1
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Funes S, Jung J, Gadd DH, Mosqueda M, Zhong J, Shankaracharya, Unger M, Stallworth K, Cameron D, Rotunno MS, Dawes P, Fowler-Magaw M, Keagle PJ, McDonough JA, Boopathy S, Sena-Esteves M, Nickerson JA, Lutz C, Skarnes WC, Lim ET, Schafer DP, Massi F, Landers JE, Bosco DA. Expression of ALS-PFN1 impairs vesicular degradation in iPSC-derived microglia. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2497. [PMID: 38509062 PMCID: PMC10954694 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46695-w] [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: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia play a pivotal role in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis, but the mechanisms underlying microglia dysfunction and toxicity remain to be elucidated. To investigate the effect of neurodegenerative disease-linked genes on the intrinsic properties of microglia, we studied microglia-like cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), termed iMGs, harboring mutations in profilin-1 (PFN1) that are causative for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS-PFN1 iMGs exhibited evidence of lipid dysmetabolism, autophagy dysregulation and deficient phagocytosis, a canonical microglia function. Mutant PFN1 also displayed enhanced binding affinity for PI3P, a critical signaling molecule involved in autophagic and endocytic processing. Our cumulative data implicate a gain-of-toxic function for mutant PFN1 within the autophagic and endo-lysosomal pathways, as administration of rapamycin rescued phagocytic dysfunction in ALS-PFN1 iMGs. These outcomes demonstrate the utility of iMGs for neurodegenerative disease research and implicate microglial vesicular degradation pathways in the pathogenesis of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salome Funes
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Translational Science Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan Jung
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Del Hayden Gadd
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Michelle Mosqueda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jianjun Zhong
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Shankaracharya
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Matthew Unger
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Karly Stallworth
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Debra Cameron
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Melissa S Rotunno
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Pepper Dawes
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Megan Fowler-Magaw
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Pamela J Keagle
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | | | - Sivakumar Boopathy
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Miguel Sena-Esteves
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Nickerson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Cathleen Lutz
- The Jackson Laboratory Center for Precision Genetics, Rare Disease Translational Center, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA
| | - William C Skarnes
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Elaine T Lim
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Dorothy P Schafer
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Francesca Massi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - John E Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Daryl A Bosco
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Translational Science Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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2
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Wei S, Yang Y, Wang Y. Proximity Proteomics Revealed Aberrant mRNA Splicing Elicited by ALS-Linked Profilin-1 Mutants. Anal Chem 2023; 95:15141-15145. [PMID: 37787459 PMCID: PMC10689300 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c03734] [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: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Profilin 1 (PFN1) is a cytoskeleton protein that modulates actin dynamics through binding to monomeric actin and polyproline-containing proteins. Mutations in PFN1 have been linked to the pathogenesis of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we employed an unbiased proximity labeling strategy in combination with proteomic analysis for proteome-wide profiling of proteins that differentially interact with mutant and wild-type (WT) PFN1 proteins in human cells. We uncovered 11 mRNA splicing proteins that are preferentially enriched in the proximity proteomes of the two ALS-linked PFN1 variants, C71G and M114T, over that of wild-type PFN1. We validated the preferential interactions of the ALS-linked PFN1 variants with two mRNA splicing factors, hnRNPC and U2AF2, by immunoprecipitation, followed with immunoblotting. We also found that the two ALS-linked PFN1 variants promoted the exonization of Alu elements in the mRNAs of MTO1, TCFL5, WRN and POLE genes in human cells. Together, we showed that the two ALS-linked PFN1 variants interacted preferentially with mRNA splicing proteins, which elicited aberrant exonization of the Alu elements in mRNAs. Thus, our work provided pivotal insights into the perturbations of ALS-linked PFN1 variants in RNA biology and their potential contributions to ALS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songbo Wei
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0403, United States
| | - YenYu Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0403, United States
| | - Yinsheng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0403, United States
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3
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Kang J, Lim L, Song J. ATP induces folding of ALS-causing C71G-hPFN1 and nascent hSOD1. Commun Chem 2023; 6:186. [PMID: 37670116 PMCID: PMC10480188 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00997-0] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
ALS-causing C71G-hPFN1 coexists in both folded and unfolded states, while nascent hSOD1 is unfolded. So far, the mechanisms underlying their ALS-triggering potential remain enigmatic. Here we show by NMR that ATP completely converts C71G-hPFN1 into the folded state at a 1:2 ratio, while inducing nascent hSOD1 into two co-existing states at a 1:8 ratio. Surprisingly, the inducing capacity of ATP comes from its triphosphate, but free triphosphate triggers aggregation. The inducing capacity ranks as: ATP = ATPP = PPP > ADP = AMP-PNP = AMP-PCP = PP, while AMP, adenosine, P, and NaCl show no conversion. Mechanistically, ATP and triphosphate appear to enhance the intrinsic folding capacity encoded in the sequences, as unveiled by comparing conformations and dynamics of ATP- and Zn2+-induced hSOD1 folded states. Our study provides a mechanism for the finding that some single-cell organisms employ polyphosphates as primordial chaperones, and sheds light on the enigma of age-related onset of familial ALS and risk increase of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore, 119260, Singapore
| | - Liangzhong Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore, 119260, Singapore
| | - Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore, 119260, Singapore.
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Zhang J, Tang Z, Liu Z, Wang G, Yang X, Hou X. Metabolomic and proteomic analyses of primary Sjogren's syndrome. Immunobiology 2023; 228:152722. [PMID: 37567091 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2023.152722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) has not been fully elucidated. We explored differentially expressed proteins and metabolic pathways in pSS using proteomics and metabolomics. 456 named proteins in total were identified, among which 50 were significantly changed in the pSS. Altered proteins were significantly associated with signaling pathways such as antigen processing and presentation, human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection, and FC gamma R-mediated phagocytosis. Meanwhile, 12 proteins, such as SH3BGRL3, TPM4, and CA1, can be used as potential clinical molecular markers. Moreover, 128 metabolites were significantly expressed in the pSS group. A total of 96 pathways were significantly enriched including central carbon metabolism in cancer, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, and ABC transporters. Notably, both proteomics and metabolomics enriched glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, and glutathione metabolism pathways. In this study, the progression mechanism of pSS was analyzed and novel biomarkers were identified by proteomics and metabolomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junning Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Zixing Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541001, China
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Guangyu Wang
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Xueli Yang
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China
| | - Xianliang Hou
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, China.
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5
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Funes S, Gadd DH, Mosqueda M, Zhong J, Jung J, Shankaracharya, Unger M, Cameron D, Dawes P, Keagle PJ, McDonough JA, Boopathy S, Sena-Esteves M, Lutz C, Skarnes WC, Lim ET, Schafer DP, Massi F, Landers JE, Bosco DA. Expression of ALS-PFN1 impairs vesicular degradation in iPSC-derived microglia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.01.541136. [PMID: 37398081 PMCID: PMC10312575 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.01.541136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Microglia play a pivotal role in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis, but the mechanisms underlying microglia dysfunction and toxicity remain to be fully elucidated. To investigate the effect of neurodegenerative disease-linked genes on the intrinsic properties of microglia, we studied microglia-like cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), termed iMGs, harboring mutations in profilin-1 (PFN1) that are causative for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS-PFN1 iMGs exhibited lipid dysmetabolism and deficits in phagocytosis, a critical microglia function. Our cumulative data implicate an effect of ALS-linked PFN1 on the autophagy pathway, including enhanced binding of mutant PFN1 to the autophagy signaling molecule PI3P, as an underlying cause of defective phagocytosis in ALS-PFN1 iMGs. Indeed, phagocytic processing was restored in ALS-PFN1 iMGs with Rapamycin, an inducer of autophagic flux. These outcomes demonstrate the utility of iMGs for neurodegenerative disease research and highlight microglia vesicular degradation pathways as potential therapeutic targets for these disorders.
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6
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Kang J, Lim L, Song J. ALS-causing hPFN1 mutants differentially disrupt LLPS of FUS prion-like domain. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 664:35-42. [PMID: 37130459 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.04.101] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
hPFN1 mutations including C71G cause ALS by gain of toxicity but the mechanism still remains unknown. Stress granules (SGs) are formed by phase separation of the prion-like domain (PLD) of RNA-binding proteins including FUS, whose inclusion was also associated with ALS. C71G-hPFN1 triggers seed-dependent co-aggregation with FUS/TDP-43 to manifest the prion-like propagandation but its biophysical basis remains unexplored. Here by DIC imaging we first showed that three hPFN1 mutants have differential capacity in disrupting the dynamics of liquid droplets formed by phase separation of FUS prion-like domain (PLD). C71G-hPFN1 co-exists with the folded and unfolded states, thus allowing to simultaneously characterize conformations, hydrodynamics and dynamics of the interactions of both states with the phase separated FUS PLD by NMR. The results reveal that the folded state is not significantly affected while by contrast, the unfolded state has extensive interactions with FUS PLD. As a consequence, the dynamics of FUS liquid droplets become significantly reduced. Such interactions might act to recruit C71G-hPFN1 into the droplets, thus leading to the increase of the local concentrations and subsequent co-aggregation of C71G-hPFN1 with FUS. Our study sheds the first light on the biophysical basis by which hPFN1 mutants gain toxicity to cause ALS. As other aggregation-prone proteins have no fundamental difference from hPFN1 mutants, aggregation-prone proteins might share a common capacity in disrupting phase separation responsible for organizing various membrane-less organelles. As such, the mechanism for C71G-hPFN1 might also be utilized by other aggregation-prone proteins for gain of toxicity to trigger diseases and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore
| | - Liangzhong Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore
| | - Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore.
