1
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Wang H, Hoffmann C, Tromm JV, Su X, Elliott J, Wang H, Baum J, Pang ZP, Milovanovic D, Shi Z. Live-Cell Quantification Reveals Viscoelastic Regulation of Synapsin Condensates by α-Synuclein. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.28.605529. [PMID: 39211102 PMCID: PMC11361170 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.28.605529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Synapsin and α-synuclein represent a growing list of condensate-forming proteins where the material states of condensates are directly linked to cellular functions (e.g., neurotransmission) and pathology (e.g., neurodegeneration). However, quantifying condensate material properties in living systems has been a significant challenge. To address this, we develop MAPAC (micropipette aspiration and whole-cell patch clamp), a platform that allows direct material quantification of condensates in live cells. We find 10,000-fold variations in the viscoelasticity of synapsin condensates, regulated by the partitioning of α-synuclein, a marker for synucleinopathies. Through in vitro reconstitutions, we identify 4 molecular factors that distinctly regulate the viscosity and interfacial tension of synapsin condensates, verifying the cellular effects of α-synuclein. Overall, our study provides unprecedented quantitative insights into the material properties of neuronal condensates and reveals a crucial role of α-synuclein in regulating condensate viscoelasticity. Furthermore, we envision MAPAC applicable to study a broad range of condensates in vivo. .
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2
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Shantaraman A, Dammer EB, Ugochukwu O, Duong DM, Yin L, Carter EK, Gearing M, Chen-Plotkin A, Lee EB, Trojanowski JQ, Bennett DA, Lah JJ, Levey AI, Seyfried NT, Higginbotham L. Network proteomics of the Lewy body dementia brain reveals presynaptic signatures distinct from Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:60. [PMID: 39107789 PMCID: PMC11302177 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-024-00749-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Lewy body dementia (LBD), a class of disorders comprising Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), features substantial clinical and pathological overlap with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The identification of biomarkers unique to LBD pathophysiology could meaningfully advance its diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Using quantitative mass spectrometry (MS), we measured over 9,000 proteins across 138 dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) tissues from a University of Pennsylvania autopsy collection comprising control, Parkinson's disease (PD), PDD, and DLB diagnoses. We then analyzed co-expression network protein alterations in those with LBD, validated these disease signatures in two independent LBD datasets, and compared these findings to those observed in network analyses of AD cases. The LBD network revealed numerous groups or "modules" of co-expressed proteins significantly altered in PDD and DLB, representing synaptic, metabolic, and inflammatory pathophysiology. A comparison of validated LBD signatures to those of AD identified distinct differences between the two diseases. Notably, synuclein-associated presynaptic modules were elevated in LBD but decreased in AD relative to controls. We also found that glial-associated matrisome signatures consistently elevated in AD were more variably altered in LBD, ultimately stratifying those LBD cases with low versus high burdens of concurrent beta-amyloid deposition. In conclusion, unbiased network proteomic analysis revealed diverse pathophysiological changes in the LBD frontal cortex distinct from alterations in AD. These results highlight the LBD brain network proteome as a promising source of biomarkers that could enhance clinical recognition and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anantharaman Shantaraman
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric B Dammer
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Obiadada Ugochukwu
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Duc M Duong
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luming Yin
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - E Kathleen Carter
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Marla Gearing
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alice Chen-Plotkin
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - James J Lah
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Allan I Levey
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Lenora Higginbotham
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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3
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Wang C, Zhang K, Cai B, Haller JE, Carnazza KE, Hu J, Zhao C, Tian Z, Hu X, Hall D, Qiang J, Hou S, Liu Z, Gu J, Zhang Y, Seroogy KB, Burré J, Fang Y, Liu C, Brunger AT, Li D, Diao J. VAMP2 chaperones α-synuclein in synaptic vesicle co-condensates. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:1287-1295. [PMID: 38951706 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01456-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation is closely associated with Parkinson's disease neuropathology. Physiologically, α-Syn promotes synaptic vesicle (SV) clustering and soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex assembly. However, the underlying structural and molecular mechanisms are uncertain and it is not known whether this function affects the pathological aggregation of α-Syn. Here we show that the juxtamembrane region of vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2)-a component of the SNARE complex that resides on SVs-directly interacts with the carboxy-terminal region of α-Syn through charged residues to regulate α-Syn's function in clustering SVs and promoting SNARE complex assembly by inducing a multi-component condensed phase of SVs, α-Syn and other components. Moreover, VAMP2 binding protects α-Syn against forming aggregation-prone oligomers and fibrils in these condensates. Our results suggest a molecular mechanism that maintains α-Syn's function and prevents its pathological amyloid aggregation, the failure of which may lead to Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuchu Wang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Cai
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jillian E Haller
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathryn E Carnazza
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jiaojiao Hu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyu Zhao
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqi Tian
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Daniel Hall
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jiali Qiang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shouqiao Hou
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenying Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinge Gu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaoyang Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Kim B Seroogy
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jacqueline Burré
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yanshan Fang
