1
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Simmons SM, Payne VL, Hrdlicka JG, Taylor J, Larsen PA, Wolf TM, Schwabenlander MD, Yuan Q, Bartz JC. Rapid and sensitive determination of residual prion infectivity from prion-decontaminated surfaces. mSphere 2024:e0050424. [PMID: 39189773 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00504-24] [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: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are untreatable fatal transmissible neurodegenerative diseases that affect a wide range of mammals, including humans, and are caused by PrPSc, the infectious self-templating conformation of the host-encoded protein, PrPC. Prion diseases can be transmitted via surfaces (e.g., forceps, EEG electrodes) in laboratory and clinical settings. Here, we use a combination of surface swabbing and real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) to test for residual surface-associated prions following prion disinfection. We found that treatment of several prion-contaminated laboratory and clinically relevant surfaces with either water or 70% EtOH resulted in robust detection of surface-associated prions. In contrast, treatment of surfaces with sodium hypochlorite resulted in a failure to detect surface-associated prions. RT-QuIC analysis of prion-contaminated stainless steel wires paralleled the findings of the surface swab studies. Importantly, animal bioassay and RT-QuIC analysis of the same swab extracts are in agreement. We report on conditions that may interfere with the assay that need to be taken into consideration before using this technique. Overall, this method can be used to survey laboratory and clinical surfaces for prion infectivity following prion decontamination protocols.IMPORTANCEPrion diseases can be accidentally transmitted in clinical and occupational settings. While effective means of prion decontamination exist, methods for determining the effectiveness are only beginning to be described. Here, we analyze surface swab extracts using real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) to test for residual prions following prion disinfection of relevant clinical and laboratory surfaces. We found that this method can rapidly determine the efficacy of surface prion decontamination. Importantly, examination of surface extracts with RT-QuIC and animal bioassay produced similar findings, suggesting that this method can accurately assess the reduction in prion titer. We identified surface contaminants that interfere with the assay, which may be found in clinical and laboratory settings. Overall, this method can enhance clinical and laboratory prion safety measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Simmons
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | | | - Jay G Hrdlicka
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Jack Taylor
- Biostatistical Core Facility, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Peter A Larsen
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Tiffany M Wolf
- Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Marc D Schwabenlander
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Qi Yuan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Jason C Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Prion Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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2
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Thackray AM, McNulty EE, Nalls AV, Smith A, Comoy E, Telling G, Benestad SL, Andréoletti O, Mathiason CK, Bujdoso R. Lack of prion transmission barrier in human PrP transgenic Drosophila. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107617. [PMID: 39089583 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107617] [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: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
While animal prion diseases are a threat to human health, their zoonotic potential is generally inefficient because of interspecies prion transmission barriers. New animal models are required to provide an understanding of these prion transmission barriers and to assess the zoonotic potential of animal prion diseases. To address this goal, we generated Drosophila transgenic for human or nonhuman primate prion protein (PrP) and determined their susceptibility to known pathogenic prion diseases, namely varient Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) and classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and that with unknown pathogenic potential, namely chronic wasting disease (CWD). Adult Drosophila transgenic for M129 or V129 human PrP or nonhuman primate PrP developed a neurotoxic phenotype and showed an accelerated loss of survival after exposure to vCJD, classical BSE, or CWD prions at the larval stage. vCJD prion strain identity was retained after passage in both M129 and V129 human PrP Drosophila. All of the primate PrP fly lines accumulated prion seeding activity and concomitantly developed a neurotoxic phenotype, generally including accelerated loss of survival, after exposure to CWD prions derived from different cervid species, including North American white-tailed deer and muntjac, and European reindeer and moose. These novel studies show that primate PrP transgenic Drosophila lack known prion transmission barriers since, in mammalian hosts, V129 human PrP is associated with severe resistance to classical BSE prions, while both human and cynomolgus macaque PrP are associated with resistance to CWD prions. Significantly, our data suggest that interspecies differences in the amino acid sequence of PrP may not be a principal determinant of the prion transmission barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana M Thackray
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Erin E McNulty
- Prion Research Center (PRC) and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Amy V Nalls
- Prion Research Center (PRC) and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew Smith
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emmanuel Comoy
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, DRF/IBFJ/SEPIA, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Glenn Telling
- Prion Research Center (PRC) and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Sylvie L Benestad
- WOAH Reference Laboratory for CWD (SLB), Department of Biohazard and Pathology, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway
| | - Olivier Andréoletti
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225 -Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Candace K Mathiason
- Prion Research Center (PRC) and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Raymond Bujdoso
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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3
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McDonough GA, Cheng Y, Morillo KS, Doan RN, Zhou Z, Kenny CJ, Foutz A, Kim C, Cohen ML, Appleby BS, Walsh CA, Safar JG, Huang AY, Miller MB. Neuropathologically directed profiling of PRNP somatic and germline variants in sporadic human prion disease. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:10. [PMID: 39048735 PMCID: PMC11328154 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02774-2] [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: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), the most common human prion disease, is associated with pathologic misfolding of the prion protein (PrP), encoded by the PRNP gene. Of human prion disease cases, < 1% were transmitted by misfolded PrP, ~ 15% are inherited, and ~ 85% are sporadic (sCJD). While familial cases are inherited through germline mutations in PRNP, the cause of sCJD is unknown. Somatic mutations have been hypothesized as a cause of sCJD, and recent studies have revealed that somatic mutations accumulate in neurons during aging. To investigate the hypothesis that somatic mutations in PRNP may underlie sCJD, we performed deep DNA sequencing of PRNP in 205 sCJD cases and 170 age-matched non-disease controls. We included 5 cases of Heidenhain variant sporadic CJD (H-sCJD), where visual symptomatology and neuropathology implicate localized initiation of prion formation, and examined multiple regions across the brain including in the affected occipital cortex. We employed Multiple Independent Primer PCR Sequencing (MIPP-Seq) with a median depth of > 5000× across the PRNP coding region and analyzed for variants using MosaicHunter. An allele mixing experiment showed positive detection of variants in bulk DNA at a variant allele fraction (VAF) as low as 0.2%. We observed multiple polymorphic germline variants among individuals in our cohort. However, we did not identify bona fide somatic variants in sCJD, including across multiple affected regions in H-sCJD, nor in control individuals. Beyond our stringent variant-identification pipeline, we also analyzed VAFs from raw sequencing data, and observed no evidence of prion disease enrichment for the known germline pathogenic variants P102L, D178N, and E200K. The lack of PRNP pathogenic somatic mutations in H-sCJD or the broader cohort of sCJD suggests that clonal somatic mutations may not play a major role in sporadic prion disease. With H-sCJD representing a localized presentation of neurodegeneration, this serves as a test of the potential role of clonal somatic mutations in genes known to cause familial neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gannon A McDonough
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuchen Cheng
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine S Morillo
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan N Doan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zinan Zhou
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Connor J Kenny
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aaron Foutz
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Chae Kim
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mark L Cohen
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Brian S Appleby
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiri G Safar
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - August Yue Huang
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Michael B Miller
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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4
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McDonough GA, Cheng Y, Morillo K, Doan RN, Kenny CJ, Foutz A, Kim C, Cohen ML, Appleby BS, Walsh CA, Safar JG, Huang AY, Miller MB. Neuropathologically-directed profiling of PRNP somatic and germline variants in sporadic human prion disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.25.600668. [PMID: 38979287 PMCID: PMC11230391 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.25.600668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), the most common human prion disease, is associated with pathologic misfolding of the prion protein (PrP), encoded by the PRNP gene. Of human prion disease cases, ~1% were transmitted by misfolded PrP, ~15% are inherited, and ~85% are sporadic (sCJD). While familial cases are inherited through germline mutations in PRNP, the cause of sCJD is unknown. Somatic mutations have been hypothesized as a cause of sCJD, and recent studies have revealed that somatic mutations accumulate in neurons during aging. To investigate the hypothesis that somatic mutations in PRNP may underlie sCJD, we performed deep DNA sequencing of PRNP in 205 sCJD cases and 170 age-matched non-disease controls. We included 5 cases of Heidenhain variant sporadic CJD (H-sCJD), where visual symptomatology and neuropathology implicate focal initiation of prion formation, and examined multiple regions across the brain including in the affected occipital cortex. We employed Multiple Independent Primer PCR Sequencing (MIPP-Seq) with a median depth of >5,000X across the PRNP coding region and analyzed for variants using MosaicHunter. An allele mixing experiment showed positive detection of variants in bulk DNA at a variant allele fraction (VAF) as low as 0.2%. We observed multiple polymorphic germline variants among individuals in our cohort. However, we did not identify bona fide somatic variants in sCJD, including across multiple affected regions in H-sCJD, nor in control individuals. Beyond our stringent variant-identification pipeline, we also analyzed VAFs from raw sequencing data, and observed no evidence of prion disease enrichment for the known germline pathogenic variants P102L, D178N, and E200K. The lack of PRNP pathogenic somatic mutations in H-sCJD or the broader cohort of sCJD suggests that clonal somatic mutations may not play a major role in sporadic prion disease. With H-sCJD representing a focal presentation of neurodegeneration, this serves as a test of the potential role of clonal somatic mutations in genes known to cause familial neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gannon A. McDonough
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuchen Cheng
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine Morillo
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan N. Doan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Connor J. Kenny
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aaron Foutz
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Chae Kim
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mark L. Cohen
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Brian S. Appleby
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Christopher A. Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiri G. Safar
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - August Yue Huang
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael B. Miller
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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5
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Litberg TJ, Horowitz S. Roles of Nucleic Acids in Protein Folding, Aggregation, and Disease. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:809-823. [PMID: 38477936 PMCID: PMC11149768 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00695] [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] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The role of nucleic acids in protein folding and aggregation is an area of continued research, with relevance to understanding both basic biological processes and disease. In this review, we provide an overview of the trajectory of research on both nucleic acids as chaperones and their roles in several protein misfolding diseases. We highlight key questions that remain on the biophysical and biochemical specifics of how nucleic acids have large effects on multiple proteins' folding and aggregation behavior and how this pertains to multiple protein misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore J. Litberg
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Scott Horowitz
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and The Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80208, USA
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6
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Eraña H, Sampedro-Torres-Quevedo C, Charco JM, Díaz-Domínguez CM, Peccati F, San-Juan-Ansoleaga M, Vidal E, Gonçalves-Anjo N, Pérez-Castro MA, González-Miranda E, Piñeiro P, Fernández-Veiga L, Galarza-Ahumada J, Fernández-Muñoz E, Perez de Nanclares G, Telling G, Geijo M, Jiménez-Osés G, Castilla J. A Protein Misfolding Shaking Amplification-based method for the spontaneous generation of hundreds of bona fide prions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2112. [PMID: 38459071 PMCID: PMC10923866 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46360-2] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disorders caused by the misfolding of the endogenous prion protein (PrPC) into a pathogenic form (PrPSc). This process, despite being the central event underlying these disorders, remains largely unknown at a molecular level, precluding the prediction of new potential outbreaks or interspecies transmission incidents. In this work, we present a method to generate bona fide recombinant prions de novo, allowing a comprehensive analysis of protein misfolding across a wide range of prion proteins from mammalian species. We study more than 380 different prion proteins from mammals and classify them according to their spontaneous misfolding propensity and their conformational variability. This study aims to address fundamental questions in the prion research field such as defining infectivity determinants, interspecies transmission barriers or the structural influence of specific amino acids and provide invaluable information for future diagnosis and therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasier Eraña
