9-Tetrahydro-9-[2-hydroxy-3-(1-piperidinyl)propyl]-6-methyl-1H-carbazol-1-one (GJP14) is a novel anti-prion compound that we previously discovered by in silico screening and cellular assay. In this study, a variety of GJP14 derivatives were prepared using pyrrole derivatives, (haloalkyl)oxiranes, and amines, and their anti-prion activity was evaluated in TSE-infected cells. It was found that the tricyclic aromatic ring, a hydroxy group at the 2-position and an amino group at the 3-position of the N-propyl group were the basic requirements for anti-prion activity. The derivatives bearing an N-ortho-halobenzyl group exhibited an improved activity, and the most potent derivative was 8 times as effective as the original lead compound, GJP14.
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9
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Sudeshna G, Parimal K. Multiple non-psychiatric effects of phenothiazines: A review. Eur J Pharmacol 2010; 648:6-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2010] [Revised: 07/20/2010] [Accepted: 08/25/2010] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Abstract
The crucial event in the development of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) is the conformational change of a host-encoded membrane protein - the cellular PrPC - into a disease associated, fibril-forming isoform PrPSc. This conformational transition from the α-helix-rich cellular form into the mainly β-sheet containing counterpart initiates an ‘autocatalytic’ reaction which leads to the accumulation of amyloid fibrils in the central nervous system (CNS) and to neurodegeneration, a hallmark of TSEs. The exact molecular mechanisms which lead to the conformational change are still unknown. It also remains to be brought to light how a polypeptide chain can adopt at least two stable conformations. This review focuses on structural aspects of the prion protein with regard to protein-protein interactions and the initiation of prion protein misfolding. It therefore highlights parts of the protein which might play a notable role in the conformational transition from PrPC to PrPSc and consequently in inducing a fatal chain reaction of protein misfolding. Furthermore, features of different proteins, which are able to adopt insoluble fibrillar states under certain circumstances, are compared to PrP in an attempt to understand the unique characteristics of prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Kupfer
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
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11
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Webb S, Lekishvili T, Loeschner C, Sellarajah S, Prelli F, Wisniewski T, Gilbert IH, Brown DR. Mechanistic insights into the cure of prion disease by novel antiprion compounds. J Virol 2007; 81:10729-41. [PMID: 17652397 PMCID: PMC2045489 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01075-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2007] [Accepted: 07/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders. Identification of possible therapeutic tools is important in the search for a potential treatment for these diseases. Congo red is an azo dye that has been used for many years to detect abnormal prion protein in the brains of diseased patients or animals. Congo red has little therapeutic potential for the treatment of these diseases due to toxicity and poor permeation of the blood-brain barrier. We have prepared two Congo red derivatives, designed without these liabilities, with potent activity in cellular models of prion disease. One of these compounds cured cells of the transmissible agent. The mechanism of action of these compounds is possibly multifactorial. The high affinity of Congo red derivatives, including compounds that are ineffective and are effective at the cure of prion disease, for abnormally folded prion protein suggests that the amyloidophylic property of these derivatives is not as critical to the mechanism of action as other effects. Congo red derivatives that are effective at the cure of prion disease increased the degradation of abnormal PrP by the proteasome. Therefore, the principal mechanism of action of the Congo red analogues was to prevent inhibition of proteasomal activity by PrPSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Webb
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
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Takemura K, Kahdre M, Joseph D, Yousef A, Sreevatsan S. An overview of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Anim Health Res Rev 2007; 5:103-24. [PMID: 15984319 DOI: 10.1079/ahr200494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
AbstractTransmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders of humans and animals associated with an accumulation of abnormal isoforms of prion protein (PrP) in nerve cells. The pathogenesis of TSEs involves conformational conversions of normal cellular PrP (PrPc) to abnormal isoforms of PrP (PrPSc). While the protein-only hypothesis has been widely accepted as a causal mechanism of prion diseases, evidence from more recent research suggests a possible involvement of other cellular component(s) or as yet undefined infectious agent(s) in PrP pathogenesis. Although the underlying mechanisms of PrP strain variation and the determinants of interspecies transmissibility have not been fully elucidated, biochemical and molecular findings indicate that bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle and new-variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in humans are caused by indistinguishable etiological agent(s). Cumulative evidence suggests that there may be risks of humans acquiring TSEs via a variety of exposures to infected material. The development of highly precise ligands is warranted to detect and differentiate strains, allelic variants and infectious isoforms of these PrPs. This article describes the general features of TSEs and PrP, the current understanding of their pathogenesis, recent advances in prion disease diagnostics, and PrP inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Takemura