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Axel T Brunger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dan Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
- Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jiajie Diao
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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4
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Song SH, Augustine GJ. A role for synapsin tetramerization in synaptic vesicle clustering. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38979871 DOI: 10.1113/jp286177] [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: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Although synapsins have long been proposed to be key regulators of synaptic vesicle (SV) clustering, their mechanism of action has remained mysterious and somewhat controversial. Here, we review synapsins and their associations with each other and with SVs. We highlight the recent hypothesis that synapsin tetramerization is a mechanism for SV clustering. This hypothesis, which aligns with numerous experimental results, suggests that the larger size of synapsin tetramers, in comparison to dimers, allows tetramers to form optimal bridges between SVs that overcome the repulsive force associated with the negatively charged membrane of SVs and allow synapsins to form a reserve pool of SVs within presynaptic terminals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George J Augustine
- Temasek Life sciences Laboratory, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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5
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Bruentgens F, Moreno Velasquez L, Stumpf A, Parthier D, Breustedt J, Benfenati F, Milovanovic D, Schmitz D, Orlando M. The Lack of Synapsin Alters Presynaptic Plasticity at Hippocampal Mossy Fibers in Male Mice. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0330-23.2024. [PMID: 38866497 PMCID: PMC11223178 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0330-23.2024] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Synapsins are highly abundant presynaptic proteins that play a crucial role in neurotransmission and plasticity via the clustering of synaptic vesicles. The synapsin III isoform is usually downregulated after development, but in hippocampal mossy fiber boutons, it persists in adulthood. Mossy fiber boutons express presynaptic forms of short- and long-term plasticity, which are thought to underlie different forms of learning. Previous research on synapsins at this synapse focused on synapsin isoforms I and II. Thus, a complete picture regarding the role of synapsins in mossy fiber plasticity is still missing. Here, we investigated presynaptic plasticity at hippocampal mossy fiber boutons by combining electrophysiological field recordings and transmission electron microscopy in a mouse model lacking all synapsin isoforms. We found decreased short-term plasticity, i.e., decreased facilitation and post-tetanic potentiation, but increased long-term potentiation in male synapsin triple knock-out (KO) mice. At the ultrastructural level, we observed more dispersed vesicles and a higher density of active zones in mossy fiber boutons from KO animals. Our results indicate that all synapsin isoforms are required for fine regulation of short- and long-term presynaptic plasticity at the mossy fiber synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicitas Bruentgens
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Laura Moreno Velasquez
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Alexander Stumpf
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Daniel Parthier
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Jörg Breustedt
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa 16163, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa 16132, Italy
| | - Dragomir Milovanovic
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Dietmar Schmitz
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin 13125, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10115, Germany
| | - Marta Orlando
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
- NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
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6
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Burré J, Edwards RH, Halliday G, Lang AE, Lashuel HA, Melki R, Murayama S, Outeiro TF, Papa SM, Stefanis L, Woerman AL, Surmeier DJ, Kalia LV, Takahashi R. Research Priorities on the Role of α-Synuclein in Parkinson's Disease Pathogenesis. Mov Disord 2024. [PMID: 38946200 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29897] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Various forms of Parkinson's disease, including its common sporadic form, are characterized by prominent α-synuclein (αSyn) aggregation in affected brain regions. However, the role of αSyn in the pathogenesis and evolution of the disease remains unclear, despite vast research efforts of more than a quarter century. A better understanding of the role of αSyn, either primary or secondary, is critical for developing disease-modifying therapies. Previous attempts to hone this research have been challenged by experimental limitations, but recent technological advances may facilitate progress. The Scientific Issues Committee of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) charged a panel of experts in the field to discuss current scientific priorities and identify research strategies with potential for a breakthrough. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Burré
- Appel Institute for Alzheimer's Disease Research and Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert H Edwards
- Department of Physiology and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Glenda Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ronald Melki
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS, Fontenay-Aux-Roses, France
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
- The Brain Bank for Neurodevelopmental, Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Stella M Papa
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, and Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Leonidas Stefanis
- First Department of Neurology, Eginitio Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Amanda L Woerman
- Department of Biology, Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Prion Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Dalton James Surmeier
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Lorraine V Kalia
- Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryosuke Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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7
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White AJ, Clark KA, Alexander KD, Ramalingam N, Young-Pearse TL, Dettmer U, Selkoe DJ, Ho GPH. A stem cell-based assay platform demonstrates alpha-synuclein dependent synaptic dysfunction in patient-derived cortical neurons. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:107. [PMID: 38773105 PMCID: PMC11109103 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00725-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (αS)-rich Lewy bodies and neurites in the cerebral cortex correlate with the presence of dementia in Parkinson disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), but whether αS influences synaptic vesicle dynamics in human cortical neurons is unknown. Using a new iPSC-based assay platform for measuring synaptic vesicle cycling, we found that in human cortical glutamatergic neurons, increased αS from either transgenic expression or triplication of the endogenous locus in patient-derived neurons reduced synaptic vesicle cycling under both stimulated and spontaneous conditions. Thus, using a robust, easily adopted assay platform, we show for the first time αS-induced synaptic dysfunction in human cortical neurons, a key cellular substrate for PD dementia and DLB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J White