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7
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Muneeswaran G, Lee JY. Mechanistic insights into the conformational switch in profilin-1 subject to collective effects of mutation and histidine tautomerism. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 230:123403. [PMID: 36706877 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123403] [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: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Mutations and histidine (His) tautomerism in profilin-1 (PFN1) are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The conformational changes in PFN1 caused by the collective effects of G117V mutation and His tautomeric isomers εε, εδ, δε, and δδ were clarified using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The predominant structural variations were seen in α-helices, β-sheets, turns, and coils and the His tautomer's unique degree of disruption was seen in these conformations. The content of α-helices was 23.2 % in the εε and δδ isomers, but the observed α-helices in the isomers εδ and δε were 20.3 % and 21.7 % respectively. The percentage of β-sheet was found to be higher (34.1) in the εε isomer than in the εδ, δε, and δδ isomers, and the values were 30.4, 29.7, and 31.9, respectively. Intermolecular water dynamics analysis discloses that His 133 can form an intramolecular H-bond interaction (Nα-H---Nδ), confirming the experimental observations in the simulations of εε, δε, and δδ isomers of G117V PFN1 mutant. It was concluded that these solvent molecules are crucial for aggregation and must be considered in future research on the PFN1 associated with ALS. Overall, the study offers a thorough microscopic understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms behind conformational changes that cause aggregation illnesses like ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurusamy Muneeswaran
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Jin Yong Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
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Abstract
The scientific landscape surrounding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has shifted immensely with a number of well-defined ALS disease-causing genes, each with related phenotypical and cellular motor neuron processes that have come to light. Yet in spite of decades of research and clinical investigation, there is still no etiology for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and treatment options even for those with well-defined familial syndromes are still limited. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the genetic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, highlighting factors that contribute to its heritability and phenotypic manifestations, and an overview of past, present, and upcoming therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Younger
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Neuroscience, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine and Neurology, White Plains Hospital, White Plains, NY, United States.
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, UMass Chan Medical School, Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Neurosciences and Director in Neurotherapeutics, Worcester, MA, United States
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9
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Kumar MS, Fowler-Magaw ME, Kulick D, Boopathy S, Gadd DH, Rotunno M, Douthwright C, Golebiowski D, Yusuf I, Xu Z, Brown RH, Sena-Esteves M, O’Neil AL, Bosco DA. Anti-SOD1 Nanobodies That Stabilize Misfolded SOD1 Proteins Also Promote Neurite Outgrowth in Mutant SOD1 Human Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416013. [PMID: 36555655 PMCID: PMC9784173 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
ALS-linked mutations induce aberrant conformations within the SOD1 protein that are thought to underlie the pathogenic mechanism of SOD1-mediated ALS. Although clinical trials are underway for gene silencing of SOD1, these approaches reduce both wild-type and mutated forms of SOD1. Here, we sought to develop anti-SOD1 nanobodies with selectivity for mutant and misfolded forms of human SOD1 over wild-type SOD1. Characterization of two anti-SOD1 nanobodies revealed that these biologics stabilize mutant SOD1 in vitro. Further, SOD1 expression levels were enhanced and the physiological subcellular localization of mutant SOD1 was restored upon co-expression of anti-SOD1 nanobodies in immortalized cells. In human motor neurons harboring the SOD1 A4V mutation, anti-SOD1 nanobody expression promoted neurite outgrowth, demonstrating a protective effect of anti-SOD1 nanobodies in otherwise unhealthy cells. In vitro assays revealed that an anti-SOD1 nanobody exhibited selectivity for human mutant SOD1 over endogenous murine SOD1, thus supporting the preclinical utility of anti-SOD1 nanobodies for testing in animal models of ALS. In sum, the anti-SOD1 nanobodies developed and presented herein represent viable biologics for further preclinical testing in human and mouse models of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Sundaram Kumar
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Megan E. Fowler-Magaw
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Daniel Kulick
- Department of Biology, Neuroscience and Behavior Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA
| | - Sivakumar Boopathy
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Del Hayden Gadd
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Melissa Rotunno
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Catherine Douthwright
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology Program, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Diane Golebiowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Issa Yusuf
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Zuoshang Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Robert H. Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Miguel Sena-Esteves
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Alison L. O’Neil
- Department of Chemistry, Neuroscience and Behavior Program, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 06459, USA
| | - Daryl A. Bosco
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(774)-445-3745; Fax: +1-(508)-856-6750
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10
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Multiple roles for the cytoskeleton in ALS. Exp Neurol 2022; 355:114143. [PMID: 35714755 PMCID: PMC10163623 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by more than sixty genes identified through classic linkage analysis and new sequencing methods. Yet no clear mechanism of onset, cure, or effective treatment is known. Popular discourse classifies the proteins encoded from ALS-related genes into four disrupted processes: proteostasis, mitochondrial function and ROS, nucleic acid regulation, and cytoskeletal dynamics. Surprisingly, the mechanisms detailing the contribution of the neuronal cytoskeletal in ALS are the least explored, despite involvement in these cell processes. Eight genes directly regulate properties of cytoskeleton function and are essential for the health and survival of motor neurons, including: TUBA4A, SPAST, KIF5A, DCTN1, NF, PRPH, ALS2, and PFN1. Here we review the properties and studies exploring the contribution of each of these genes to ALS.
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11
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Muneeswaran G, Lee JY. Histidine tautomerism dependent conformational transitions driven aggregation of profilin-1: Implications in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 214:241-251. [PMID: 35688275 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation of profilin-1 (PFN1) causes a fatal neurodegenerative disease, familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS). Histidine (His) tautomerism has been linked to the formation of fibril aggregation causing neurodegenerative disease. Characterization of intermediate species that form during aggregation is crucial, however, this has proven very challenging for experimentalists due to their transient nature. Hence, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed on the His tautomeric isomers εε, εδ, δε, and δδ of PFN1 to explain the structural changes and to correlate them with its aggregation propensity. MD simulations show that His133 presumably plays a major role in the aggregation of PFN1 upon His tautomerism compared to His119. Further, the formation of a new 310-helix is observed in εε and δε but 310-helix is not observed in δδ and εδ isomers. In addition, our findings unveil that β-sheet dominating conformations are observed in His119(δ)-His133(δ) δδ isomer of PFN1 with significant antiparallel β-sheets between residues T15-G23, S29-A33, L63-L65, Q68-S76, F83-T89, T97-T105, and K107-K115, suggesting a novel aggregation mechanism possibly occur for the formation of PFN1 aggregates. Overall, these results propose that MD simulations of PFN1 His tautomers can provide a detailed microscopic understanding of the aggregation mechanisms which are hard to probe through experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurusamy Muneeswaran
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Yong Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
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12
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The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis M114T PFN1 Mutation Deregulates Alternative Autophagy Pathways and Mitochondrial Homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105694. [PMID: 35628504 PMCID: PMC9143529 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in profilin 1 (PFN1) have been identified in rare familial cases of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). PFN1 is involved in multiple pathways that could intervene in ALS pathology. However, the specific pathogenic role of PFN1 mutations in ALS is still not fully understood. We hypothesized that PFN1 could play a role in regulating autophagy pathways and that PFN1 mutations could disrupt this function. We used patient cells (lymphoblasts) or tissue (post-mortem) carrying PFN1 mutations (M114T and E117G), and designed experimental models expressing wild-type or mutant PFN1 (cell lines and novel PFN1 mice established by lentiviral transgenesis) to study the effects of PFN1 mutations on autophagic pathway markers. We observed no accumulation of PFN1 in the spinal cord of one E117G mutation carrier. Moreover, in patient lymphoblasts and transfected cell lines, the M114T mutant PFN1 protein was unstable and deregulated the RAB9-mediated alternative autophagy pathway involved in the clearance of damaged mitochondria. In vivo, motor neurons expressing M114T mutant PFN1 showed mitochondrial abnormalities. Our results demonstrate that the M114T PFN1 mutation is more deleterious than the E117G variant in patient cells and experimental models and suggest a role for the RAB9-dependent autophagic pathway in ALS.