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
- ATLAS Molecular Pharma S. L, Derio, Spain
| | | | - Jorge M Charco
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
- ATLAS Molecular Pharma S. L, Derio, Spain
| | - Carlos M Díaz-Domínguez
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesca Peccati
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Maitena San-Juan-Ansoleaga
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Enric Vidal
- IRTA. Programa de Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA). Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
- Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA). Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Nuno Gonçalves-Anjo
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Miguel A Pérez-Castro
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Ezequiel González-Miranda
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Patricia Piñeiro
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Leire Fernández-Veiga
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Josu Galarza-Ahumada
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Eva Fernández-Muñoz
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Guiomar Perez de Nanclares
- Molecular (Epi)Genetics Laboratory, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Araba University Hospital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Glenn Telling
- Prion Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Mariví Geijo
- Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development. Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Gonzalo Jiménez-Osés
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Joaquín Castilla
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
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7
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Bartz JC, Benavente R, Caughey B, Christensen S, Herbst A, Hoover EA, Mathiason CK, McKenzie D, Morales R, Schwabenlander MD, Walsh DP. Chronic Wasting Disease: State of the Science. Pathogens 2024; 13:138. [PMID: 38392876 PMCID: PMC10892334 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease affecting cervid species, both free-ranging and captive populations. As the geographic range continues to expand and disease prevalence continues to increase, CWD will have an impact on cervid populations, local economies, and ecosystem health. Mitigation of this "wicked" disease will require input from many different stakeholders including hunters, landowners, research biologists, wildlife managers, and others, working together. The NC1209 (North American interdisciplinary chronic wasting disease research consortium) is composed of scientists from different disciplines involved with investigating and managing CWD. Leveraging this broad breadth of expertise, the Consortium has created a state-of-the-science review of five key aspects of CWD, including current diagnostic capabilities for detecting prions, requirements for validating these diagnostics, the role of environmental transmission in CWD dynamics, and potential zoonotic risks associated with CWD. The goal of this review is to increase stakeholders', managers', and decision-makers' understanding of this disease informed by current scientific knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C. Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA;
| | - Rebeca Benavente
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (R.B.); (R.M.)
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA;
| | - Sonja Christensen
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - Allen Herbst
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI 53711, USA;
| | - Edward A. Hoover
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (E.A.H.); (C.K.M.)
| | - Candace K. Mathiason
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; (E.A.H.); (C.K.M.)
| | - Debbie McKenzie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M9, Canada;
| | - Rodrigo Morales
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (R.B.); (R.M.)
- Centro Integrativo de Biologia y Quimica Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago 8370993, Chile
| | - Marc D. Schwabenlander
- Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA;
| | - Daniel P. Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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8
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Bocharova O, Makarava N, Pandit NP, Molesworth K, Baskakov IV. Multiple steps of prion strain adaptation to a new host. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1329010. [PMID: 38362022 PMCID: PMC10867973 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1329010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The transmission of prions across species is a critical aspect of their dissemination among mammalian hosts, including humans. This process often necessitates strain adaptation. In this study, we sought to investigate the mechanisms underlying prion adaptation while mitigating biases associated with the history of cross-species transmission of natural prion strains. To achieve this, we utilized the synthetic hamster prion strain S05. Propagation of S05 using mouse PrPC in Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification did not immediately overcome the species barrier. This finding underscores the involvement of factors beyond disparities in primary protein structures. Subsequently, we performed five serial passages to stabilize the incubation time to disease in mice. The levels of PrPSc increased with each passage, reaching a maximum at the third passage, and declining thereafter. This suggests that only the initial stage of adaptation is primarily driven by an acceleration in PrPSc replication. During the protracted adaptation to a new host, we observed significant alterations in the glycoform ratio and sialylation status of PrPSc N-glycans. These changes support the notion that qualitative modifications in PrPSc contribute to a more rapid disease progression. Furthermore, consistent with the decline in sialylation, a cue for "eat me" signaling, the newly adapted strain exhibited preferential colocalization with microglia. In contrast to PrPSc dynamics, the intensity of microglia activation continued to increase after the third passage in the new host. In summary, our study elucidates that the adaptation of a prion strain to a new host is a multi-step process driven by several factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Bocharova
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Narayan P. Pandit
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kara Molesworth
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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9
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Simmons SM, Bartz JC. Strain-Specific Targeting and Destruction of Cells by Prions. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:57. [PMID: 38275733 PMCID: PMC10813089 DOI: 10.3390/biology13010057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Prion diseases are caused by the disease-specific self-templating infectious conformation of the host-encoded prion protein, PrPSc. Prion strains are operationally defined as a heritable phenotype of disease under controlled conditions. One of the hallmark phenotypes of prion strain diversity is tropism within and between tissues. A defining feature of prion strains is the regional distribution of PrPSc in the CNS. Additionally, in both natural and experimental prion disease, stark differences in the tropism of prions in secondary lymphoreticular system tissues occur. The mechanism underlying prion tropism is unknown; however, several possible hypotheses have been proposed. Clinical target areas are prion strain-specific populations of neurons within the CNS that are susceptible to neurodegeneration following the replication of prions past a toxic threshold. Alternatively, the switch from a replicative to toxic form of PrPSc may drive prion tropism. The normal form of the prion protein, PrPC, is required for prion formation. More recent evidence suggests that it can mediate prion and prion-like disease neurodegeneration. In vitro systems for prion formation have indicated that cellular cofactors contribute to prion formation. Since these cofactors can be strain specific, this has led to the hypothesis that the distribution of prion formation cofactors can influence prion tropism. Overall, there is evidence to support several mechanisms of prion strain tropism; however, a unified theory has yet to emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason C. Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA;
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10
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Soto P, Thalhuber DT, Luceri F, Janos J, Borgman MR, Greenwood NM, Acosta S, Stoffel H. Protein-lipid interactions and protein anchoring modulate the modes of association of the globular domain of the Prion protein and Doppel protein to model membrane patches. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2024; 3:1321287. [PMID: 38250434 PMCID: PMC10796588 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2023.1321287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Prion protein is the molecular hallmark of the incurable prion diseases affecting mammals, including humans. The protein-only hypothesis states that the misfolding, accumulation, and deposition of the Prion protein play a critical role in toxicity. The cellular Prion protein (PrPC) anchors to the extracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane and prefers cholesterol- and sphingomyelin-rich membrane domains. Conformational Prion protein conversion into the pathological isoform happens on the cell surface. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that Prion protein misfolding, aggregation, and toxicity are sensitive to the lipid composition of plasma membranes and vesicles. A picture of the underlying biophysical driving forces that explain the effect of Prion protein - lipid interactions in physiological conditions is needed to develop a structural model of Prion protein conformational conversion. To this end, we use molecular dynamics simulations that mimic the interactions between the globular domain of PrPC anchored to model membrane patches. In addition, we also simulate the Doppel protein anchored to such membrane patches. The Doppel protein is the closest in the phylogenetic tree to PrPC, localizes in an extracellular milieu similar to that of PrPC, and exhibits a similar topology to PrPC even if the amino acid sequence is only 25% identical. Our simulations show that specific protein-lipid interactions and conformational constraints imposed by GPI anchoring together favor specific binding sites in globular PrPC but not in Doppel. Interestingly, the binding sites we found in PrPC correspond to prion protein loops, which are critical in aggregation and prion disease transmission barrier (β2-α2 loop) and in initial spontaneous misfolding (α2-α3 loop). We also found that the membrane re-arranges locally to accommodate protein residues inserted in the membrane surface as a response to protein binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Soto
- Department of Physics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | | | - Frank Luceri
- Omaha Central High School, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Jamie Janos
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Mason R. Borgman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Noah M. Greenwood
- Department of Physics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Sofia Acosta
- Omaha North High School, Omaha, NE, United States
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11
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Chang SC, Hannaoui S, Arifin MI, Huang YH, Tang X, Wille H, Gilch S. Propagation of PrP Sc in mice reveals impact of aggregate composition on prion disease pathogenesis. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1162. [PMID: 37964018 PMCID: PMC10645910 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05541-3] [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: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious prions consist of PrPSc, a misfolded, aggregation-prone isoform of the host's prion protein. PrPSc assemblies encode distinct biochemical and biological properties. They harbor a specific profile of PrPSc species, from small oligomers to fibrils in different ratios, where the highest infectivity aligns with oligomeric particles. To investigate the impact of PrPSc aggregate complexity on prion propagation, biochemical properties, and disease pathogenesis, we fractionated elk prions by sedimentation velocity centrifugation, followed by sub-passages of individual fractions in cervidized mice. Upon first passage, different fractions generated PrPSc with distinct biochemical, biophysical, and neuropathological profiles. Notably, low or high molecular weight PrPSc aggregates caused different clinical signs of hyperexcitability or lethargy, respectively, which were retained over passage, whereas other properties converged. Our findings suggest that PrPSc quaternary structure determines an initial selection of a specific replication environment, resulting in transmissible features that are independent of PrPSc biochemical and biophysical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Chun Chang
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Samia Hannaoui
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Maria Immaculata Arifin
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Yuan-Hung Huang
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Xinli Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Holger Wille
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Sabine Gilch
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
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12
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Bocharova O, Makarava N, Pandit NP, Molesworth K, Baskakov IV. Multiple steps of prion strain adaptation to a new host. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563743. [PMID: 37961127 PMCID: PMC10634783 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The transmission of prions across species is a critical aspect of their dissemination among mammalian hosts, including humans. This process often necessitates strain adaptation. In this study, we sought to investigate the mechanisms underlying prion adaptation while mitigating biases associated with the history of cross-species transmission of natural prion strains. To achieve this, we utilized the synthetic hamster prion strain S05. Propagation of S05 using mouse PrPC in Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification did not immediately overcome the species barrier. This finding underscores the involvement of factors beyond disparities in primary protein structures. Subsequently, we performed five serial passages to stabilize the incubation time to disease in mice. The levels of PrPSc increased with each passage, reaching a maximum at the third passage, and declining thereafter. This suggests that only the initial stage of adaptation is primarily driven by an acceleration in PrPSc replication. During the protracted adaptation to a new host, we observed significant alterations in the glycoform ratio and sialylation status of PrPSc N-glycans. These changes support the notion that qualitative modifications in PrPSc contribute to a more rapid disease progression. Furthermore, consistent with the decline in sialylation, a cue for "eat me" signaling, the newly adapted strain exhibited preferential colocalization with microglia. In contrast to PrPSc dynamics, the intensity of microglia activation continued to increase after the third passage in the new host. In summary, our study elucidates that the adaptation of a prion strain to a new host is a multi-step process driven by several factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Bocharova
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Narayan P. Pandit
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kara Molesworth
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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13