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Karis A Clark
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kellianne D Alexander
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nagendran Ramalingam
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Tracy L Young-Pearse
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ulf Dettmer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Dennis J Selkoe
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Gary P H Ho
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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8
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Stavsky A, Parra-Rivas LA, Tal S, Riba J, Madhivanan K, Roy S, Gitler D. Synapsin E-domain is essential for α-synuclein function. eLife 2024; 12:RP89687. [PMID: 38713200 PMCID: PMC11076041 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The cytosolic proteins synucleins and synapsins are thought to play cooperative roles in regulating synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling, but mechanistic insight is lacking. Here, we identify the synapsin E-domain as an essential functional binding-partner of α-synuclein (α-syn). Synapsin E-domain allows α-syn functionality, binds to α-syn, and is necessary and sufficient for enabling effects of α-syn at synapses of cultured mouse hippocampal neurons. Together with previous studies implicating the E-domain in clustering SVs, our experiments advocate a cooperative role for these two proteins in maintaining physiologic SV clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Stavsky
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBeer ShevaIsrael
| | - Leonardo A Parra-Rivas
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research NetworkChevy ChaseUnited States
| | - Shani Tal
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBeer ShevaIsrael
| | - Jen Riba
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBeer ShevaIsrael
| | | | - Subhojit Roy
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research NetworkChevy ChaseUnited States
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Daniel Gitler
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBeer ShevaIsrael
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9
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Mor DE. Keeping neuronal activity in check: a novel role for α-synuclein serine-129 phosphorylation in the healthy brain. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:382-383. [PMID: 38453543 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.02.006] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Phosphorylation of α-synuclein protein at serine-129 (Ser129P) is a widely used marker for disease pathology in neurodegenerative disorders termed synucleinopathies. In groundbreaking work by Parra-Rivas, Madhivanan et al., Ser129P was shown to facilitate the normal function of α-synuclein, bearing significant implications for the transition from a physiological to pathological state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E Mor
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
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10
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Jackson J, Hoffmann C, Scifo E, Wang H, Wischhof L, Piazzesi A, Mondal M, Shields H, Zhou X, Mondin M, Ryan EB, Döring H, Prehn JHM, Rottner K, Giannone G, Nicotera P, Ehninger D, Milovanovic D, Bano D. Actin-nucleation promoting factor N-WASP influences alpha-synuclein condensates and pathology. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:304. [PMID: 38693139 PMCID: PMC11063037 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06686-7] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal intraneuronal accumulation of soluble and insoluble α-synuclein (α-Syn) is one of the main pathological hallmarks of synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). It has been well documented that the reversible liquid-liquid phase separation of α-Syn can modulate synaptic vesicle condensates at the presynaptic terminals. However, α-Syn can also form liquid-like droplets that may convert into amyloid-enriched hydrogels or fibrillar polymorphs under stressful conditions. To advance our understanding on the mechanisms underlying α-Syn phase transition, we employed a series of unbiased proteomic analyses and found that actin and actin regulators are part of the α-Syn interactome. We focused on Neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) because of its association with a rare early-onset familial form of PD. In cultured cells, we demonstrate that N-WASP undergoes phase separation and can be recruited to synapsin 1 liquid-like droplets, whereas it is excluded from α-Syn/synapsin 1 condensates. Consistently, we provide evidence that wsp-1/WASL loss of function alters the number and dynamics of α-Syn inclusions in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Together, our findings indicate that N-WASP expression may create permissive conditions that promote α-Syn condensates and their potentially deleterious conversion into toxic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Jackson
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Hoffmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neuroscience, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Enzo Scifo
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Han Wang
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
| | - Lena Wischhof
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Antonia Piazzesi
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Hanna Shields
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Xuesi Zhou
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
| | - Magali Mondin
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, BIC, UAR 3420, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Eanna B Ryan
- RCSI Centre for Systems Medicine and Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences; SFI FutureNeuro Research Centre, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Hermann Döring
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig; Department of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jochen H M Prehn
- RCSI Centre for Systems Medicine and Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences; SFI FutureNeuro Research Centre, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Klemens Rottner
- Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität Braunschweig; Department of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gregory Giannone
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, UMR 5297, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Dan Ehninger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
| | - Dragomir Milovanovic
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany.