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13
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Wang Y, Lu Y, Wan R, Wang Y, Zhang C, Li M, Deng P, Cao L, Hu C. Profilin 1 Induces Tumor Metastasis by Promoting Microvesicle Secretion Through the ROCK 1/p-MLC Pathway in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:890891. [PMID: 35586060 PMCID: PMC9108340 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.890891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Profilin 1 (PFN1), an actin-binding protein, plays contrasting roles in the metastasis of several cancers; however, its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastasis remains unclear. Here, PFN1 expression was upregulated in metastatic NSCLC tissues. PFN1 overexpression significantly promotes NSCLC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Proteomics analysis revealed PFN1 involvment in microvesicles (MVs) secretion. In vitro experiments confirmed that PFN1 overexpression increased secretion of MVs. MVs are important mediators of metastasis. Here, we show an increased abundance of MVs in the sera of patients with metastatic NSCLC compared to that in the sera of patients with non-metastatic NSCLC. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that PFN1 could increase MV secretion, and MVs derived from PFN1-overexpressing cells markedly promoted NSCLC metastasis. We then elucidated the mechanisms underlying PFN1-mediated regulation of MVs and found that PFN1 could interact with ROCK1 and enhance its kinase activity to promote myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation for MV secretion. Inhibition of ROCK1 decreased MV secretion and partially reversed the PFN1-induced promotion of NSCLC metastasis. Collectively, these findings show that PFN1 regulates MV secretion to promote NSCLC metastasis. PFN1 and MVs represent potential predictors or therapeutic targets for NSCLC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yichen Lu
- Department of Oncology, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital/The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Rongjun Wan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chunfang Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Pengbo Deng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liming Cao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chengping Hu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Chengping Hu,
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14
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The pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Mitochondrial dysfunction, protein misfolding and epigenetics. Brain Res 2022; 1786:147904. [PMID: 35390335 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.147904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with multiple complex mechanisms involved. Among them, mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in ALS. Multiple studies have shown that mitochondria are closely associated with reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress and exhibit different functional states in different genetic backgrounds. In this review we explored the roles of Ca2+, autophagy, mitochondrial quality control in the regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis and their relationship with ALS. In addition, we also summarized and analyzed the roles of protein misfolding and abnormal aggregation in the pathogenesis of ALS. Moreover, we also discussed how epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and protein post-translational modification affect initiation and progression of ALS. Nevertheless, existing events still cannot fully explain the pathogenesis of ALS at present, more studies are required to explore pathological mechanisms of ALS.
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15
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Zhang S, Cooper-Knock J, Weimer AK, Shi M, Moll T, Marshall JNG, Harvey C, Nezhad HG, Franklin J, Souza CDS, Ning K, Wang C, Li J, Dilliott AA, Farhan S, Elhaik E, Pasniceanu I, Livesey MR, Eitan C, Hornstein E, Kenna KP, Veldink JH, Ferraiuolo L, Shaw PJ, Snyder MP. Genome-wide identification of the genetic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuron 2022; 110:992-1008.e11. [PMID: 35045337 PMCID: PMC9017397 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex disease that leads to motor neuron death. Despite heritability estimates of 52%, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have discovered relatively few loci. We developed a machine learning approach called RefMap, which integrates functional genomics with GWAS summary statistics for gene discovery. With transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling of motor neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), RefMap identified 690 ALS-associated genes that represent a 5-fold increase in recovered heritability. Extensive conservation, transcriptome, network, and rare variant analyses demonstrated the functional significance of candidate genes in healthy and diseased motor neurons and brain tissues. Genetic convergence between common and rare variation highlighted KANK1 as a new ALS gene. Reproducing KANK1 patient mutations in human neurons led to neurotoxicity and demonstrated that TDP-43 mislocalization, a hallmark pathology of ALS, is downstream of axonal dysfunction. RefMap can be readily applied to other complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Johnathan Cooper-Knock
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Annika K Weimer
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Minyi Shi
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Tobias Moll
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Jack N G Marshall
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Calum Harvey
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Helia Ghahremani Nezhad
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - John Franklin
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Cleide Dos Santos Souza
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Ke Ning
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Cheng Wang
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and the Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jingjing Li
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and the Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Allison A Dilliott
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, the Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Sali Farhan
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, the Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Eran Elhaik
- Department of Biology, Lunds Universitet, Lund 223 62, Sweden
| | - Iris Pasniceanu
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Matthew R Livesey
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Chen Eitan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Eran Hornstein
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Kevin P Kenna
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht 3584 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Laura Ferraiuolo
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Michael P Snyder
- Department of Genetics, Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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16
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Todd TW, Petrucelli L. Modelling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in rodents. Nat Rev Neurosci 2022; 23:231-251. [PMID: 35260846 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00564-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The efficient study of human disease requires the proper tools, one of the most crucial of which is an accurate animal model that faithfully recapitulates the human condition. The study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is no exception. Although the majority of ALS cases are considered sporadic, most animal models of this disease rely on genetic mutations identified in familial cases. Over the past decade, the number of genes associated with ALS has risen dramatically and, with each new genetic variant, there is a drive to develop associated animal models. Rodent models are of particular importance as they allow for the study of ALS in the context of a living mammal with a comparable CNS. Such models not only help to verify the pathogenicity of novel mutations but also provide critical insight into disease mechanisms and are crucial for the testing of new therapeutics. In this Review, we aim to summarize the full spectrum of ALS rodent models developed to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany W Todd
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Leonard Petrucelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
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17
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Liu X, Pimm ML, Haarer B, Brawner AT, Henty-Ridilla JL. Biochemical characterization of actin assembly mechanisms with ALS-associated profilin variants. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151212. [PMID: 35248815 PMCID: PMC10163920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Eight separate mutations in the actin-binding protein profilin-1 have been identified as a rare cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Profilin is essential for many neuronal cell processes through its regulation of lipids, nuclear signals, and cytoskeletal dynamics, including actin filament assembly. Direct interactions between profilin and actin monomers inhibit actin filament polymerization. In contrast, profilin can also stimulate polymerization by simultaneously binding actin monomers and proline-rich tracts found in other proteins. Whether the ALS-associated mutations in profilin compromise these actin assembly functions is unclear. We performed a quantitative biochemical comparison of the direct and formin mediated impact for the eight ALS-associated profilin variants on actin assembly using classic protein-binding and single-filament microscopy assays. We determined that the binding constant of each profilin for actin monomers generally correlates with the actin nucleation strength associated with each ALS-related profilin. In the presence of formin, the A20T, R136W, Q139L, and C71G variants failed to activate the elongation phase of actin assembly. This diverse range of formin-activities is not fully explained through profilin-poly-L-proline (PLP) interactions, as all ALS-associated variants bind a formin-derived PLP peptide with similar affinities. However, chemical denaturation experiments suggest that the folding stability of these profilins impact some of these effects on actin assembly. Thus, changes in profilin protein stability and alterations in actin filament polymerization may both contribute to the profilin-mediated actin disruptions in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinbei Liu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Morgan L Pimm
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Brian Haarer
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Andrew T Brawner
- Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Jessica L Henty-Ridilla
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA; Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
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18
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Zhao J, Liu L, Lv S, Wang C, Yue H, Zhang Z. PFN1 Gene Polymorphisms and the Bone Mineral Density Response to Alendronate Therapy in Postmenopausal Chinese Women with Low Bone Mass. Pharmgenomics Pers Med 2022; 14:1669-1678. [PMID: 34992429 PMCID: PMC8711734 DOI: 10.2147/pgpm.s344818] [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: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Alendronate is a widely used anti-osteoporotic drug. PFN1 gene is a newly identified early-onset Paget’s disease pathogenic gene. The purpose of this study is to study whether the genetic variations in this gene affect the clinical efficacy of alendronate in postmenopausal Chinese women with low bone mass. Patients and Methods Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms in PFN1 gene were genotyped. A total of 500 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia were included. All participants were treated with weekly alendronate 70 mg for 12 months. A total of 466 subjects completed the follow-up. Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip were measured at baseline and after treatment. Results After 12 months of treatment, the BMD of lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip all increased significantly (all P < 0.001), with an average increase of 4.72 ± 5.31%, 2.08 ± 4.45%, and 2.42 ± 3.46%, respectively. At baseline, there were no significant differences in BMD at lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip between different genotype groups (P > 0.05). We failed to identify any significant association between the genotypes or haplotypes of PFN1 and the BMD response to alendronate therapy. Conclusion Genetic polymorphisms of PFN1 may not be a major contributor to the therapeutic response to alendronate treatment in Chinese women with low bone mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Zhao
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center of Bone Disease, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Disease, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Liu
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center of Bone Disease, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Disease, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Lv
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center of Bone Disease, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Disease, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun Wang
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center of Bone Disease, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Disease, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua Yue