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Eraña H, Díaz-Domínguez CM, Charco JM, Vidal E, González-Miranda E, Pérez-Castro MA, Piñeiro P, López-Moreno R, Sampedro-Torres-Quevedo C, Fernández-Veiga L, Tasis-Galarza J, Lorenzo NL, Santini-Santiago A, Lázaro M, García-Martínez S, Gonçalves-Anjo N, San-Juan-Ansoleaga M, Galarza-Ahumada J, Fernández-Muñoz E, Giler S, Valle M, Telling GC, Geijó M, Requena JR, Castilla J. Understanding the key features of the spontaneous formation of bona fide prions through a novel methodology that enables their swift and consistent generation. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:145. [PMID: 37679832 PMCID: PMC10486007 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01640-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Among transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases affecting humans, sporadic forms such as sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are the vast majority. Unlike genetic or acquired forms of the disease, these idiopathic forms occur seemingly due to a random event of spontaneous misfolding of the cellular PrP (PrPC) into the pathogenic isoform (PrPSc). Currently, the molecular mechanisms that trigger and drive this event, which occurs in approximately one individual per million each year, remain completely unknown. Modelling this phenomenon in experimental settings is highly challenging due to its sporadic and rare occurrence. Previous attempts to model spontaneous prion misfolding in vitro have not been fully successful, as the spontaneous formation of prions is infrequent and stochastic, hindering the systematic study of the phenomenon. In this study, we present the first method that consistently induces spontaneous misfolding of recombinant PrP into bona fide prions within hours, providing unprecedented possibilities to investigate the mechanisms underlying sporadic prionopathies. By fine-tuning the Protein Misfolding Shaking Amplification method, which was initially developed to propagate recombinant prions, we have created a methodology that consistently produces spontaneously misfolded recombinant prions in 100% of the cases. Furthermore, this method gives rise to distinct strains and reveals the critical influence of charged surfaces in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasier Eraña
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
- ATLAS Molecular Pharma S. L. Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos M Díaz-Domínguez
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge M Charco
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
- ATLAS Molecular Pharma S. L. Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enric Vidal
- IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ezequiel González-Miranda
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Miguel A Pérez-Castro
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Patricia Piñeiro
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Rafael López-Moreno
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Cristina Sampedro-Torres-Quevedo
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Leire Fernández-Veiga
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Juan Tasis-Galarza
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Nuria L Lorenzo
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Aileen Santini-Santiago
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Melisa Lázaro
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Sandra García-Martínez
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Nuno Gonçalves-Anjo
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Maitena San-Juan-Ansoleaga
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Josu Galarza-Ahumada
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Eva Fernández-Muñoz
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Samanta Giler
- IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mikel Valle
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Glenn C Telling
- Prion Research Center (PRC), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Mariví Geijó
- Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Spain
| | - Jesús R Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Joaquín Castilla
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, 48160, Derio, Bizkaia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011, Bilbao, Spain.
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14
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Aguilar-Calvo P, Malik A, Sandoval DR, Barback C, Orrù CD, Standke HG, Thomas OR, Dwyer CA, Pizzo DP, Bapat J, Soldau K, Ogawa R, Riley MB, Nilsson KPR, Kraus A, Caughey B, Iliff JJ, Vera DR, Esko JD, Sigurdson CJ. Neuronal Ndst1 depletion accelerates prion protein clearance and slows neurodegeneration in prion infection. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011487. [PMID: 37747931 PMCID: PMC10586673 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Select prion diseases are characterized by widespread cerebral plaque-like deposits of amyloid fibrils enriched in heparan sulfate (HS), a abundant extracellular matrix component. HS facilitates fibril formation in vitro, yet how HS impacts fibrillar plaque growth within the brain is unclear. Here we found that prion-bound HS chains are highly sulfated, and that the sulfation is essential for accelerating prion conversion in vitro. Using conditional knockout mice to deplete the HS sulfation enzyme, Ndst1 (N-deacetylase / N-sulfotransferase) from neurons or astrocytes, we investigated how reducing HS sulfation impacts survival and prion aggregate distribution during a prion infection. Neuronal Ndst1-depleted mice survived longer and showed fewer and smaller parenchymal plaques, shorter fibrils, and increased vascular amyloid, consistent with enhanced aggregate transit toward perivascular drainage channels. The prolonged survival was strain-dependent, affecting mice infected with extracellular, plaque-forming, but not membrane bound, prions. Live PET imaging revealed rapid clearance of recombinant prion protein monomers into the CSF of neuronal Ndst1- deficient mice, neuronal, further suggesting that HS sulfate groups hinder transit of extracellular prion protein monomers. Our results directly show how a host cofactor slows the spread of prion protein through the extracellular space and identify an enzyme to target to facilitate aggregate clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adela Malik
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel R. Sandoval
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Christopher Barback
- Department of Radiology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Christina D. Orrù
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Heidi G. Standke
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Olivia R. Thomas
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Chrissa A. Dwyer
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Donald P. Pizzo
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jaidev Bapat
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Katrin Soldau
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Ryotaro Ogawa
- Department of Radiology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Mckenzie B. Riley
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - K. Peter R. Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Allison Kraus
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey J. Iliff
- VISN 20 NW Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - David R. Vera
- Department of Radiology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey D. Esko
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Christina J. Sigurdson
- Department of Pathology, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, UC Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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15
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Schwind AM, Walsh DJ, Burke CM, Supattapone S. Phospholipid cofactor solubilization inhibits formation of native prions. J Neurochem 2023; 166:875-884. [PMID: 37551010 PMCID: PMC10528465 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15930] [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: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Cofactor molecules are required to generate infectious mammalian prions in vitro. Mouse and hamster prions appear to have different cofactor preferences: Whereas both mouse and hamster prions can use phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as a prion cofactor, only hamster prions can also use single-stranded RNA as an alternative cofactor. Here, we investigated the effect of detergent solubilization on rodent prion formation in vitro. We discovered that detergents that can solubilize PE (n-octylglucoside, n-octylgalactoside, and CHAPS) inhibit mouse prion formation in serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) reactions using bank vole brain homogenate substrate, whereas detergents that are unable to solubilize PE (Triton X-100 and IPEGAL) have no effect. For all three PE-solubilizing detergents, inhibition of RML mouse prion formation was only observed above the critical micellar concentration (CMC). Two other mouse prion strains, Me7 and 301C, were also inhibited by the three PE-solubilizing detergents but not by Triton X-100 or IPEGAL. In contrast, none of the detergents inhibited hamster prion formation in parallel sPMCA reactions using the same bank vole brain homogenate substrate. In reconstituted sPMCA reactions using purified substrates, n-octylglucoside inhibited hamster prion formation when immunopurified bank vole PrPC substrate was supplemented with brain phospholipid but not with RNA. Interestingly, phospholipid cofactor solubilization had no effect in sPMCA reactions using bacterially expressed recombinant PrP substrate, indicating that the inhibitory effect of solubilization requires PrPC post-translational modifications. Overall, these in vitro results show that the ability of PE to facilitate the formation of native but not recombinant prions requires phospholipid bilayer integrity, suggesting that membrane structure may play an important role in prion formation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail M. Schwind
- Department of Biochemistry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
| | - Daniel J. Walsh
- Department of Biochemistry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
| | - Cassandra M. Burke
- Department of Biochemistry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
| | - Surachai Supattapone
- Department of Biochemistry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
- Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
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16
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Gunnels T, Shikiya RA, York TC, Block AJ, Bartz JC. Evidence for preexisting prion substrain diversity in a biologically cloned prion strain. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011632. [PMID: 37669293 PMCID: PMC10503715 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of inevitably fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting numerous mammalian species, including Sapiens. Prions are composed of PrPSc, the disease specific conformation of the host encoded prion protein. Prion strains are operationally defined as a heritable phenotype of disease under controlled transmission conditions. Treatment of rodents with anti-prion drugs results in the emergence of drug-resistant prion strains and suggest that prion strains are comprised of a dominant strain and substrains. While much experimental evidence is consistent with this hypothesis, direct observation of substrains has not been observed. Here we show that replication of the dominant strain is required for suppression of a substrain. Based on this observation we reasoned that selective reduction of the dominant strain may allow for emergence of substrains. Using a combination of biochemical methods to selectively reduce drowsy (DY) PrPSc from biologically-cloned DY transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME)-infected brain resulted in the emergence of strains with different properties than DY TME. The selection methods did not occur during prion formation, suggesting the substrains identified preexisted in the DY TME-infected brain. We show that DY TME is biologically stable, even under conditions of serial passage at high titer that can lead to strain breakdown. Substrains therefore can exist under conditions where the dominant strain does not allow for substrain emergence suggesting that substrains are a common feature of prions. This observation has mechanistic implications for prion strain evolution, drug resistance and interspecies transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess Gunnels
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Ronald A. Shikiya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Taylor C. York
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Alyssa J. Block
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Jason C. Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
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17
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Olech M. Conventional and State-of-the-Art Detection Methods of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087135. [PMID: 37108297 PMCID: PMC10139118 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087135] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that belongs to a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). It is believed that the infectious agent responsible for prion diseases is abnormally folded prion protein (PrPSc), which derives from a normal cellular protein (PrPC), which is a cell surface glycoprotein predominantly expressed in neurons. There are three different types of BSE, the classical BSE (C-type) strain and two atypical strains (H-type and L-type). BSE is primarily a disease of cattle; however, sheep and goats also can be infected with BSE strains and develop a disease clinically and pathogenically indistinguishable from scrapie. Therefore, TSE cases in cattle and small ruminants require discriminatory testing to determine whether the TSE is BSE or scrapie and to discriminate classical BSE from the atypical H- or L-type strains. Many methods have been developed for the detection of BSE and have been reported in numerous studies. Detection of BSE is mainly based on the identification of characteristic lesions or detection of the PrPSc in the brain, often by use of their partial proteinase K resistance properties. The objective of this paper was to summarize the currently available methods, highlight their diagnostic performance, and emphasize the advantages and drawbacks of the application of individual tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Olech
- Department of Pathology, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
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18
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Block AJ, Bartz JC. Prion strains: shining new light on old concepts. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 392:113-133. [PMID: 35796874 PMCID: PMC11318079 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03665-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of inevitably fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting numerous mammalian species, including humans. The existence of heritable phenotypes of disease in the natural host suggested that prions exist as distinct strains. Transmission of sheep scrapie to rodent models accelerated prion research, resulting in the isolation and characterization of numerous strains with distinct characteristics. These strains are grouped into categories based on the incubation period of disease in different strains of mice and also by how stable the strain properties were upon serial passage. These classical studies defined the host and agent parameters that affected strain properties, and, prior to the advent of the prion hypothesis, strain properties were hypothesized to be the result of mutations in a nucleic acid genome of a conventional pathogen. The development of the prion hypothesis challenged the paradigm of infectious agents, and, initially, the existence of strains was difficult to reconcile with a protein-only agent. In the decades since, much evidence has revealed how a protein-only infectious agent can perform complex biological functions. The prevailing hypothesis is that strain-specific conformations of PrPSc encode prion strain diversity. This hypothesis can provide a mechanism to explain the observed strain-specific differences in incubation period of disease, biochemical properties of PrPSc, tissue tropism, and subcellular patterns of pathology. This hypothesis also explains how prion strains mutate, evolve, and adapt to new species. These concepts are applicable to prion-like diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, where evidence of strain diversity is beginning to emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J Block
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Jason C Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA.