- Einstein Center for Neuroscience, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Daniele Bano
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
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11
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Runwal GM, Edwards RH. The role of α-synuclein in exocytosis. Exp Neurol 2024; 373:114668. [PMID: 38147972 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114668] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains poorly understood but multiple lines of evidence have converged on the presynaptic protein α-synuclein (αsyn). αSyn has been shown to regulate several cellular processes, however, its normal function remains poorly understood. In this review, we will specifically focus on its role in exocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam M Runwal
- Departments of Neurology and Physiology, UCSF School of Medicine, United States of America; Departments of Neurology and Physiology, UCSF School of Medicine, United States of America- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States of America
| | - Robert H Edwards
- Departments of Neurology and Physiology, UCSF School of Medicine, United States of America; Departments of Neurology and Physiology, UCSF School of Medicine, United States of America- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, United States of America.
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12
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Shantaraman A, Dammer EB, Ugochukwu O, Duong DM, Yin L, Carter EK, Gearing M, Chen-Plotkin A, Lee EB, Trojanowski JQ, Bennett DA, Lah JJ, Levey AI, Seyfried NT, Higginbotham L. Network Proteomics of the Lewy Body Dementia Brain Reveals Presynaptic Signatures Distinct from Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.23.576728. [PMID: 38328211 PMCID: PMC10849701 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.23.576728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Lewy body dementia (LBD), a class of disorders comprising Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), features substantial clinical and pathological overlap with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The identification of biomarkers unique to LBD pathophysiology could meaningfully advance its diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment. Using quantitative mass spectrometry (MS), we measured over 9,000 proteins across 138 dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) tissues from a University of Pennsylvania autopsy collection comprising control, Parkinson's disease (PD), PDD, and DLB diagnoses. We then analyzed co-expression network protein alterations in those with LBD, validated these disease signatures in two independent LBD datasets, and compared these findings to those observed in network analyses of AD cases. The LBD network revealed numerous groups or "modules" of co-expressed proteins significantly altered in PDD and DLB, representing synaptic, metabolic, and inflammatory pathophysiology. A comparison of validated LBD signatures to those of AD identified distinct differences between the two diseases. Notably, synuclein-associated presynaptic modules were elevated in LBD but decreased in AD relative to controls. We also found that glial-associated matrisome signatures consistently elevated in AD were more variably altered in LBD, ultimately stratifying those LBD cases with low versus high burdens of concurrent beta-amyloid deposition. In conclusion, unbiased network proteomic analysis revealed diverse pathophysiological changes in the LBD frontal cortex distinct from alterations in AD. These results highlight the LBD brain network proteome as a promising source of biomarkers that could enhance clinical recognition and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anantharaman Shantaraman
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric B. Dammer
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Obiadada Ugochukwu
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Duc M. Duong
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luming Yin
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - E. Kathleen Carter
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Marla Gearing
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alice Chen-Plotkin
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Edward B. Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Q. Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David A. Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - James J. Lah
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Allan I. Levey
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas T. Seyfried
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lenora Higginbotham
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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13
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Nordengen K, Morland C. From Synaptic Physiology to Synaptic Pathology: The Enigma of α-Synuclein. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:986. [PMID: 38256059 PMCID: PMC10815905 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020986] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) has gained significant attention due to its involvement in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease. However, its normal function in the human brain is equally fascinating. The α-syn protein is highly dynamic and can adapt to various conformational stages, which differ in their interaction with synaptic elements, their propensity to drive pathological aggregation, and their toxicity. This review will delve into the multifaceted role of α-syn in different types of synapses, shedding light on contributions to neurotransmission and overall brain function. We describe the physiological role of α-syn at central synapses, including the bidirectional interaction between α-syn and neurotransmitter systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Nordengen
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