- Food Animal Health Research Program, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
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Georgieva D, Schwark D, von Bergen M, Redecke L, Genov N, Betzel C. Interactions of recombinant prions with compounds of therapeutical significance. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 344:463-70. [PMID: 16630566 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.03.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2006] [Accepted: 03/20/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The transformation of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into the infectious form (PrP(Sc)) is implicated in the invariably fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. To identify a mechanism to prevent the undesired PrP(C)-->PrP(Sc) transformation, we investigated the interactions of recombinant prion proteins with a number of potential therapeutic agents which inhibit the PrP(Sc) formation, infectivity, and the accumulation of the misfolded form. We show that the prion aggregates formed in the presence of six compounds have no beta-structure, which is typical of the infectious form, and possess considerably higher alpha-helical content than the normal PrP(C). The investigated compounds stimulate the formation of alpha-helices and the destruction of beta-structure. They prevent the transformation of alpha-helical structure into beta-sheets. Probably, this is the reason for the resistance to PrP(C)-->PrP(Sc) transformation in the presence of these compounds. The results may be useful for the future therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dessislava Georgieva
- University of Hamburg, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
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14
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DeMarco ML, Daggett V. Local environmental effects on the structure of the prion protein. C R Biol 2005; 328:847-62. [PMID: 16286076 DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2005.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2005] [Revised: 04/27/2005] [Accepted: 05/01/2005] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are neurodegenerative diseases causally linked to the partial unfolding and subsequent misfolding and aggregation of the prion protein (PrP). While most proteins fold into a single low energy state, PrP can fold into two distinct isoforms. In its innocuous state, denoted as PrPC, the protein has predominantly alpha-helical secondary structure, however, PrPC can misfold into an isoform rich in extended structure capable of forming toxic and infectious aggregates. While prion disease is believed to be a protein-only disease, one not requiring any non-protein elements for propagation, the different environments the protein finds itself in vivo likely influence its ability to misfold and aggregate. In this review we will examine various molecules, covalent modifications and environments PrP faces in vivo and the effect they have on PrP's local environment and, potentially, conformation. Included in this discussion are: (1) pH, (2) carbohydrates, (3) lipid membranes, (4) metal ions, and (5) small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari L DeMarco
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomolecular Structure and Design Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7610, USA
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15
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Breydo L, Bocharova OV, Baskakov IV. Semiautomated cell-free conversion of prion protein: applications for high-throughput screening of potential antiprion drugs. Anal Biochem 2005; 339:165-73. [PMID: 15766724 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2005.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalitis (TSE) is a lethal illness with no known treatment. Conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into the infectious isoform (PrP(Sc)) is believed to be the central event in the development of this disease. Recombinant PrP (rPrP) protein folded into the amyloid conformation was shown to cause the transmissible form of prion disease in transgenic mice and can be used as a surrogate model for PrP(Sc). Here, we introduced a semiautomated assay of in vitro conversion of rPrP protein to the amyloid conformation. We have examined the effect of known inhibitors of prion propagation on this conversion and found good correlation between their activity in this assay and that in other in vitro assays. We thus propose that the conversion of rPrP to the amyloid isoform can serve as a high-throughput screen for possible inhibitors of PrP(Sc) formation and potential anti-TSE drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid Breydo
- Medical Biotechnology Center, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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16
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Sellarajah S, Lekishvili T, Bowring C, Thompsett AR, Rudyk H, Birkett CR, Brown DR, Gilbert IH. Synthesis of Analogues of Congo Red and Evaluation of Their Anti-Prion Activity. J Med Chem 2004; 47:5515-34. [PMID: 15481988 DOI: 10.1021/jm049922t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
No cure as of yet exists for any of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. In this paper, we describe the synthesis of analogues of Congo red and evaluation against a cellular model of infection, the SMB (scrapie mouse brain) persistently infected cell line, for their ability to inhibit the infectivity of the abnormal form of prion protein (PrP-res). The compounds have also been tested for their ability to inhibit the polymerization of PrPC by PrP-res. A number of analogues showed inhibition of PrP-res infectivity at nanomolar concentrations. Several analogues show promise; the most active compound, 2a, inhibits the formation of PrP-res in SMB cells with an EC50 of 25-50 nM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Sellarajah
- Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3XF, UK
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