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19
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Kuznetsova A, McKenzie D, Ytrehus B, Utaaker KS, Aiken JM. Movement of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Prairie, Boreal and Alpine Soils. Pathogens 2023; 12:269. [PMID: 36839541 PMCID: PMC9965917 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy negatively impacting cervids on three continents. Soil can serve as a reservoir for horizontal transmission of CWD by interaction with the infectious prion protein (PrPCWD) shed by diseased individuals and from infected carcasses. We investigated the pathways for PrPCWD migration in soil profiles using lab-scale soil columns, comparing PrPCWD migration through pure soil minerals (quartz, illite and montmorillonite), and diverse soils from boreal (Luvisol, Brunisol) and prairie (Chernozem) regions. We analyzed the leachate of the soil columns by immunoblot and protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) and detected PrP in the leachates of columns composed of quartz, illite, Luvisol and Brunisol. Animal bioassay confirmed the presence of CWD infectivity in the leachates from quartz, illite and Luvisol columns. Leachates from columns with montmorillonite and prairie Chernozems did not contain PrP detectable by immunoblotting or PMCA; bioassay confirmed that the Chernozemic leachate was not infectious. Analysis of the solid phase of the columns confirmed the migration of PrP to lower layers in the illite column, while the strongest signal in the montmorillonite column remained close to the surface. Montmorillonite, the prevalent clay mineral in prairie soils, has the strongest prion binding ability; by contrast, illite, the main clay mineral in northern boreal and tundra soils, does not bind prions significantly. This suggests that in soils of North American CWD-endemic regions (Chernozems), PrPCWD would remain on the soil surface due to avid binding to montmorillonite. In boreal Luvisols and mountain Brunisols, prions that pass through the leaf litter will continue to move through the soil mineral horizon, becoming less bioavailable. In light-textured soils where quartz is a dominant mineral, the majority of the infectious prions will move through the soil profile. Local soil properties may consequently determine the efficiency of environmental transmission of CWD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alsu Kuznetsova
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G8, Canada
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Debbie McKenzie
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Bjørnar Ytrehus
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biomedicine and Veterinary Public Health Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kjersti Selstad Utaaker
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026 Bodø, Norway
| | - Judd M. Aiken
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
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20
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Alves Conceição C, Assis de Lemos G, Barros CA, Vieira TCRG. What is the role of lipids in prion conversion and disease? Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1032541. [PMID: 36704327 PMCID: PMC9871914 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1032541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular cause of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) involves the conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into its pathogenic form, called prion scrapie (PrPSc), which is prone to the formation of amorphous and amyloid aggregates found in TSE patients. Although the mechanisms of conversion of PrPC into PrPSc are not entirely understood, two key points are currently accepted: (i) PrPSc acts as a seed for the recruitment of native PrPC, inducing the latter's conversion to PrPSc; and (ii) other biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA, or lipids, can act as cofactors, mediating the conversion from PrPC to PrPSc. Interestingly, PrPC is anchored by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol molecule in the outer cell membrane. Therefore, interactions with lipid membranes or alterations in the membranes themselves have been widely investigated as possible factors for conversion. Alone or in combination with RNA molecules, lipids can induce the formation of PrP in vitro-produced aggregates capable of infecting animal models. Here, we discuss the role of lipids in prion conversion and infectivity, highlighting the structural and cytotoxic aspects of lipid-prion interactions. Strikingly, disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease also seem to be caused by changes in protein structure and share pathogenic mechanisms with TSEs. Thus, we posit that comprehending the process of PrP conversion is relevant to understanding critical events involved in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders and will contribute to developing future therapeutic strategies for these devastating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyntia Alves Conceição
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Assis de Lemos
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Caroline Augusto Barros
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tuane C. R. G. Vieira
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,*Correspondence: Tuane C. R. G. Vieira, ✉
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21
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Block AJ, York TC, Benedict R, Ma J, Bartz JC. Prion protein amino acid sequence influences formation of authentic synthetic PrP Sc. Sci Rep 2023; 13:441. [PMID: 36624174 PMCID: PMC9829857 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26300-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic prions, generated de novo from minimal, non-infectious components, cause bona fide prion disease in animals. Transmission of synthetic prions to hosts expressing syngeneic PrPC results in extended, variable incubation periods and incomplete attack rates. In contrast, murine synthetic prions (MSP) generated via PMCA with minimal cofactors readily infected mice and hamsters and rapidly adapted to both species. To investigate if hamster synthetic prions (HSP) generated under the same conditions as the MSP are also highly infectious, we inoculated hamsters with HSP generated with either hamster wild type or mutant (ΔG54, ΔG54/M139I, M139I/I205M) recombinant PrP. None of the inoculated hamsters developed clinical signs of prion disease, however, brain homogenate from HSPWT- and HSPΔG54-infected hamsters contained PrPSc, indicating subclinical infection. Serial passage in hamsters resulted in clinical disease at second passage accompanied by changes in incubation period and PrPSc conformational stability between second and third passage. These data suggest the HSP, in contrast to the MSP, are not comprised of PrPSc, and instead generate authentic PrPSc via deformed templating. Differences in infectivity between the MSP and HSP suggest that, under similar generation conditions, the amino acid sequence of PrP influences generation of authentic PrPSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J. Block
- grid.254748.80000 0004 1936 8876Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178 USA
| | - Taylor C. York
- grid.254748.80000 0004 1936 8876Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178 USA
| | - Romilly Benedict
- grid.17088.360000 0001 2150 1785Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI USA
| | - Jiyan Ma
- grid.251017.00000 0004 0406 2057Van Andel Institute, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Grand Rapids, MI USA
| | - Jason C. Bartz
- grid.254748.80000 0004 1936 8876Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178 USA
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22
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Walsh DJ, Schwind AM, Noble GP, Supattapone S. Conformational diversity in purified prions produced in vitro. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011083. [PMID: 36626391 PMCID: PMC9870145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are caused by misfolding of either wild-type or mutant forms of the prion protein (PrP) into self-propagating, pathogenic conformers, collectively termed PrPSc. Both wild-type and mutant PrPSc molecules exhibit conformational diversity in vivo, but purified prions generated by the serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) technique do not display this same diversity in vitro. This discrepancy has left a gap in our understanding of how conformational diversity arises at the molecular level in both types of prions. Here, we use continuous shaking instead of sPMCA to generate conformationally diverse purified prions in vitro. Using this approach, we show for the first time that wild type prions initially seeded by different native strains can propagate as metastable PrPSc conformers with distinguishable strain properties in purified reactions containing a single active cofactor. Propagation of these metastable PrPSc conformers requires appropriate shaking conditions, and changes in these conditions cause all the different PrPSc conformers to converge irreversibly into the same single conformer as that produced in sPMCA reactions. We also use continuous shaking to show that two mutant PrP molecules with different pathogenic point mutations (D177N and E199K) adopt distinguishable PrPSc conformations in reactions containing pure protein substrate without cofactors. Unlike wild-type prions, the conformations of mutant prions appear to be dictated by substrate sequence rather than seed conformation. Overall, our studies using purified substrates in shaking reactions show that wild-type and mutant prions use fundamentally different mechanisms to generate conformational diversity at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Walsh
- Department of Biochemistry Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Abigail M. Schwind
- Department of Biochemistry Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Geoffrey P. Noble
- Department of Biochemistry Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Surachai Supattapone
- Department of Biochemistry Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
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23
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Essential Components of Synthetic Infectious Prion Formation De Novo. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12111694. [DOI: 10.3390/biom12111694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a class of neurodegenerative diseases that are uniquely infectious. Whilst their general replication mechanism is well understood, the components required for the formation and propagation of highly infectious prions are poorly characterized. The protein-only hypothesis posits that the prion protein (PrP) is the only component of the prion; however, additional co-factors are required for its assembly into infectious prions. These can be provided by brain homogenate, but synthetic lipids and non-coding RNA have also been used in vitro. Here, we review a range of experimental approaches, which generate PrP amyloid assemblies de novo. These synthetic PrP assemblies share some, but not necessarily all, properties of genuine infectious prions. We will discuss the different experimental approaches, how a prion is defined, the non-protein requirements of a prion, and provide an overview of the current state of prion amplification and generation in vitro.