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center of Bone Disease, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Disease, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenlin Zhang
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center of Bone Disease, Department of Osteoporosis and Bone Disease, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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19
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Nekouei M, Aliahmadi A, Kiaei M, Ghassempour AR. Mutant Profilin1 Aggregation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An in Vivo Biochemical Analysis. Basic Clin Neurosci 2021; 12:213-222. [PMID: 34925718 PMCID: PMC8672666 DOI: 10.32598/bcn.12.2.1631.1] [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: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Profilin1 (PFN1) is a ubiquitously expressed protein known for its function as a regulator of actin polymerization and dynamics. A recent discovery linked mutant PFN1 to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which is a fatal and progressive motor neuron disease. We have also demonstrated that Gly118Val mutation in PFN1 is a cause of ALS, and the formation of aggregates containing mutant PFN1 may be a mechanism for motor neuron death. Hence, we were interested in investigating the aggregation of PFN1 further and searching for co-aggregated proteins in our mouse model overexpressing mutant PFN1. Methods We investigated protein aggregation in several tissues of transgenic and notransgenic mice using western blotting. To further understand the neurotoxicity of mutant PFN1, we conducted a pull-down assay using an insoluble fraction of spinal cord lysates from hPFN1G118V transgenic mice. For this assay, we expressed His6-tagged PFN1WT and PFN1G118V in E. coli and purified these proteins using the Ni-NTA column. Results In this study, we demonstrated that mutant PFN1 forms aggregate in the brain and spinal cord of hPFN1G118V mice, while WT-PFN1 remains soluble. Among these tissues, spinal cord lysates were found to have PFN1 bands at higher molecular weights recognized with anti-PFN1. Moreover, the pull-down assay using His6-PFN1G118V showed that Myelin Binding Protein (MBP) was present in the insoluble fraction. Conclusion Our analysis of PFN1 aggregation in vivo revealed further details of mutant PFN1 aggregation and its possible complex formation with other proteins, providing new insights into the ALS mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Nekouei
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atousa Aliahmadi
- Department of Biology, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Kiaei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Neurology, Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA
| | - Ali Reza Ghassempour
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
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20
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Low profilin 1 serum levels are associated with diabetes, family history and multivessel lesions in patients with coronary artery disease. ADVANCES IN INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY 2021; 17:305-308. [PMID: 34819967 PMCID: PMC8596711 DOI: 10.5114/aic.2021.109159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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21
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Bonifacino T, Zerbo RA, Balbi M, Torazza C, Frumento G, Fedele E, Bonanno G, Milanese M. Nearly 30 Years of Animal Models to Study Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Historical Overview and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212236. [PMID: 34830115 PMCID: PMC8619465 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, multigenic, multifactorial, and non-cell autonomous neurodegenerative disease characterized by upper and lower motor neuron loss. Several genetic mutations lead to ALS development and many emerging gene mutations have been discovered in recent years. Over the decades since 1990, several animal models have been generated to study ALS pathology including both vertebrates and invertebrates such as yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, and non-human primates. Although these models show different peculiarities, they are all useful and complementary to dissect the pathological mechanisms at the basis of motor neuron degeneration and ALS progression, thus contributing to the development of new promising therapeutics. In this review, we describe the up to date and available ALS genetic animal models, classified by the different genetic mutations and divided per species, pointing out their features in modeling, the onset and progression of the pathology, as well as their specific pathological hallmarks. Moreover, we highlight similarities, differences, advantages, and limitations, aimed at helping the researcher to select the most appropriate experimental animal model, when designing a preclinical ALS study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Bonifacino
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberta Arianna Zerbo
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Matilde Balbi
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Carola Torazza
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Giulia Frumento
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Ernesto Fedele
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Milanese
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy; (T.B.); (R.A.Z.); (M.B.); (C.T.); (G.F.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Genoa, Italy
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Murk K, Ornaghi M, Schiweck J. Profilin Isoforms in Health and Disease - All the Same but Different. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:681122. [PMID: 34458253 PMCID: PMC8387879 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.681122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Profilins are small actin binding proteins, which are structurally conserved throughout evolution. They are probably best known to promote and direct actin polymerization. However, they also participate in numerous cell biological processes beyond the roles typically ascribed to the actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, most complex organisms express several profilin isoforms. Their cellular functions are far from being understood, whereas a growing number of publications indicate that profilin isoforms are involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. In this review, we will provide an overview of the profilin family and "typical" profilin properties including the control of actin dynamics. We will then discuss the profilin isoforms of higher animals in detail. In terms of cellular functions, we will focus on the role of Profilin 1 (PFN1) and Profilin 2a (PFN2a), which are co-expressed in the central nervous system. Finally, we will discuss recent findings that link PFN1 and PFN2a to neurological diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Fragile X syndrome (FXS), Huntington's disease and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Murk
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marta Ornaghi
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juliane Schiweck
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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23
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ALS-linked PFN1 variants exhibit loss and gain of functions in the context of formin-induced actin polymerization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2024605118. [PMID: 34074767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2024605118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Profilin-1 (PFN1) plays important roles in modulating actin dynamics through binding both monomeric actin and proteins enriched with polyproline motifs. Mutations in PFN1 have been linked to the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, whether ALS-linked mutations affect PFN1 function has remained unclear. To address this question, we employed an unbiased proteomics analysis in mammalian cells to identify proteins that differentially interact with mutant and wild-type (WT) PFN1. These studies uncovered differential binding between two ALS-linked PFN1 variants, G118V and M114T, and select formin proteins. Furthermore, both variants augmented formin-mediated actin assembly relative to PFN1 WT. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed mutation-induced changes in the internal dynamic couplings within an alpha helix of PFN1 that directly contacts both actin and polyproline, as well as structural fluctuations within the actin- and polyproline-binding regions of PFN1. These data indicate that ALS-PFN1 variants have the potential for heightened flexibility in the context of the ternary actin-PFN1-polyproline complex during actin assembly. Conversely, PFN1 C71G was more severely destabilized than the other PFN1 variants, resulting in reduced protein expression in both transfected and ALS patient lymphoblast cell lines. Moreover, this variant exhibited loss-of-function phenotypes in the context of actin assembly. Perturbations in actin dynamics and assembly can therefore result from ALS-linked mutations in PFN1. However, ALS-PFN1 variants may dysregulate actin polymerization through different mechanisms that depend upon the solubility and stability of the mutant protein.
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Yuan G, Cui S, Chen X, Song H, Huang C, Tong J, Yuan Z, Yu L, Xiong X, Zhao J, Huang B, Wu Q, Zhou Y, Chen G, Zhou H, Xia XG. Detergent-insoluble inclusion constitutes the first pathology in PFN1 transgenic rats. J Neurochem 2021; 157:1244-1252. [PMID: 32754913 PMCID: PMC8994973 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Mutation of profilin 1 (PFN1) can cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To assess how PFN1 mutation causes the disease, we created transgenic rats with human genomic DNA that harbors both the coding and the regulatory sequences of the human PFN1 gene. Selected transgenic lines expressed human PFN1 with or without the pathogenic mutation C71G at a moderate and a comparable level and in the similar pattern of spatial and temporal expression to rat endogenous PFN1. The artificial effects of arbitrary transgene expression commonly observed in cDNA transgenic animals were minimized in PFN1 transgenic rats. Expression of the mutant, but not the wild type, human PFN1 in rats recapitulated the cardinal features of ALS including the progressive loss of motor neurons and the subsequent denervation atrophy of skeletal muscles. Detergent-insoluble PFN1 inclusions were detected as the first pathology in otherwise asymptomatic transgenic rats expressing mutant human PFN1. The findings suggest that protein aggregation is involved in the neurodegeneration of ALS associated with PFN1 mutation. The resulting rat model is useful to mechanistic study on the ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixiu Yuan
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Shiquan Cui
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Xuan Chen
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Haochang Song
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Cao Huang
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jianbin Tong
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Zhentin Yuan
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Lin Yu
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Xinrui Xiong
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Jihe Zhao
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qinxue Wu
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yibo Zhou
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Gong Chen
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Hongxia Zhou
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Xu-Gang Xia
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA
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Platform Communications: Abstract Book - 31st International Symposium on ALS/MND (Complete printable file). Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2020; 21:1-30. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1828775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Pimm ML, Hotaling J, Henty-Ridilla JL. Profilin choreographs actin and microtubules in cells and cancer. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 355:155-204. [PMID: 32859370 PMCID: PMC7461721 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Actin and microtubules play essential roles in aberrant cell processes that define and converge in cancer including: signaling, morphology, motility, and division. Actin and microtubules do not directly interact, however shared regulators coordinate these polymers. While many of the individual proteins important for regulating and choreographing actin and microtubule behaviors have been identified, the way these molecules collaborate or fail in normal or disease contexts is not fully understood. Decades of research focus on Profilin as a signaling molecule, lipid-binding protein, and canonical regulator of actin assembly. Recent reports demonstrate that Profilin also regulates microtubule dynamics and polymerization. Thus, Profilin can coordinate both actin and microtubule polymer systems. Here we reconsider the biochemical and cellular roles for Profilin with a focus on the essential cytoskeletal-based cell processes that go awry in cancer. We also explore how the use of model organisms has helped to elucidate mechanisms that underlie the regulatory essence of Profilin in vivo and in the context of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan L Pimm
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Jessica Hotaling
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Jessica L Henty-Ridilla
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, United States.