| | - Cecilie Morland
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, 1068 Oslo, Norway
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14
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Moors TE, Milovanovic D. Defining a Lewy Body: Running Up the Hill of Shifting Definitions and Evolving Concepts. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2024; 14:17-33. [PMID: 38189713 PMCID: PMC10836569 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-230183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Lewy bodies (LBs) are pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, characterized by the accumulation of α-synuclein (αSyn) protein in the brain. While LBs were first described a century ago, their formation and morphogenesis mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we present a historical overview of LB definitions and highlight the importance of semantic clarity and precise definitions when describing brain inclusions. Recent breakthroughs in imaging revealed shared features within LB subsets and the enrichment of membrane-bound organelles in these structures, challenging the conventional LB formation model. We discuss the involvement of emerging concepts of liquid-liquid phase separation, where biomolecules demix from a solution to form dense condensates, as a potential LB formation mechanism. Finally, we emphasize the need for the operational definitions of LBs based on morphological characteristics and detection protocols, particularly in studies investigating LB formation mechanisms. A better understanding of LB organization and ultrastructure can contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim E. Moors
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dragomir Milovanovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neuroscience, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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15
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Wallace JN, Crockford ZC, Román-Vendrell C, Brady EB, Hoffmann C, Vargas KJ, Potcoava M, Wegman ME, Alford ST, Milovanovic D, Morgan JR. Excess phosphoserine-129 α-synuclein induces synaptic vesicle trafficking and declustering defects at a vertebrate synapse. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar10. [PMID: 37991902 PMCID: PMC10881165 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-07-0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein is a presynaptic protein that regulates synaptic vesicle (SV) trafficking. In Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), α-synuclein aberrantly accumulates throughout neurons, including at synapses. During neuronal activity, α-synuclein is reversibly phosphorylated at serine 129 (pS129). While pS129 comprises ∼4% of total α-synuclein under physiological conditions, it dramatically increases in PD and DLB brains. The impacts of excess pS129 on synaptic function are currently unknown. We show here that compared with wild-type (WT) α-synuclein, pS129 exhibits increased binding and oligomerization on synaptic membranes and enhanced vesicle "microclustering" in vitro. Moreover, when acutely injected into lamprey reticulospinal axons, excess pS129 α-synuclein robustly localized to synapses and disrupted SV trafficking in an activity-dependent manner, as assessed by ultrastructural analysis. Specifically, pS129 caused a declustering and dispersion of SVs away from the synaptic vicinity, leading to a significant loss of total synaptic membrane. Live imaging further revealed altered SV cycling, as well as microclusters of recently endocytosed SVs moving away from synapses. Thus, excess pS129 caused an activity-dependent inhibition of SV trafficking via altered vesicle clustering/reclustering. This work suggests that accumulation of pS129 at synapses in diseases like PD and DLB could have profound effects on SV dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Emily B. Brady
- Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, and
| | - Christian Hoffmann
- Whitman Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karina J. Vargas
- Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, and
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261
| | - Mariana Potcoava
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612
| | | | - Simon T. Alford
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Dragomir Milovanovic
- Whitman Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
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16
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Parra-Rivas LA, Madhivanan K, Aulston BD, Wang L, Prakashchand DD, Boyer NP, Saia-Cereda VM, Branes-Guerrero K, Pizzo DP, Bagchi P, Sundar VS, Tang Y, Das U, Scott DA, Rangamani P, Ogawa Y, Subhojit Roy. Serine-129 phosphorylation of α-synuclein is an activity-dependent trigger for physiologic protein-protein interactions and synaptic function. Neuron 2023; 111:4006-4023.e10. [PMID: 38128479 PMCID: PMC10766085 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorylation of α-synuclein at the serine-129 site (α-syn Ser129P) is an established pathologic hallmark of synucleinopathies and a therapeutic target. In physiologic states, only a fraction of α-syn is phosphorylated at this site, and most studies have focused on the pathologic roles of this post-translational modification. We found that unlike wild-type (WT) α-syn, which is widely expressed throughout the brain, the overall pattern of α-syn Ser129P is restricted, suggesting intrinsic regulation. Surprisingly, preventing Ser129P blocked activity-dependent synaptic attenuation by α-syn-thought to reflect its normal function. Exploring mechanisms, we found that neuronal activity augments Ser129P, which is a trigger for protein-protein interactions that are necessary for mediating α-syn function at the synapse. AlphaFold2-driven modeling and membrane-binding simulations suggest a scenario where Ser129P induces conformational changes that facilitate interactions with binding partners. Our experiments offer a new conceptual platform for investigating the role of Ser129 in synucleinopathies, with implications for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo A Parra-Rivas