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24
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Lubecka EA, Hansmann UHE. Early Stages of RNA-Mediated Conversion of Human Prions. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:6221-6230. [PMID: 35973105 PMCID: PMC9420815 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c04614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are characterized by the conversion of prion proteins from a PrPC fold into a disease-causing PrPSC form that is self-replicating. A possible agent to trigger this conversion is polyadenosine RNA, but both mechanism and pathways of the conversion are poorly understood. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations we study the time evolution of PrPC over 600 μs. We find that both the D178N mutation and interacting with polyadenosine RNA reduce the helicity of the protein and encourage formation of segments with strand-like motifs. We conjecture that these transient β-strands nucleate the conversion of the protein to the scrapie conformation PrPSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia A Lubecka
- Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, Gdansk University of Technology, G. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Ulrich H E Hansmann
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019,United States
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25
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Forloni G, La Vitola P, Balducci C. Oligomeropathies, inflammation and prion protein binding. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:822420. [PMID: 36081661 PMCID: PMC9445368 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.822420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The central role of oligomers, small soluble aggregates of misfolded proteins, in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders is recognized in numerous experimental conditions and is compatible with clinical evidence. To underline this concept, some years ago we coined the term oligomeropathies to define the common mechanism of action of protein misfolding diseases like Alzheimer, Parkinson or prion diseases. Using simple experimental conditions, with direct application of synthetic β amyloid or α-synuclein oligomers intraventricularly at micromolar concentrations, we could detect differences and similarities in the biological consequences. The two oligomer species affected cognitive behavior, neuronal dysfunction and cerebral inflammatory reactions with distinct mechanisms. In these experimental conditions the proposed mediatory role of cellular prion protein in oligomer activities was not confirmed. Together with oligomers, inflammation at different levels can be important early in neurodegenerative disorders; both β amyloid and α-synuclein oligomers induce inflammation and its control strongly affects neuronal dysfunction. This review summarizes our studies with β-amyloid or α-synuclein oligomers, also considering the potential curative role of doxycycline, a well-known antibiotic with anti-amyloidogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. These actions are analyzed in terms of the therapeutic prospects.
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26
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Artikis E, Kraus A, Caughey B. Structural biology of ex vivo mammalian prions. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102181. [PMID: 35752366 PMCID: PMC9293645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The structures of prion protein (PrP)-based mammalian prions have long been elusive. However, cryo-EM has begun to reveal the near-atomic resolution structures of fully infectious ex vivo mammalian prion fibrils as well as relatively innocuous synthetic PrP amyloids. Comparisons of these various types of PrP fibrils are now providing initial clues to structural features that correlate with pathogenicity. As first indicated by electron paramagnetic resonance and solid-state NMR studies of synthetic amyloids, all sufficiently resolved PrP fibrils of any sort (n > 10) have parallel in-register intermolecular β-stack architectures. Cryo-EM has shown that infectious brain-derived prion fibrils of the rodent-adapted 263K and RML scrapie strains have much larger ordered cores than the synthetic fibrils. These bona fide prion strains share major structural motifs, but the conformational details and the overall shape of the fibril cross sections differ markedly. Such motif variations, as well as differences in sequence within the ordered polypeptide cores, likely contribute to strain-dependent templating. When present, N-linked glycans and glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors project outward from the fibril surface. For the mouse RML strain, these posttranslational modifications have little effect on the core structure. In the GPI-anchored prion structures, a linear array of GPI anchors along the twisting fibril axis appears likely to bind membranes in vivo, and as such, may account for pathognomonic membrane distortions seen in prion diseases. In this review, we focus on these infectious prion structures and their implications regarding prion replication mechanisms, strains, transmission barriers, and molecular pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efrosini Artikis
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Allison Kraus
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA.
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27
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Zwierzchowski-Zarate AN, Mendoza-Oliva A, Kashmer OM, Collazo-Lopez JE, White CL, Diamond MI. RNA induces unique tau strains and stabilizes Alzheimer's disease seeds. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102132. [PMID: 35700826 PMCID: PMC9364032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau aggregation underlies neurodegenerative tauopathies, and trans-cellular propagation of tau assemblies of unique structure, i.e. strains, may underlie the diversity of these disorders. Polyanions have been reported to induce tau aggregation in vitro, but the precise trigger to convert tau from an inert to a seed-competent form in disease states is unknown. RNA triggers tau fibril formation in vitro and has been observed to associate with neurofibrillary tangles in human brain. Here we have tested whether RNA exerts sequence-specific effects on tau assembly and strain formation. We found that three RNA homopolymers, polyA, polyU, and polyC, all bound tau, but only polyA RNA triggered seed and fibril formation. In addition, polyA:tau seeds and fibrils were sensitive to RNase. We also observed that the origin of the RNA influenced the ability of tau to adopt a structure that would form stable strains. Human RNA potently induced tau seed formation and created tau conformations that preferentially formed stable strains in a HEK293T cell model, whereas RNA from other sources, or heparin, produced strains that were not stably maintained in cultured cells. Finally, we found that soluble, but not insoluble seeds from Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain were also sensitive to RNase. We conclude that human RNA specifically induces formation of stable tau strains, and may trigger the formation of dominant pathological assemblies that propagate in AD, and possibly other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy N Zwierzchowski-Zarate
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Aydé Mendoza-Oliva
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Josue E Collazo-Lopez
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Charles L White
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA.
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28
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The Association of Lipids with Amyloid Fibrils. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102108. [PMID: 35688209 PMCID: PMC9293637 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid formation continues to be a widely studied area because of its association with numerous diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Despite a large body of work on protein aggregation and fibril formation, there are still significant gaps in our understanding of the factors that differentiate toxic amyloid formation in vivo from alternative misfolding pathways. In addition to proteins, amyloid fibrils are often associated in their cellular context with several types of molecule, including carbohydrates, polyanions, and lipids. This review focuses in particular on evidence for the presence of lipids in amyloid fibrils and the routes by which those lipids may become incorporated. Chemical analyses of fibril composition, combined with studies to probe the lipid distribution around fibrils, provide evidence that in some cases, lipids have a strong association with fibrils. In addition, amyloid fibrils formed in the presence of lipids have distinct morphologies and material properties. It is argued that lipids are an integral part of many amyloid deposits in vivo, where their presence has the potential to influence the nucleation, morphology, and mechanical properties of fibrils. The role of lipids in these structures is therefore worthy of further study.
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29
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Koshy SM, Kincaid AE, Bartz JC. Transport of Prions in the Peripheral Nervous System: Pathways, Cell Types, and Mechanisms. Viruses 2022; 14:630. [PMID: 35337037 PMCID: PMC8954800 DOI: 10.3390/v14030630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are transmissible protein misfolding disorders that occur in animals and humans where the endogenous prion protein, PrPC, undergoes a conformational change into self-templating aggregates termed PrPSc. Formation of PrPSc in the central nervous system (CNS) leads to gliosis, spongiosis, and cellular dysfunction that ultimately results in the death of the host. The spread of prions from peripheral inoculation sites to CNS structures occurs through neuroanatomical networks. While it has been established that endogenous PrPC is necessary for prion formation, and that the rate of prion spread is consistent with slow axonal transport, the mechanistic details of PrPSc transport remain elusive. Current research endeavors are primarily focused on the cellular mechanisms of prion transport associated with axons. This includes elucidating specific cell types involved, subcellular machinery, and potential cofactors present during this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam M. Koshy
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA;
| | - Anthony E. Kincaid
- Department of Pharmacy Science, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA;
| | - Jason C. Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA;
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30
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P B Gomes M, de Lima EV, G Q Barros-Aragão F, Passos YM, Lemos FS, Zamberlan DC, Ribeiro G, Macedo B, C Ferreira N, Silva JL, Figueiredo CP, Clarke JR, Cordeiro Y. Prion protein complexed to a DNA aptamer induce behavioral and synapse dysfunction in mice. Behav Brain Res 2022; 419:113680. [PMID: 34822947 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into the scrapie form (PrPSc) is the leading step to the development of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), still incurable neurodegenerative disorders. Interaction of PrPC with cellular and synthetic ligands that induce formation of scrapie-like conformations has been deeply investigated in vitro. Different nucleic acid (NA) sequences bind PrP and convert it to β-sheet-rich or unfolded species; among such NAs, a 21-mer double-stranded DNA, D67, was shown to induce formation of PrP aggregates that were cytotoxic. However, in vivo effects of these PrP-DNA complexes were not explored. Herein, aggregates of recombinant full-length PrP (rPrP23-231) induced by interaction with the D67 aptamer were inoculated into the lateral ventricle of Swiss mice and acute effects were investigated. The aggregates had no influence on emotional, locomotor and motor behavior of mice. In contrast, mice developed cognitive impairment and hippocampal synapse loss, which was accompanied by intense activation of glial cells in this brain region. Our results suggest that the i.c.v. injection of rPrP:D67 aggregates is an interesting model to study the neurotoxicity of aggregated PrP in vivo, and that glial cell activation may be an important step for behavioral and cognitive dysfunction in prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana P B Gomes
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil; Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos, Bio-Manguinhos, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Emanuelle V de Lima
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Fernanda G Q Barros-Aragão
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil; Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Yulli M Passos
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Felipe S Lemos
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil; Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Daniele C Zamberlan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Ribeiro
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Bruno Macedo
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Natalia C Ferreira
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil; IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jerson L Silva
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo De Meis, National Institute of Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | | | - Julia R Clarke
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Yraima Cordeiro
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
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31
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do Amaral MJ, Freire MHO, Almeida MS, Pinheiro AS, Cordeiro Y. Phase separation of the mammalian prion protein: physiological and pathological perspectives. J Neurochem 2022. [PMID: 35149997 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15586] [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: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal phase transitions have been implicated in the occurrence of proteinopathies. Disordered proteins with nucleic acid binding ability drive the formation of reversible micron-sized condensates capable of controlling nucleic acid processing/transport. This mechanism, achieved via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), underlies the formation of long-studied membraneless organelles (e.g., nucleolus) and various transient condensates formed by driver proteins. The prion protein (PrP) is not a classical nucleic acid-binding protein. However, it binds nucleic acids with high affinity, undergoes nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, contains a long intrinsically disordered region rich in glycines and evenly spaced aromatic residues, among other biochemical/biophysical properties of bona fide drivers of phase transitions. Because of this, our group and others have characterized LLPS of recombinant PrP. In vitro phase separation of PrP is modulated by nucleic acid aptamers, and, depending on the aptamer conformation, the liquid droplets evolve to solid-like species. Herein we discuss recent studies and previous evidence supporting PrP phase transitions. We focus on the central role of LLPS related to PrP physiology and pathology, with a special emphasis on the interaction of PrP with different ligands, such as proteins and nucleic acids, which can play a role in prion disease pathogenesis. Finally, we comment on therapeutic strategies directed at the nonfunctional phase separation that could potentially tackle prion diseases or other protein misfolding disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana J do Amaral
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | - Anderson S Pinheiro
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Yraima Cordeiro
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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32
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Kim C, Haldiman T, Kang SG, Hromadkova L, Han ZZ, Chen W, Lissemore F, Lerner A, de Silva R, Cohen ML, Westaway D, Safar JG. Distinct populations of highly potent TAU seed conformers in rapidly progressing Alzheimer's disease. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabg0253. [PMID: 34985969 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abg0253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Chae Kim
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Tracy Haldiman
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Sang-Gyun Kang
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Lenka Hromadkova
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Zhuang Zhuang Han
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Frances Lissemore
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Alan Lerner
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Rohan de Silva
- Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies and Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Mark L Cohen
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - David Westaway
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Jiri G Safar
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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33
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Prion Protein Biology Through the Lens of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation. J Mol Biol 2021; 434:167368. [PMID: 34808226 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Conformational conversion of the α-helix-rich cellular prion protein into the misfolded, β-rich, aggregated, scrapie form underlies the molecular basis of prion diseases that represent a class of invariably fatal, untreatable, and transmissible neurodegenerative diseases. However, despite the extensive and rigorous research, there is a significant gap in the understanding of molecular mechanisms that contribute to prion pathogenesis. In this review, we describe the historical perspective of the development of the prion concept and the current state of knowledge of prion biology including structural, molecular, and cellular aspects of the prion protein. We then summarize the putative functional role of the N-terminal intrinsically disordered segment of the prion protein. We next describe the ongoing efforts in elucidating the prion phase behavior and the emerging role of liquid-liquid phase separation that can have potential functional relevance and can offer an alternate non-canonical pathway involving conformational conversion into a disease-associated form. We also attempt to shed light on the evolutionary perspective of the prion protein highlighting the potential role of intrinsic disorder in prion protein biology and summarize a few important questions associated with the phase transitions of the prion protein. Delving deeper into these key aspects can pave the way for a detailed understanding of the critical molecular determinants of the prion phase transition and its relevance to physiology and neurodegenerative diseases.