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27
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Skruber K, Warp PV, Shklyarov R, Thomas JD, Swanson MS, Henty-Ridilla JL, Read TA, Vitriol EA. Arp2/3 and Mena/VASP Require Profilin 1 for Actin Network Assembly at the Leading Edge. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2651-2664.e5. [PMID: 32470361 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cells have many types of actin structures, which must assemble from a common monomer pool. Yet, it remains poorly understood how monomers are distributed to and shared between different filament networks. Simplified model systems suggest that monomers are limited and heterogeneous, which alters actin network assembly through biased polymerization and internetwork competition. However, less is known about how monomers influence complex actin structures, where different networks competing for monomers overlap and are functionally interdependent. One example is the leading edge of migrating cells, which contains filament networks generated by multiple assembly factors. The leading edge dynamically switches between the formation of different actin structures, such as lamellipodia or filopodia, by altering the balance of these assembly factors' activities. Here, we sought to determine how the monomer-binding protein profilin 1 (PFN1) controls the assembly and organization of actin in mammalian cells. Actin polymerization in PFN1 knockout cells was severely disrupted, particularly at the leading edge, where both Arp2/3 and Mena/VASP-based filament assembly was inhibited. Further studies showed that in the absence of PFN1, Arp2/3 no longer localizes to the leading edge and Mena/VASP is non-functional. Additionally, we discovered that discrete stages of internetwork competition and collaboration between Arp2/3 and Mena/VASP networks exist at different PFN1 concentrations. Low levels of PFN1 caused filopodia to form exclusively at the leading edge, while higher concentrations inhibited filopodia and favored lamellipodia and pre-filopodia bundles. These results demonstrate that dramatic changes to actin architecture can be made simply by modifying PFN1 availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Skruber
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Peyton V Warp
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Rachael Shklyarov
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - James D Thomas
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics, and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Maurice S Swanson
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for NeuroGenetics, and the Genetics Institute, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jessica L Henty-Ridilla
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, NY 13210, USA
| | - Tracy-Ann Read
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Eric A Vitriol
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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Lu E, Wang Q, Li S, Chen C, Wu W, Xu YXZ, Zhou P, Tu W, Lou X, Rao G, Yang G, Jiang S, Zhou K. Profilin 1 knockdown prevents ischemic brain damage by promoting M2 microglial polarization associated with the RhoA/ROCK pathway. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:1198-1212. [PMID: 32291804 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ermei Lu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- Integrative & Optimized Medicine Research Center Institute for Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- Department of Pharmacy The First People's Hospital of Wenling The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenling China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Pharmacy The First People's Hospital of Wenling The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenling China
| | - Shengcun Li
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- Integrative & Optimized Medicine Research Center Institute for Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Caiming Chen
- Department of Pharmacy The First People's Hospital of Wenling The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenling China
| | - Weibo Wu
- Department of Pharmacy The First People's Hospital of Wenling The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenling China
| | - Yang Xin Zi Xu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology University of Manitoba Winnipeg MB Canada
| | - Peng Zhou
- Department of Anatomy Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Wenzhan Tu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- Integrative & Optimized Medicine Research Center Institute for Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Xinfa Lou
- Integrative & Optimized Medicine Research Center Institute for Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Gaofeng Rao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine The First People's Hospital of Wenling The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenling China
| | - Guanhu Yang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- Integrative & Optimized Medicine Research Center Institute for Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Songhe Jiang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- Integrative & Optimized Medicine Research Center Institute for Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
| | - Kecheng Zhou
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
- Integrative & Optimized Medicine Research Center Institute for Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou China
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29
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Kalhor H, Sadeghi S, Marashiyan M, Enssi M, Kalhor R, Ganji M, Rahimi H. In silico mutagenesis in recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor: Improvement of stability and activity in addition to decrement immunogenicity. J Mol Graph Model 2020; 97:107551. [PMID: 32032931 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2020.107551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (rhKGF) is clinically applied to decrease the incidence and duration of cancer therapeutic agents. Particularly, it is extensively used for oral mucositis after chemotherapy-induced damage of different human cancers. However, the usage of rhKGF in treatment is limited owing to its short half-life, poor stability, immunogenicity, tendency to aggregate, and side effects. Therefore, there is a need to enhance the stability and to reduce immunogenicity of rhKGF for therapeutic applications. In this study, the stability, activity, and immunogenicity of rhKGF were improved using computational methods. The several mutations were generated based on sequence alignment, amino acids physic-chemical properties, and the structure simulation. The 3D structure of rhKGF and proposed mutants were predicted by Modeller v9.15 program, and then were evaluated using PROSESS, PROCHECK, and ProSA web tools. Afterwards, the effect of these mutants on rhKGF structure, stability, activity, and its interaction with fibroblast growth factor receptor2-IIb (FGFR2-IIb) was analyzed through utilizing GROMACS molecular dynamics simulations and docking tools, respectively. Also, binding free energies were calculated by the Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM/PBSA) method. We found that F63Y, R121K, and combine1 (K38R, F63Y, K72E, N105S) mutants lead to reduction of the number of T-cell epitopes. However, all of the selected mutants, except for R121K, could considerably increase stability and affinity of the rhKGF to FGFR2-IIb, in silico. In conclusion, this study, for the first time, offered that the combine1 and F63Y mutants could highly improve the stability and activity of rhKGF and even reduce immunogenicity without having any significant effect on the biological functions of rhKGF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hourieh Kalhor
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
| | - Solmaz Sadeghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mahya Marashiyan
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maryam Enssi
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, IR, Iran.
| | - Reyhaneh Kalhor
- Department of Genetics, Colleague of Sciences, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran.
| | - Maziar Ganji
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Hamzeh Rahimi
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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30
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Giampetruzzi A, Danielson EW, Gumina V, Jeon M, Boopathy S, Brown RH, Ratti A, Landers JE, Fallini C. Modulation of actin polymerization affects nucleocytoplasmic transport in multiple forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3827. [PMID: 31444357 PMCID: PMC6707192 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11837-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. Although defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) may be central to the pathogenesis of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, the molecular mechanisms modulating the nuclear pore function are still largely unknown. Here we show that genetic and pharmacological modulation of actin polymerization disrupts nuclear pore integrity, nuclear import, and downstream pathways such as mRNA post-transcriptional regulation. Importantly, we demonstrate that modulation of actin homeostasis can rescue nuclear pore instability and dysfunction caused by mutant PFN1 as well as by C9ORF72 repeat expansion, the most common mutation in ALS patients. Collectively, our data link NCT defects to ALS-associated cellular pathology and propose the regulation of actin homeostasis as a novel therapeutic strategy for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Giampetruzzi
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Eric W Danielson
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Valentina Gumina
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Department of Neurology - Stroke Unit and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
| | - Maryangel Jeon
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Sivakumar Boopathy
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Department of Neurology - Stroke Unit and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - John E Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Claudia Fallini
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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31
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Pereira GRC, Tellini GHAS, De Mesquita JF. In silico analysis of PFN1 related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215723. [PMID: 31216283 PMCID: PMC6583998 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Profilin 1 (PFN1) protein plays key roles in neuronal growth and differentiation, membrane trafficking, and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Four natural variants of PFN1 were described as related to ALS, the most common adult-onset motor neuron disorder. However, the pathological mechanism of PFN1 in ALS is not yet completely understood. The goal of this work is to thoroughly analyze the effects of the ALS-related mutations on PFN1 structure and function using computational simulations. Here, PhD-SNP, PMUT, PolyPhen-2, SIFT, SNAP, SNPS&GO, SAAP, nsSNPAnalyzer, SNPeffect4.0 and I-Mutant2.0 were used to predict the functional and stability effects of PFN1 mutations. ConSurf was used for the evolutionary conservation analysis, and GROMACS was used to perform the MD simulations. The mutations C71G, M114T, and G118V, but not E117G, were predicted as deleterious by most of the functional prediction algorithms that were used. The stability prediction indicated that the ALS-related mutations could destabilize PFN1. The ConSurf analysis indicated that the mutation C71G, M114T, E117G, and G118V occur in highly conserved positions. The MD results indicated that the studied mutations could affect the PFN1 flexibility at the actin and PLP-binding domains, and consequently, their intermolecular interactions. It may be therefore related to the functional impairment of PFN1 upon C71G, M114T, E117G and G118V mutations, and their involvement in ALS development. We also developed a database, SNPMOL (http://www.snpmol.org/), containing the results presented on this paper for biologists and clinicians to exploit PFN1 and its natural variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Rodrigues Coutinho Pereira
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Giovanni Henrique Almeida Silva Tellini
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joelma Freire De Mesquita
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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32
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Mitochondrial Transport and Turnover in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. BIOLOGY 2019; 8:biology8020036. [PMID: 31083575 PMCID: PMC6627920 DOI: 10.3390/biology8020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurons are high-energy consuming cells, heavily dependent on mitochondria for ATP generation and calcium buffering. These mitochondrial functions are particularly critical at specific cellular sites, where ionic currents impose a large energetic burden, such as at synapses. The highly polarized nature of neurons, with extremely large axoplasm relative to the cell body, requires mitochondria to be efficiently transported along microtubules to reach distant sites. Furthermore, neurons are post-mitotic cells that need to maintain pools of healthy mitochondria throughout their lifespan. Hence, mitochondrial transport and turnover are essential processes for neuronal survival and function. In neurodegenerative diseases, the maintenance of a healthy mitochondrial network is often compromised. Numerous lines of evidence indicate that mitochondrial impairment contributes to neuronal demise in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where degeneration of motor neurons causes a fatal muscle paralysis. Dysfunctional mitochondria accumulate in motor neurons affected by genetic or sporadic forms of ALS, strongly suggesting that the inability to maintain a healthy pool of mitochondria plays a pathophysiological role in the disease. This article critically reviews current hypotheses on mitochondrial involvement in the pathogenesis of ALS, focusing on the alterations of mitochondrial axonal transport and turnover in motor neurons.
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Parakh S, Perri ER, Jagaraj CJ, Ragagnin AMG, Atkin JD. Rab-dependent cellular trafficking and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 53:623-651. [PMID: 30741580 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2018.1553926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Rab GTPases are becoming increasingly implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, although their role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been somewhat overlooked. However, dysfunction of intracellular transport is gaining increasing attention as a pathogenic mechanism in ALS. Many previous studies have focused axonal trafficking, and the extreme length of axons in motor neurons may contribute to their unique susceptibility in this disorder. In contrast, the role of transport defects within the cell body has been relatively neglected. Similarly, whilst Rab GTPases control all intracellular membrane trafficking events, their role in ALS is poorly understood. Emerging evidence now highlights this family of proteins in ALS, particularly the discovery that C9orf72 functions in intra transport in conjunction with several Rab GTPases. Here, we summarize recent updates on cellular transport defects in ALS, with a focus on Rab GTPases and how their dysfunction may specifically target neurons and contribute to pathophysiology. We discuss the molecular mechanisms associated with dysfunction of Rab proteins in ALS. Finally, we also discuss dysfunction in other modes of transport recently implicated in ALS, including nucleocytoplasmic transport and the ER-mitochondrial contact regions (MAM compartment), and speculate whether these may also involve Rab GTPases.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Parakh
- a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for MND Research , Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia.,b Department of Biochemistry and Genetics , La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University , Melbourne , Australia
| | - E R Perri
- a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for MND Research , Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia.,b Department of Biochemistry and Genetics , La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University , Melbourne , Australia
| | - C J Jagaraj
- a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for MND Research , Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia
| | - A M G Ragagnin
- a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for MND Research , Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia
| | - J D Atkin
- a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for MND Research , Macquarie University , Sydney , Australia.,b Department of Biochemistry and Genetics , La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University , Melbourne , Australia
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34
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Global analysis of methionine oxidation provides a census of folding stabilities for the human proteome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:6081-6090. [PMID: 30846556 PMCID: PMC6442572 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1819851116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Most natural proteins fold into a native folded conformation stabilized by noncovalent interactions. The free-energy difference between the folded and unfolded conformations of a protein (“thermodynamic folding stability”) establishes the fraction of its population that is in a folded conformation at equilibrium. Here, we used a mass spectrometry-based approach to measure the stabilities of ∼10,000 unique domains within ∼3,000 proteins in human cell extracts. Our data provide a global census of the magnitudes of folding stabilities within the human proteome and identify specific subsets of the proteome that are enriched in stable and unstable domains. We also show that the stability of proteins impacts their tendency to become oxidized and is globally altered by the chemical chaperone trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). The stability of proteins influences their tendency to aggregate, undergo degradation, or become modified in cells. Despite their significance to understanding protein folding and function, quantitative analyses of thermodynamic stabilities have been mostly limited to soluble proteins in purified systems. We have used a highly multiplexed proteomics approach, based on analyses of methionine oxidation rates, to quantify stabilities of ∼10,000 unique regions within ∼3,000 proteins in human cell extracts. The data identify lysosomal and extracellular proteins as the most stable ontological subsets of the proteome. We show that the stability of proteins impacts their tendency to become oxidized and is globally altered by the osmolyte trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). We also show that most proteins designated as intrinsically disordered retain their unfolded structure in the complex environment of the cell. Together, the data provide a census of the stability of the human proteome and validate a methodology for global quantitation of folding thermodynamics.
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35
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Nekouei M, Ghezellou P, Aliahmadi A, Arjmand S, Kiaei M, Ghassempour A. Changes in biophysical characteristics of PFN1 due to mutation causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Metab Brain Dis 2018; 33:1975-1984. [PMID: 30203378 PMCID: PMC6230493 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-018-0305-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Single amino acid mutations in profilin 1 (PFN1) have been found to cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recently, we developed a mouse model for ALS using a PFN1 mutation (glycine 118 to valine, G118V), and we are now interested in understanding how PFN1 becomes toxically lethal with only one amino acid substitution. Therefore, we studied mutation-related changes in the PFN1 protein and hypothesized that such changes significantly disturb its structure. Initially, we expressed and studied the purified PFN1WT and PFN1G118V proteins from bacterial culture. We found that the PFN1G118V protein has a different mean residue ellipticity, as measured by far-UV circular dichroism, accompanied by a spectral shift. The intrinsic fluorescence of PFN1G118V showed a small fluctuation in maximum fluorescence absorption and intensity. Moreover, we examined the time course of PFN1 aggregation using SDS-PAGE, western blotting, and MALDI-TOF/TOF and found that compared with PFN1WT, PFN1G118V had an increased tendency to form aggregates. Dynamic light scattering data confirmed this, showing a larger size distribution for PFN1G118V. Our data explain why PFN1G118V tends to aggregate, a phenotype that may be the basis for its neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Nekouei
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parviz Ghezellou
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atousa Aliahmadi
- Department of Biology, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sareh Arjmand
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Kiaei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Neurology, Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Alireza Ghassempour
- Department of Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, Iran.
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ALS-causing mutations in profilin-1 alter its conformational dynamics: A computational approach to explain propensity for aggregation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13102. [PMID: 30166578 PMCID: PMC6117255 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31199-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Profilin-1 (PFN1) is a 140-amino-acid protein with two distinct binding sites―one for actin and one for poly-L-proline (PLP). The best-described function of PFN1 is to catalyze actin elongation and polymerization. Thus far, eight DNA mutations in the PFN1 gene encoding the PFN1 protein are associated with human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We and others recently showed that two of these mutations (Gly118Val or G118V and Cys71Gly or C71G) cause ALS in rodents. In vitro studies suggested that Met114Thr and Thr109Met cause the protein to behave abnormally and cause neurotoxicity. The mechanism by which a single amino acid change in human PFN1 causes the degeneration of motor neurons is not known. In this study, we investigated the structural perturbations of PFN1 caused by each ALS-associated mutation. We used molecular dynamics simulations to assess how these mutations alter the secondary and tertiary structures of human PFN1. Herein, we present our in silico data and analysis on the effect of G118V and T109M mutations on PFN1 and its interactions with actin and PLP. The substitution of valine for glycine reduces the conformational flexibility of the loop region between the α-helix and β-strand and enhances the hydrophobicity of the region. Our in silico analysis of T109M indicates that this mutation alters the shape of the PLP-binding site and reduces the flexibility of this site. Simulation studies of PFN1 in its wild type (WT) and mutant forms (both G118V and T109M mutants) revealed differential fluctuation patterns and the formation of salt bridges and hydrogen bonds between critical residues that may shed light on differences between WT and mutant PFN1. In particular, we hypothesize that the flexibility of the actin- and PLP-binding sites in WT PFN1 may allow the protein to adopt slightly different conformations in its free and bound forms. These findings provide new insights into how each of these mutations in PFN1 might increase its propensity for misfolding and aggregation, leading to its dysfunction.
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Sun H, Qiao Z, Chua KP, Tursic A, Liu X, Gao YG, Mu Y, Hou X, Miao Y. Profilin Negatively Regulates Formin-Mediated Actin Assembly to Modulate PAMP-Triggered Plant Immunity. Curr Biol 2018; 28:1882-1895.e7. [PMID: 29861135 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Profilin functions with formin in actin assembly, a process that regulates multiple aspects of plant development and immune responses. High-level eukaryotes contain multiple isoforms of profilin, formin, and actin, whose partner-specific interactions in actin assembly are not completely understood in plant development and defense responses. To examine the functionally distinct interactions between profilin and formin, we studied all five Arabidopsis profilins and their interactions with formin by using both in vitro biochemical and in vivo cell biology approaches. Unexpectedly, we found a previously undescribed negative regulatory function of AtPRF3 in AtFH1-mediated actin polymerization. The N-terminal 37 residues of AtPRF3 were identified to play a predominant role in inhibiting formin-mediated actin nucleation via their high affinity for the formin polyproline region and their triggering of the oligomerization of AtPRF3. Both in vivo and in vitro mechanistic studies of AtPRF3 revealed a universal mechanism in which the weak interaction between profilin and formin positively regulates actin assembly by ensuring rapid recycling of profilin, whereas profilin oligomerization negatively regulates actin polymerization. Upon recognition of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern, the gene transcription and protein degradation of AtPRF3 are modulated for actin assembly during plant innate immunity. The prf3 Arabidopsis plants show higher sensitivity to the bacterial flagellum peptide in both the plant growth and ROS responses. These findings demonstrate a profilin-mediated actin assembly mechanism underlying the plant immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Sun
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Zhu Qiao
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Khi Pin Chua
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Alma Tursic
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Xu Liu
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Yong-Gui Gao
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A(∗)STAR, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Yuguang Mu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Xingliang Hou
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Yansong Miao
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637459, Singapore.