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34
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Agarwal A, Rai SK, Avni A, Mukhopadhyay S. An intrinsically disordered pathological prion variant Y145Stop converts into self-seeding amyloids via liquid-liquid phase separation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2100968118. [PMID: 34737230 PMCID: PMC8609423 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2100968118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation via liquid-liquid phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins/regions (IDPs/IDRs) along with other biomolecules is proposed to control critical cellular functions, whereas aberrant phase transitions are associated with a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we show that a disease-associated stop codon mutation of the prion protein (PrP) at tyrosine 145 (Y145Stop), resulting in a truncated, highly disordered, N-terminal IDR, spontaneously phase-separates into dynamic liquid-like droplets. Phase separation of this highly positively charged N-terminal segment is promoted by the electrostatic screening and a multitude of weak, transient, multivalent, intermolecular interactions. Single-droplet Raman measurements, in conjunction with an array of bioinformatic, spectroscopic, microscopic, and mutagenesis studies, revealed a highly mobile internal organization within the liquid-like condensates. The phase behavior of Y145Stop is modulated by RNA. Lower RNA:protein ratios promote condensation at a low micromolar protein concentration under physiological conditions. At higher concentrations of RNA, phase separation is abolished. Upon aging, these highly dynamic liquid-like droplets gradually transform into ordered, β-rich, amyloid-like aggregates. These aggregates formed via phase transitions display an autocatalytic self-templating characteristic involving the recruitment and binding-induced conformational conversion of monomeric Y145Stop into amyloid fibrils. In contrast to this intrinsically disordered truncated variant, the wild-type full-length PrP exhibits a much lower propensity for both condensation and maturation into amyloids, hinting at a possible protective role of the C-terminal domain. Such an interplay of molecular factors in modulating the protein phase behavior might have much broader implications in cell physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Agarwal
- Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali 140306 Punjab, India
| | - Sandeep K Rai
- Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali 140306 Punjab, India
| | - Anamika Avni
- Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali 140306 Punjab, India
| | - Samrat Mukhopadhyay
- Centre for Protein Science, Design and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Punjab 140306, India;
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali 140306 Punjab, India
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali 140306 Punjab, India
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35
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Mice Treated Subcutaneously with Mouse LPS-Converted PrP res or LPS Alone Showed Brain Gene Expression Profiles Characteristic of Prion Disease. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8090200. [PMID: 34564594 PMCID: PMC8473295 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8090200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we showed that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) converts mouse PrPC protein to a beta-rich isoform (moPrPres) resistant to proteinase K. In this study, we aimed to test if the LPS-converted PrPres is infectious and alters the expression of genes related to prion pathology in brains of terminally sick mice. Ninety female FVB/N mice at 5 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 6 groups treated subcutaneously (sc) for 6 weeks either with: (1) Saline (CTR); (2) LPS from Escherichia coli 0111:B4 (LPS), (3) one-time sc administration of de novo generated mouse recombinant prion protein (moPrP; 29-232) rich in beta-sheet by incubation with LPS (moPrPres), (4) LPS plus one-time sc injection of moPrPres, (5) one-time sc injection of brain homogenate from Rocky Mountain Lab (RLM) scrapie strain, and (6) LPS plus one-time sc injection of RML. Results showed that all treatments altered the expression of various genes related to prion disease and neuroinflammation starting at 11 weeks post-infection and more profoundly at the terminal stage. In conclusion, sc administration of de novo generated moPrPres, LPS, and a combination of moPrPres with LPS were able to alter the expression of multiple genes typical of prion pathology and inflammation.
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36
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Serpa JJ, Popov KI, Petrotchenko EV, Dokholyan NV, Borchers CH. Structure of prion β-oligomers as determined by short-distance crosslinking constraint-guided discrete molecular dynamics simulations. Proteomics 2021; 21:e2000298. [PMID: 34482645 PMCID: PMC9285417 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202000298] [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: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The conversion of the native monomeric cellular prion protein (PrPC ) into an aggregated pathological β-oligomeric form (PrPβ ) and an infectious form (PrPSc ) is the central element in the development of prion diseases. The structure of the aggregates and the molecular mechanisms of the conformational changes involved in the conversion are still unknown. We applied mass spectrometry combined with chemical crosslinking, hydrogen/deuterium exchange, limited proteolysis, and surface modification for the differential characterization of the native and the urea+acid-converted prion β-oligomer structures to obtain insights into the mechanisms of conversion and aggregation. For the determination of the structure of the monomer and the dimer unit of the β-oligomer, we applied a recently-developed approach for de novo protein structure determination which is based on the incorporation of zero-length and short-distance crosslinking data as intra- and inter-protein constraints in discrete molecular dynamics simulations (CL-DMD). Based on all of the structural-proteomics experimental data and the computationally predicted structures of the monomer units, we propose the potential mode of assembly of the β-oligomer. The proposed β-oligomer assembly provides a clue on the β-sheet nucleation site, and how template-based conversion of the native prion molecule occurs, growth of the prion aggregates, and maturation into fibrils may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Serpa
- University of Victoria -Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Konstantin I Popov
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Evgeniy V Petrotchenko
- Segal Cancer Proteomics Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Center for Computational and Data-Intensive Science and Engineering, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christoph H Borchers
- Segal Cancer Proteomics Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Center for Computational and Data-Intensive Science and Engineering, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.,Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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37
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Intrinsic disorder and phase transitions: Pieces in the puzzling role of the prion protein in health and disease. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 183:1-43. [PMID: 34656326 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
After four decades of prion protein research, the pressing questions in the literature remain similar to the common existential dilemmas. Who am I? Some structural characteristics of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) and scrapie PrP (PrPSc) remain unknown: there are no high-resolution atomic structures for either full-length endogenous human PrPC or isolated infectious PrPSc particles. Why am I here? It is not known why PrPC and PrPSc are found in specific cellular compartments such as the nucleus; while the physiological functions of PrPC are still being uncovered, the misfolding site remains obscure. Where am I going? The subcellular distribution of PrPC and PrPSc is wide (reported in 10 different locations in the cell). This complexity is further exacerbated by the eight different PrP fragments yielded from conserved proteolytic cleavages and by reversible post-translational modifications, such as glycosylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Moreover, about 55 pathological mutations and 16 polymorphisms on the PrP gene (PRNP) have been described. Prion diseases also share unique, challenging features: strain phenomenon (associated with the heterogeneity of PrPSc conformations) and the possible transmissibility between species, factors which contribute to PrP undruggability. However, two recent concepts in biochemistry-intrinsically disordered proteins and phase transitions-may shed light on the molecular basis of PrP's role in physiology and disease.