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38
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Del Poggetto E, Toto A, Aloise C, Di Piro F, Gori L, Malatesta F, Gianni S, Chiti F, Bemporad F. Stability of an aggregation-prone partially folded state of human profilin-1 correlates with aggregation propensity. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:10303-10313. [PMID: 29760185 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.002087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A set of missense mutations in the gene encoding profilin-1 has been linked to the onset of familial forms of ALS (fALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The pathogenic potential of these mutations is linked to the formation of intracellular inclusions of the mutant proteins and correlates with the mutation-induced destabilization of its native, fully folded state. However, the mechanism by which these mutations promote misfolding and self-assembly is yet unclear. Here, using temperature-jump and stopped-flow kinetic measurements, we show that, during refolding, WT profilin-1 transiently populates a partially folded (PF) state endowed with hydrophobic clusters exposed to the solvent and with no detectable secondary structure. We observed that this conformational state is marginally stable at neutral pH but becomes significantly populated at mildly acidic pH. Interestingly, the fALS-associated mutations did not cause a change in the refolding mechanism of profilin-1, but induced a stabilization of the PF state. In the presence of preformed profilin-1 aggregates, the PF state, unlike the unfolded and folded states, could interact with these aggregates via nonspecific hydrophobic interactions and also increase thioflavin-T fluorescence, revealing its amyloidogenic potential. Moreover, in the variants tested, we found a correlation between conformational stability of PF and aggregation propensity, defining this conformational state as an aggregation-prone folding intermediate. In conclusion, our findings indicate that mutation-induced stabilization of a partially folded state can enhance profilin-1 aggregation and thereby contribute to the pathogenicity of the mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Del Poggetto
- From the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio," University of Florence, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy
| | - Angelo Toto
- the Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche "A. Rossi Fanelli," Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy, and
| | - Chiara Aloise
- From the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio," University of Florence, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Piro
- From the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio," University of Florence, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy
| | - Ludovica Gori
- From the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio," University of Florence, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesco Malatesta
- the Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche "A. Rossi Fanelli," Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy, and
| | - Stefano Gianni
- the Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche "A. Rossi Fanelli," Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy, and.,the Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti and Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari del CNR, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Chiti
- From the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio," University of Florence, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesco Bemporad
- From the Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio," University of Florence, Viale G. B. Morgagni 50, 50134, Firenze, Italy,
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Lutz C. Mouse models of ALS: Past, present and future. Brain Res 2018; 1693:1-10. [PMID: 29577886 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Genome sequencing of both sporadic and familial patients of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) has led to the identification of new genes that are both contributing and causative in the disease. This gene discovery has come at an unprecedented rate, and much of it in recent years. Knowledge of these genetic mutations provides us with opportunities to uncover new and related mechanisms, increasing our understanding of the disease and bringing us closer to defined therapies for patients. Mouse models have played an important role in our current understanding of the pathophysiology of ALS and have served as important preclinical models in testing new therapeutics. With these new gene discoveries, new mouse models will follow. The information derived from these new models will depend on the careful construction and importantly, an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of each of the models. The genetic discovery in ALS comes at a time when genetic engineering technologies in mice are highly efficient through CRISPR/Cas9 and can be applied to a wide array of genetic backgrounds. New mouse resources in the forms of the Collaborative Cross and Diversity Outbred panels provide us with unique opportunities to study these mutations on diverse genetic backgrounds, and importantly in the context of a population. This review focuses on the mouse models of the past and present, and discusses exciting new opportunities for mouse models of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathleen Lutz
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA.
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40
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Uversky VN. The roles of intrinsic disorder-based liquid-liquid phase transitions in the "Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde" behavior of proteins involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Autophagy 2017; 13:2115-2162. [PMID: 28980860 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2017.1384889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathological developments leading to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are associated with misbehavior of several key proteins, such as SOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1), TARDBP/TDP-43, FUS, C9orf72, and dipeptide repeat proteins generated as a result of the translation of the intronic hexanucleotide expansions in the C9orf72 gene, PFN1 (profilin 1), GLE1 (GLE1, RNA export mediator), PURA (purine rich element binding protein A), FLCN (folliculin), RBM45 (RNA binding motif protein 45), SS18L1/CREST, HNRNPA1 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1), HNRNPA2B1 (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1), ATXN2 (ataxin 2), MAPT (microtubule associated protein tau), and TIA1 (TIA1 cytotoxic granule associated RNA binding protein). Although these proteins are structurally and functionally different and have rather different pathological functions, they all possess some levels of intrinsic disorder and are either directly engaged in or are at least related to the physiological liquid-liquid phase transitions (LLPTs) leading to the formation of various proteinaceous membrane-less organelles (PMLOs), both normal and pathological. This review describes the normal and pathological functions of these ALS- and FTLD-related proteins, describes their major structural properties, glances at their intrinsic disorder status, and analyzes the involvement of these proteins in the formation of normal and pathological PMLOs, with the ultimate goal of better understanding the roles of LLPTs and intrinsic disorder in the "Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde" behavior of those proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir N Uversky
- a Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute , Morsani College of Medicine , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL , USA.,b Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences , Pushchino, Moscow region , Russia
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41
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Henty-Ridilla JL, Juanes MA, Goode BL. Profilin Directly Promotes Microtubule Growth through Residues Mutated in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Curr Biol 2017; 27:3535-3543.e4. [PMID: 29129529 PMCID: PMC5772683 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Profilin is an abundant actin monomer-binding protein with critical actin regulatory roles in vivo [1, 2]. However, profilin also influences microtubule dynamics in cells, which may be mediated in part through its interactions with formins that in turn bind microtubules [3, 4]. Specific residues on human profilin-1 (PFN1) are mutated in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) [5, 6]. However, the observation that some ALS-linked PFN1 mutants fail to alter cellular actin organization or dynamics [5-8] or in vitro actin-monomer affinity [9] has been perplexing, given that profilin is best understood as an actin regulator. Here, we investigated direct effects of profilin on microtubule dynamics and whether ALS-linked mutations in PFN1 disrupt such functions. We found that human, fly, and yeast profilin homologs all directly enhance microtubule growth rate by several-fold in vitro. Microtubule stimulatory effects were unaffected by mutations in the canonical actin- or poly-proline-binding sites of profilin. Instead, microtubule activities depended on specific surface residues on profilin mutated in ALS patients. Furthermore, microtubule effects were attenuated by increasing concentrations of actin monomers, suggesting competition between actin and microtubules for binding profilin. Consistent with these biochemical observations, a 2-fold increase in the expression level of wild-type PFN1, but not the ALS-linked PFN1 mutants, increased microtubule growth rates in cells. Together, these results demonstrate that profilin directly enhances the growth rate of microtubules. They further suggest that ALS-linked mutations in PFN1 may perturb cellular microtubule dynamics and/or the coordination between the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons, leading to motor neuron degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M Angeles Juanes
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA
| | - Bruce L Goode
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
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42
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Wu CH, Giampetruzzi A, Tran H, Fallini C, Gao FB, Landers JE. A Drosophila model of ALS reveals a partial loss of function of causative human PFN1 mutants. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:2146-2155. [PMID: 28379367 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the profilin 1 (PFN1) gene are causative for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS). However, it is still not fully understood how these mutations lead to neurodegeneration. To address this question, we generated a novel Drosophila model expressing human wild-type and ALS-causative PFN1 mutants. We show that at larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJ), motor neuron expression of wild-type human PFN1 increases the number of ghost boutons, active zone density, F-actin content, and the formation of filopodia. In contrast, the expression of ALS-causative human PFN1 mutants causes a less pronounced phenotype, suggesting a loss of function of these mutants in promoting NMJ remodeling. Importantly, expression of human PFN1 in motor neurons results in progressive locomotion defects and shorter lifespan in adult flies, while ALS-causative PFN1 mutants display a less toxic effect. In summary, our study provides evidence that PFN1 is important in regulating NMJ morphology and influences survival and locomotion in Drosophila. Furthermore, our results suggest ALS-causative human PFN1 mutants display a partial loss of function relative to wild-type hPFN1 that may contribute to human disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Hong Wu
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Anthony Giampetruzzi
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Helene Tran
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Claudia Fallini
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - John E Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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43
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Lim L, Kang J, Song J. ALS-causing profilin-1-mutant forms a non-native helical structure in membrane environments. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1859:2161-2170. [PMID: 28847504 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite having physiological functions completely different from superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), profilin 1 (PFN1) also carries mutations causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with a striking similarity to that triggered by SOD1 mutants. Very recently, the C71G-PFN1 has been demonstrated to cause ALS by a gain of toxicity and the acceleration of motor neuron degeneration preceded the accumulation of its aggregates. Here by atomic-resolution NMR determination of conformations and dynamics of WT-PFN1 and C71G-PFN1 in aqueous buffers and in membrane mimetics DMPC/DHPC bicelle and DPC micelle, we deciphered that: 1) the thermodynamic destabilization by C71G transforms PFN1 into coexistence with the unfolded state, which is lacking of any stable tertiary/secondary structures as well as restricted ps-ns backbone motions, thus fundamentally indistinguishable from ALS-causing SOD1 mutants. 2) Most strikingly, while WT-PFN1 only weakly interacts with DMPC/DHPC bicelle without altering the native structure, C71G-PFN1 acquires abnormal capacity in strongly interacting with DMPC/DHPC bicelle and DPC micelle, energetically driven by transforming the highly disordered unfolded state into a non-native helical structure, similar to what has been previously observed on ALS-causing SOD1 mutants. Our results imply that one potential mechanism for C71G-PFN1 to initiate ALS might be the abnormal interaction with membranes as recently established for SOD1 mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangzhong Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore
| | - Jian Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore
| | - Jianxing Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, 119260, Singapore.
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44
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Del Poggetto E, Gori L, Chiti F. Biophysical analysis of three novel profilin-1 variants associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis indicates a correlation between their aggregation propensity and the structural features of their globular state. Biol Chem 2017; 397:927-37. [PMID: 27101547 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2016-0154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Profilin-1 is a small protein involved in actin-mediated cytoskeleton rearrangement. Recently, mutations of profilin-1 have been associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It was previously reported that pathogenic mutations of profilin-1 increase the aggregation propensity of this protein, leaving its function unaffected. However, it is not clear if the mutations act by decreasing the conformational stability or by promoting structural perturbations of the folded state of this protein. In this work we have purified three novel profilin-1 mutants that were recently discovered and have investigated their conformational stability, structural features and aggregation behaviour in vitro. Analysis of the data obtained with the three novel variants, and a global statistical analysis with all profilin-1 mutants so far characterised, indicate significant correlations between aggregation propensity and structural perturbations of the folded state, rather than its conformational stability, in this group of mutants.