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38
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Block AJ, Shikiya RA, Eckland TE, Kincaid AE, Walters RW, Ma J, Bartz JC. Efficient interspecies transmission of synthetic prions. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009765. [PMID: 34260664 PMCID: PMC8312972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are comprised solely of PrPSc, the misfolded self-propagating conformation of the cellular protein, PrPC. Synthetic prions are generated in vitro from minimal components and cause bona fide prion disease in animals. It is unknown, however, if synthetic prions can cross the species barrier following interspecies transmission. To investigate this, we inoculated Syrian hamsters with murine synthetic prions. We found that all the animals inoculated with murine synthetic prions developed prion disease characterized by a striking uniformity of clinical onset and signs of disease. Serial intraspecies transmission resulted in a rapid adaptation to hamsters. During the adaptation process, PrPSc electrophoretic migration, glycoform ratios, conformational stability and biological activity as measured by protein misfolding cyclic amplification remained constant. Interestingly, the strain that emerged shares a strikingly similar transmission history, incubation period, clinical course of disease, pathology and biochemical and biological features of PrPSc with 139H, a hamster adapted form of the murine strain 139A. Combined, these data suggest that murine synthetic prions are comprised of bona fide PrPSc with 139A-like strain properties that efficiently crosses the species barrier and rapidly adapts to hamsters resulting in the emergence of a single strain. The efficiency and specificity of interspecies transmission of murine synthetic prions to hamsters, with relevance to brain derived prions, could be a useful model for identification of structure function relationships between PrPSc and PrPC from different species. Prions have zoonotic potential as illustrated by the interspecies transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to humans resulting in the emergence of a novel human prion disease. It is unknown if other prion diseases of animals, such as chronic wasting disease, can be transmitted to other species. Models to predict prion zoonotic potential do not exist, in part, due to the lack of understanding of how the structure of PrPSc from one species can convert PrPC from another species. Towards this end, we determined that murine synthetic prions, made from minimal components, can efficiently establish infection in hamsters whose transmission history, clinical features, pathology and biochemical properties of PrPSc are consistent with the reisolation of a known prion strain. We conclude that murine synthetic prions can recapitulate interspecies transmission and adaptation allowing for a more detailed mechanistic analysis in a simplified, trackable system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J. Block
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Ronald A. Shikiya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Thomas E. Eckland
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Anthony E. Kincaid
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Ryan W. Walters
- Department of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Jiyan Ma
- Van Andel Institute, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jason C. Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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39
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Bartz JC. Environmental and host factors that contribute to prion strain evolution. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:5-16. [PMID: 33899132 PMCID: PMC8932343 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02310-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Prions are novel pathogens that are composed entirely of PrPSc, the self-templating conformation of the host prion protein, PrPC. Prion strains are operationally defined as a heritable phenotype of disease that are encoded by strain-specific conformations of PrPSc. The factors that influence the relative distribution of strains in a population are only beginning to be understood. For prions with an infectious etiology, environmental factors, such as strain-specific binding to surfaces and resistance to weathering, can influence which strains are available for transmission to a naïve host. Strain-specific differences in efficiency of infection by natural routes of infection can also select for prion strains. The host amino acid sequence of PrPC has the greatest effect on dictating the repertoire of prion strains. The relative abundance of PrPC, post-translational modifications of PrPC and cellular co-factors involved in prion conversion can also provide conditions that favor the prevalence of a subset of prion strains. Additionally, prion strains can interfere with each other, influencing the emergence of a dominant strain. Overall, both environmental and host factors may influence the repertoire and distribution of strains within a population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA.
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40
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Angelli JN, Passos YM, Brito JMA, Silva JL, Cordeiro Y, Vieira TCRG. Rabbit PrP Is Partially Resistant to in vitro Aggregation Induced by Different Biological Cofactors. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:689315. [PMID: 34220442 PMCID: PMC8249948 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.689315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases have been described in humans and other mammals, including sheep, goats, cattle, and deer. Since mice, hamsters, and cats are susceptible to prion infection, they are often used to study the mechanisms of prion infection and conversion. Mammals, such as horses and dogs, however, do not naturally contract the disease and are resistant to infection, while others, like rabbits, have exhibited low susceptibility. Infection involves the conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) to the scrapie form (PrPSc), and several cofactors have already been identified as important adjuvants in this process, such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), lipids, and nucleic acids. The molecular mechanisms that determine transmissibility between species remain unclear, as well as the barriers to transmission. In this study, we examine the interaction of recombinant rabbit PrPC (RaPrP) with different biological cofactors such as GAGs (heparin and dermatan sulfate), phosphatidic acid, and DNA oligonucleotides (A1 and D67) to evaluate the importance of these cofactors in modulating the aggregation of rabbit PrP and explain the animal’s different degrees of resistance to infection. We used spectroscopic and chromatographic approaches to evaluate the interaction with cofactors and their effect on RaPrP aggregation, which we compared with murine PrP (MuPrP). Our data show that all cofactors induce RaPrP aggregation and exhibit pH dependence. However, RaPrP aggregated to a lesser extent than MuPrP in the presence of any of the cofactors tested. The binding affinity with cofactors does not correlate with these low levels of aggregation, suggesting that the latter are related to the stability of PrP at acidic pH. The absence of the N-terminus affected the interaction with cofactors, influencing the efficiency of aggregation. These findings demonstrate that the interaction with polyanionic cofactors is related to rabbit PrP being less susceptible to aggregation in vitro and that the N-terminal domain is important to the efficiency of conversion, increasing the interaction with cofactors. The decreased effect of cofactors in rabbit PrP likely explains its lower propensity to prion conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana N Angelli
- Federal Institute of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yulli M Passos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Julyana M A Brito
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jerson L Silva
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yraima Cordeiro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tuane C R G Vieira
- Federal Institute of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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41
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Siddiqi MK, Kim C, Haldiman T, Kacirova M, Wang B, Bohon J, Chance MR, Kiselar J, Safar JG. Structurally distinct external solvent-exposed domains drive replication of major human prions. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009642. [PMID: 34138981 PMCID: PMC8211289 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a limited understanding of structural attributes that encode the iatrogenic transmissibility and various phenotypes of prions causing the most common human prion disease, sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). Here we report the detailed structural differences between major sCJD MM1, MM2, and VV2 prions determined with two complementary synchrotron hydroxyl radical footprinting techniques—mass spectrometry (MS) and conformation dependent immunoassay (CDI) with a panel of Europium-labeled antibodies. Both approaches clearly demonstrate that the phenotypically distant prions differ in a major way with regard to their structural organization, and synchrotron-generated hydroxyl radicals progressively inhibit their seeding potency in a strain and structure-specific manner. Moreover, the seeding rate of sCJD prions is primarily determined by strain-specific structural organization of solvent-exposed external domains of human prion particles that control the seeding activity. Structural characteristics of human prion strains suggest that subtle changes in the organization of surface domains play a critical role as a determinant of human prion infectivity, propagation rate, and targeting of specific brain structures. Sporadic human prion diseases are conceivably the most heterogenous neurodegenerative disorders and a growing body of research indicates that they are caused by distinct strains of prions. By parallel monitoring their replication potency and progressive hydroxyl radical modification of amino acid side chains during synchrotron irradiation, we identified major differences in the structural organization that correlate with distinct inactivation susceptibility of a given human prion strain. Furthermore, our data demonstrated, for the first time, that seeding activity of different strains of infectious brain-derived human prions is primarily function of distinct solvent-exposed structural domains, and implicate them in the initial binding of cellular isoform of prion protein (PrPC) as a critical step in human prion replication and infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chae Kim
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Tracy Haldiman
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Miroslava Kacirova
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Benlian Wang
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.,Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Center for Synchrotron Biosciences, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, United States of America
| | - Jen Bohon
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.,Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Center for Synchrotron Biosciences, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, United States of America
| | - Mark R Chance
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.,Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Center for Synchrotron Biosciences, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, United States of America
| | - Janna Kiselar
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.,Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Center for Synchrotron Biosciences, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, United States of America
| | - Jiri G Safar
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.,Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
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42
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Brandel JP. [Prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies]. Rev Med Interne 2021; 43:106-115. [PMID: 34148672 DOI: 10.1016/j.revmed.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are human and animal diseases naturally or experimentally transmissible with a long incubation period and a fatal course without remission. The nature of the transmissible agent remains debated but the absence of a structure evoking a conventional microorganism led Stanley B. Prusiner to hypothesize that it could be an infectious protein (proteinaceous infectious particle or prion). The prion would be the abnormal form of a normal protein, cellular PrP (PrPc) which will change its spatial conformation and be converted into scrapie prion protein (PrPsc) with properties of partial resistance to proteases, aggregation and insolubility in detergents. No inflammatory or immune response are detected in TSEs which are characterized by brain damage combining spongiosis, neuronal loss, astrocytic gliosis, and deposits of PrPsc that may appear as amyloid plaques. Although the link between the accumulation of PrPsc and the appearance of lesions remains debated, the presence of PrPsc is constant during TSE and necessary for a definitive diagnosis. Even if they remain rare diseases (2 cases per million), the identification of kuru, at the end of the 1950s, of iatrogenic cases in the course of the 1970s and of the variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in the mid-1990s explain the interest in these diseases but also the fears they can raise for public health. They remain an exciting research model because they belong both to the group of neurodegenerative diseases with protein accumulation (sporadic CJD), to the group of communicable diseases (iatrogenic CJD, variant of CJD) but also to the group of genetic diseases with a transmission Mendelian dominant (genetic CJD, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome, fatal familial insomnia).
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Affiliation(s)
- J-P Brandel
- Cellule nationale de référence des maladies de Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris cedex 13, France; Inserm U1127/Institut du cerveau et de la moelle épinière (ICM), Groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre national de référence des agents transmissibles non conventionnels, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris cedex 13, France.
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43
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Hara H, Chida J, Uchiyama K, Pasiana AD, Takahashi E, Kido H, Sakaguchi S. Neurotropic influenza A virus infection causes prion protein misfolding into infectious prions in neuroblastoma cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10109. [PMID: 33980968 PMCID: PMC8115602 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89586-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Misfolding of the cellular prion protein, PrPC, into the amyloidogenic isoform, PrPSc, which forms infectious protein aggregates, the so-called prions, is a key pathogenic event in prion diseases. No pathogens other than prions have been identified to induce misfolding of PrPC into PrPSc and propagate infectious prions in infected cells. Here, we found that infection with a neurotropic influenza A virus strain (IAV/WSN) caused misfolding of PrPC into PrPSc and generated infectious prions in mouse neuroblastoma cells through a hit-and-run mechanism. The structural and biochemical characteristics of IAV/WSN-induced PrPSc were different from those of RML and 22L laboratory prions-evoked PrPSc, and the pathogenicity of IAV/WSN-induced prions were also different from that of RML and 22L prions, suggesting IAV/WSN-specific formation of PrPSc and infectious prions. Our current results may open a new avenue for the role of viral infection in misfolding of PrPC into PrPSc and formation of infectious prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideyuki Hara
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Enzyme Research (KOSOKEN), Tokushima University, Kuramoto 3-18-15, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Junji Chida
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Enzyme Research (KOSOKEN), Tokushima University, Kuramoto 3-18-15, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Keiji Uchiyama
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Enzyme Research (KOSOKEN), Tokushima University, Kuramoto 3-18-15, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Agriani Dini Pasiana
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Enzyme Research (KOSOKEN), Tokushima University, Kuramoto 3-18-15, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Etsuhisa Takahashi
- Division of Enzyme Chemistry, Institute for Enzyme Research (KOSOKEN), Tokushima University, Kuramoto 3-18-15, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kido
- Division of Enzyme Chemistry, Institute for Enzyme Research (KOSOKEN), Tokushima University, Kuramoto 3-18-15, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Suehiro Sakaguchi
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute for Enzyme Research (KOSOKEN), Tokushima University, Kuramoto 3-18-15, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan.
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44
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Langeveld JPM, Balkema-Buschmann A, Becher D, Thomzig A, Nonno R, Andréoletti O, Davidse A, Di Bari MA, Pirisinu L, Agrimi U, Groschup MH, Beekes M, Shih J. Stability of BSE infectivity towards heat treatment even after proteolytic removal of prion protein. Vet Res 2021; 52:59. [PMID: 33863379 PMCID: PMC8052740 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-021-00928-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The unconventional infectious agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are prions. Their infectivity co-appears with PrPSc, aberrant depositions of the host's cellular prion protein (PrPC). Successive heat treatment in the presence of detergent and proteolysis by a keratinase from Bacillus licheniformis PWD-1 was shown before to destroy PrPSc from bovine TSE (BSE) and sheep scrapie diseased brain, however data regarding expected reduction of infectivity were still lacking. Therefore, transgenic Tgbov XV mice which are highly BSE susceptible were used to quantify infectivity before and after the bovine brain treatment procedure. Also four immunochemical analyses were applied to compare the levels of PrPSc. After heating at 115 °C with or without subsequent proteolysis, the original BSE infectivity of 106.2-6.4 ID50 g-1 was reduced to a remaining infectivity of 104.6-5.7 ID50 g-1 while strain characteristics were unaltered, even after precipitation with methanol. Surprisingly, PrPSc depletion was 5-800 times higher than the loss of infectivity. Similar treatment was applied on other prion strains, which were CWD1 in bank voles, 263 K scrapie in hamsters and sheep PG127 scrapie in tg338 ovinized mice. In these strains however, infectivity was already destroyed by heat only. These findings show the unusual heat resistance of BSE and support a role for an additional factor in prion formation as suggested elsewhere when producing prions from PrPC. Leftover material in the remaining PrPSc depleted BSE preparation offers a unique substrate for searching additional elements for prion infectivity and improving our concept about the nature of prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan P M Langeveld
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), 8221RA 39, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
| | - Anne Balkema-Buschmann
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Dieter Becher
- MICROMUN, Institut Für Mikrobiologische Forschung GmbH, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Achim Thomzig
- Prion and Prionoid Research Unit, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Romolo Nonno
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Olivier Andréoletti
- UMR INRAE/ENVT 1225 IHAP, École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 31300, Toulouse, France
| | - Aart Davidse
- Department of Infection Biology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), 8221RA 39, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Michele A Di Bari
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pirisinu
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Umberto Agrimi
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Michael Beekes
- Prion and Prionoid Research Unit, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jason Shih
- Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7608, USA
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45
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Arifin MI, Hannaoui S, Chang SC, Thapa S, Schatzl HM, Gilch S. Cervid Prion Protein Polymorphisms: Role in Chronic Wasting Disease Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052271. [PMID: 33668798 PMCID: PMC7956812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease found in both free-ranging and farmed cervids. Susceptibility of these animals to CWD is governed by various exogenous and endogenous factors. Past studies have demonstrated that polymorphisms within the prion protein (PrP) sequence itself affect an animal's susceptibility to CWD. PrP polymorphisms can modulate CWD pathogenesis in two ways: the ability of the endogenous prion protein (PrPC) to convert into infectious prions (PrPSc) or it can give rise to novel prion strains. In vivo studies in susceptible cervids, complemented by studies in transgenic mice expressing the corresponding cervid PrP sequence, show that each polymorphism has distinct effects on both PrPC and PrPSc. It is not entirely clear how these polymorphisms are responsible for these effects, but in vitro studies suggest they play a role in modifying PrP epitopes crucial for PrPC to PrPSc conversion and determining PrPC stability. PrP polymorphisms are unique to one or two cervid species and most confer a certain degree of reduced susceptibility to CWD. However, to date, there are no reports of polymorphic cervid PrP alleles providing absolute resistance to CWD. Studies on polymorphisms have focused on those found in CWD-endemic areas, with the hope that understanding the role of an animal's genetics in CWD can help to predict, contain, or prevent transmission of CWD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Immaculata Arifin
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Samia Hannaoui
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sheng Chun Chang
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Simrika Thapa
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Hermann M. Schatzl
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sabine Gilch
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Correspondence:
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46
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Sangeetham SB, Engelke AD, Fodor E, Krausz SL, Tatzelt J, Welker E. The G127V variant of the prion protein interferes with dimer formation in vitro but not in cellulo. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3116. [PMID: 33542378 PMCID: PMC7862613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82647-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrapie prion, PrPSc, formation is the central event of all types of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), while the pathway with possible intermediates and their mechanism of formation from the normal isoform of prion (PrP), remains not fully understood. Recently, the G127V variant of the human PrP is reported to render the protein refractory to transmission of TSEs, via a yet unknown mechanism. Molecular dynamics studies suggested that this mutation interferes with the formation of PrP dimers. Here we analyze the dimerization of 127G and 127VPrP, in both in vitro and a mammalian cell culture system. Our results show that while molecular dynamics may capture the features affecting dimerization in vitro, G127V inhibiting dimer formation of PrP, these are not evidenced in a more complex cellular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudheer Babu Sangeetham
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences, University of Szeged, Dugonics square 13, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Anna Dorothee Engelke
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Elfrieda Fodor
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Sarah Laura Krausz
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Aktogen Hungary Ltd., Kecskemét, 6000, Hungary
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary.
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
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47
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Ritchie DL, Barria MA. Prion Diseases: A Unique Transmissible Agent or a Model for Neurodegenerative Diseases? Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020207. [PMID: 33540845 PMCID: PMC7912988 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The accumulation and propagation in the brain of misfolded proteins is a pathological hallmark shared by many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (Aβ and tau), Parkinson's disease (α-synuclein), and prion disease (prion protein). Currently, there is no epidemiological evidence to suggest that neurodegenerative disorders are infectious, apart from prion diseases. However, there is an increasing body of evidence from experimental models to suggest that other pathogenic proteins such as Aβ and tau can propagate in vivo and in vitro in a prion-like mechanism, inducing the formation of misfolded protein aggregates such as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Such similarities have raised concerns that misfolded proteins, other than the prion protein, could potentially transmit from person-to-person as rare events after lengthy incubation periods. Such concerns have been heightened following a number of recent reports of the possible inadvertent transmission of Aβ pathology via medical and surgical procedures. This review will provide a historical perspective on the unique transmissible nature of prion diseases, examining their impact on public health and the ongoing concerns raised by this rare group of disorders. Additionally, this review will provide an insight into current evidence supporting the potential transmissibility of other pathogenic proteins associated with more common neurodegenerative disorders and the potential implications for public health.
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48
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Short and sweet: How glycans impact prion conversion, cofactor interactions, and cross-species transmission. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009123. [PMID: 33444414 PMCID: PMC7808606 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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49
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Soto P, Claflin IA, Bursott AL, Schwab-McCoy AD, Bartz JC. Cellular prion protein gene polymorphisms linked to differential scrapie susceptibility correlate with distinct residue connectivity between secondary structure elements. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 39:129-139. [PMID: 31900058 PMCID: PMC7340567 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1708794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) to the misfolded and aggregated isoform, termed scrapie prion protein (PrPSc), is key to the development of a group of neurodegenerative diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Although the conversion mechanism is not fully understood, the role of gene polymorphisms in varying susceptibilities to prion diseases is well established. In ovine, specific gene polymorphisms in PrPC alter prion disease susceptibility: the Valine136-Glutamine171 variant (Susceptible structure) displays high susceptibility to classical scrapie while the Alanine136-Arginine171 variant (Resistant structure) displays reduced susceptibility. The opposite trend has been reported in atypical scrapie. Despite the differentiation between classical and atypical scrapie, a complete understanding of the effect of polymorphisms on the structural dynamics of PrPC is lacking. From our structural bioinformatics study, we propose that polymorphisms locally modulate the network of residue interactions in the globular C-terminus of the ovine recombinant prion protein while maintaining the overall fold. Although the two variants we examined exhibit a densely connected group of residues that includes both β-sheets, the β2-α2 loop and the N-terminus of α-helix 2, only in the Resistant structure do most residues of α-helix 2 belong to this group. We identify the structural role of Valine136Alanine and Glutamine171Arginine: modulation of residue interaction networks that affect the connectivity between α-helix 2 and α-helix 3. We propose blocking interactions of residue 171 as a potential target for the design of therapeutics to prevent efficient PrPC misfolding. We discuss our results in the context of initial PrPC conversion and extrapolate to recently proposed PrPSc structures.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Soto
- Department of Physics, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, 68178,Corresponding author: Patricia Soto, Creighton University – Department of Physics, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, Phone number: 402.280.3361, Fax: 402.280.2140,
| | - India A. Claflin
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, 68178
| | | | | | - Jason C. Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, 68178
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50
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Tange H, Ishibashi D, Nakagaki T, Taguchi Y, Kamatari YO, Ozawa H, Nishida N. Liquid-liquid phase separation of full-length prion protein initiates conformational conversion in vitro. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100367. [PMID: 33545172 PMCID: PMC8289115 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are characterized by the accumulation of amyloid fibrils. The causative agent is an infectious amyloid that comprises solely misfolded prion protein (PrPSc). Prions can convert normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) to protease K-resistance prion protein fragment (PrP-res) in vitro; however, the intermediate steps involved in this spontaneous conversion still remain unknown. We investigated whether recombinant prion protein (rPrP) can directly convert into PrP-res via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in the absence of PrPSc. We found that rPrP underwent LLPS at the interface of the aqueous two-phase system of polyethylene glycol and dextran, whereas single-phase conditions were not inducible. Fluorescence recovery assay after photobleaching revealed that the liquid-solid phase transition occurred within a short time. The aged rPrP-gel acquired a proteinase-resistant amyloid accompanied by β-sheet conversion, as confirmed by Western blotting, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Congo red staining. The reactions required both the N-terminal region of rPrP (amino acids 23-89) and kosmotropic salts, suggesting that the kosmotropic anions may interact with the N-terminal region of rPrP to promote LLPS. Thus, structural conversion via LLPS and liquid-solid phase transition could be the intermediate steps in the conversion of prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroya Tange
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
| | - Daisuke Ishibashi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Takehiro Nakagaki
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yuzuru Taguchi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | - Hiroki Ozawa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nishida
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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