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45
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Ciryam P, Lambert-Smith IA, Bean DM, Freer R, Cid F, Tartaglia GG, Saunders DN, Wilson MR, Oliver SG, Morimoto RI, Dobson CM, Vendruscolo M, Favrin G, Yerbury JJ. Spinal motor neuron protein supersaturation patterns are associated with inclusion body formation in ALS. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E3935-E3943. [PMID: 28396410 PMCID: PMC5441770 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1613854114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a heterogeneous degenerative motor neuron disease linked to numerous genetic mutations in apparently unrelated proteins. These proteins, including SOD1, TDP-43, and FUS, are highly aggregation-prone and form a variety of intracellular inclusion bodies that are characteristic of different neuropathological subtypes of the disease. Contained within these inclusions are a variety of proteins that do not share obvious characteristics other than coaggregation. However, recent evidence from other neurodegenerative disorders suggests that disease-affected biochemical pathways can be characterized by the presence of proteins that are supersaturated, with cellular concentrations significantly greater than their solubilities. Here, we show that the proteins that form inclusions of mutant SOD1, TDP-43, and FUS are not merely a subset of the native interaction partners of these three proteins, which are themselves supersaturated. To explain the presence of coaggregating proteins in inclusions in the brain and spinal cord, we observe that they have an average supersaturation even greater than the average supersaturation of the native interaction partners in motor neurons, but not when scores are generated from an average of other human tissues. These results suggest that inclusion bodies in various forms of ALS result from a set of proteins that are metastable in motor neurons, and thus prone to aggregation upon a disease-related progressive collapse of protein homeostasis in this specific setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajwal Ciryam
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom;
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3500
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicans & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032-3784
| | - Isabella A Lambert-Smith
- Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel M Bean
- Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Rosie Freer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Fernando Cid
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gian Gaetano Tartaglia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Darren N Saunders
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Mark R Wilson
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
| | - Stephen G Oliver
- Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Richard I Morimoto
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208-3500
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgio Favrin
- Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Justin J Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia;
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522 Australia
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Shahheydari H, Ragagnin A, Walker AK, Toth RP, Vidal M, Jagaraj CJ, Perri ER, Konopka A, Sultana JM, Atkin JD. Protein Quality Control and the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Frontotemporal Dementia Continuum. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:119. [PMID: 28539871 PMCID: PMC5423993 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, has an important regulatory role in cellular function. Protein quality control mechanisms, including protein folding and protein degradation processes, have a crucial function in post-mitotic neurons. Cellular protein quality control relies on multiple strategies, including molecular chaperones, autophagy, the ubiquitin proteasome system, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) and the formation of stress granules (SGs), to regulate proteostasis. Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the presence of misfolded protein aggregates, implying that protein quality control mechanisms are dysfunctional in these conditions. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are neurodegenerative diseases that are now recognized to overlap clinically and pathologically, forming a continuous disease spectrum. In this review article, we detail the evidence for dysregulation of protein quality control mechanisms across the whole ALS-FTD continuum, by discussing the major proteins implicated in ALS and/or FTD. We also discuss possible ways in which protein quality mechanisms could be targeted therapeutically in these disorders and highlight promising protein quality control-based therapeutics for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamideh Shahheydari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Audrey Ragagnin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adam K Walker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Reka P Toth
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marta Vidal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Cyril J Jagaraj
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma R Perri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anna Konopka
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jessica M Sultana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie UniversitySydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia
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Hensel N, Claus P. The Actin Cytoskeleton in SMA and ALS: How Does It Contribute to Motoneuron Degeneration? Neuroscientist 2017; 24:54-72. [PMID: 28459188 DOI: 10.1177/1073858417705059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are neurodegenerative diseases with overlapping clinical phenotypes based on impaired motoneuron function. However, the pathomechanisms of both diseases are largely unknown, and it is still unclear whether they converge on the molecular level. SMA is a monogenic disease caused by low levels of functional Survival of Motoneuron (SMN) protein, whereas ALS involves multiple genes as well as environmental factors. Recent evidence argues for involvement of actin regulation as a causative and dysregulated process in both diseases. ALS-causing mutations in the actin-binding protein profilin-1 as well as the ability of the SMN protein to directly bind to profilins argue in favor of a common molecular mechanism involving the actin cytoskeleton. Profilins are major regulat ors of actin-dynamics being involved in multiple neuronal motility and transport processes as well as modulation of synaptic functions that are impaired in models of both motoneuron diseases. In this article, we review the current literature in SMA and ALS research with a focus on the actin cytoskeleton. We propose a common molecular mechanism that explains the degeneration of motoneurons for SMA and some cases of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niko Hensel
- 1 Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,2 Niedersachsen Network on Neuroinfectiology (N-RENNT), Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Claus
- 1 Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,2 Niedersachsen Network on Neuroinfectiology (N-RENNT), Hannover, Germany.,3 Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
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48
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Fil D, DeLoach A, Yadav S, Alkam D, MacNicol M, Singh A, Compadre CM, Goellner JJ, O’Brien CA, Fahmi T, Basnakian AG, Calingasan NY, Klessner JL, Beal FM, Peters OM, Metterville J, Brown RH, Ling KK, Rigo F, Ozdinler PH, Kiaei M. Mutant Profilin1 transgenic mice recapitulate cardinal features of motor neuron disease. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:686-701. [PMID: 28040732 PMCID: PMC5968635 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent identification of profilin1 mutations in 25 familial ALS cases has linked altered function of this cytoskeleton-regulating protein to the pathogenesis of motor neuron disease. To investigate the pathological role of mutant profilin1 in motor neuron disease, we generated transgenic lines of mice expressing human profilin1 with a mutation at position 118 (hPFN1G118V). One of the mouse lines expressing high levels of mutant human PFN1 protein in the brain and spinal cord exhibited many key clinical and pathological features consistent with human ALS disease. These include loss of lower (ventral horn) and upper motor neurons (corticospinal motor neurons in layer V), mutant profilin1 aggregation, abnormally ubiquitinated proteins, reduced choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) enzyme expression, fragmented mitochondria, glial cell activation, muscle atrophy, weight loss, and reduced survival. Our investigations of actin dynamics and axonal integrity suggest that mutant PFN1 protein is associated with an abnormally low filamentous/globular (F/G)-actin ratio that may be the underlying cause of severe damage to ventral root axons resulting in a Wallerian-like degeneration. These observations indicate that our novel profilin1 mutant mouse line may provide a new ALS model with the opportunity to gain unique perspectives into mechanisms of neurodegeneration that contribute to ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fil
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
| | | | | | - Duah Alkam
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
| | | | | | | | - Joseph J. Goellner
- Division of Endocrinology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, AR,
USA
| | - Charles A. O’Brien
- Division of Endocrinology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, AR,
USA
| | | | - Alexei G. Basnakian
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Noel Y. Calingasan
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New
York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jodi L. Klessner
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of
Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 6011, USA
| | - Flint M. Beal
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New
York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Owen M. Peters
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School,
Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jake Metterville
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School,
Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Robert H. Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School,
Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Karen K.Y. Ling
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New
York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Frank Rigo
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New
York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - P. Hande Ozdinler
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of
Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 6011, USA
| | - Mahmoud Kiaei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Physiology and Biophysics
- Center for Translational Neuroscience
- Department of Neurology
- Department of Geriatrics, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences,
AR, USA
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49
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Mutant PFN1 causes ALS phenotypes and progressive motor neuron degeneration in mice by a gain of toxicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E6209-E6218. [PMID: 27681617 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1605964113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the profilin 1 (PFN1) gene cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of motor neurons leading to paralysis and eventually death. PFN1 is a small actin-binding protein that promotes formin-based actin polymerization and regulates numerous cellular functions, but how the mutations in PFN1 cause ALS is unclear. To investigate this problem, we have generated transgenic mice expressing either the ALS-associated mutant (C71G) or wild-type protein. Here, we report that mice expressing the mutant, but not the wild-type, protein had relentless progression of motor neuron loss with concomitant progressive muscle weakness ending in paralysis and death. Furthermore, mutant, but not wild-type, PFN1 forms insoluble aggregates, disrupts cytoskeletal structure, and elevates ubiquitin and p62/SQSTM levels in motor neurons. Unexpectedly, the acceleration of motor neuron degeneration precedes the accumulation of mutant PFN1 aggregates. These results suggest that although mutant PFN1 aggregation may contribute to neurodegeneration, it does not trigger its onset. Importantly, these experiments establish a progressive disease model that can contribute toward identifying the mechanisms of ALS pathogenesis and the development of therapeutic treatments.
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50
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Profilin1 biology and its mutation, actin(g) in disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 74:967-981. [PMID: 27669692 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2372-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Profilins were discovered in the 1970s and were extensively studied for their significant physiological roles. Profilin1 is the most prominent isoform and has drawn special attention due to its role in the cytoskeleton, cell signaling, and its link to conditions such as cancer and vascular hypertrophy. Recently, multiple mutations in the profilin1 gene were linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this review, we will discuss the physiological and pathological roles of profilin1. We will further highlight the cytoskeletal function and dysfunction caused by profilin1 dysregulation. Finally, we will discuss the implications of mutant profilin1 in various diseases with an emphasis on its contribution to the pathogenesis of ALS.
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