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Kayalvizhi Madhivanan
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Brent D Aulston
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lina Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Dube Dheeraj Prakashchand
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas P Boyer
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Veronica M Saia-Cereda
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kristen Branes-Guerrero
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Donald P Pizzo
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pritha Bagchi
- Emory Integrated Proteomics Core, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - V S Sundar
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yong Tang
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Utpal Das
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David A Scott
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Padmini Rangamani
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yuki Ogawa
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Subhojit Roy
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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17
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Stavsky A, Parra-Rivas LA, Tal S, Riba J, Madhivanan K, Roy S, Gitler D. Synapsin E-domain is essential for α-synuclein function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.24.546170. [PMID: 37425805 PMCID: PMC10327093 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.24.546170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The cytosolic proteins synucleins and synapsins are thought to play cooperative roles in regulating synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling, but mechanistic insight is lacking. Here we identify the synapsin E-domain as an essential functional binding-partner of α-synuclein (α-syn). Synapsin E-domain allows α-syn functionality, binds to α-syn, and is necessary and sufficient for enabling effects of α-syn at the synapse. Together with previous studies implicating the E-domain in clustering SVs, our experiments advocate a cooperative role for these two proteins in maintaining physiologic SV clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Stavsky
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Leonardo A. Parra-Rivas
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
| | - Shani Tal
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Jen Riba
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Kayalvizhi Madhivanan
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Current address: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena, CA, 91105
| | - Subhojit Roy
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815
| | - Daniel Gitler
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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18
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Ramalingam N, Brontesi L, Jin S, Selkoe DJ, Dettmer U. Dynamic reversibility of α-synuclein serine-129 phosphorylation is impaired in synucleinopathy models. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57145. [PMID: 37870370 PMCID: PMC10702791 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357145] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein phosphorylation at serine-129 (pS129) is a widely used surrogate marker of pathology in Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies. However, we recently demonstrated that phosphorylation of S129 is also a physiological activator of synaptic transmission. In a feed-forward fashion, neuronal activity triggers reversible pS129. Here, we show that Parkinson's disease-linked missense mutations in SNCA impact activity-dependent pS129. Under basal conditions, cytosol-enriched A30P, H50Q, and G51D mutant forms of α-synuclein exhibit reduced pS129 levels in rat primary cortical neurons. A53T pS129 levels are similar to wild-type, and E46K pS129 levels are higher. A30P and E46K mutants show impaired reversibility of pS129 after stimulation. For the engineered profoundly membrane-associated α-synuclein mutant "3K" (E35K + E46K + E61K), de-phosphorylation was virtually absent after blocking stimulation, implying that reversible pS129 is severely compromised. Importantly, pS129 excess resulting from proteasome inhibition is also associated with reduced reversibility by neuronal inhibition, kinase inhibition, or phosphatase activation. Our findings suggest that perturbed pS129 dynamics are probably a shared characteristic of pathology-associated α-synuclein, with possible implications for synucleinopathy treatment and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagendran Ramalingam
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic DiseasesBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Lisa Brontesi
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic DiseasesBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Shan‐Xue Jin
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic DiseasesBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Dennis J Selkoe
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic DiseasesBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Ulf Dettmer
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic DiseasesBrigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
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19
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Whitcomb K, Warncke K. Oligomeric and Fibrillar α-Synuclein Display Persistent Dynamics and Compressibility under Controlled Confinement. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3905-3912. [PMID: 37861459 PMCID: PMC10623556 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00470] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The roles of α-synuclein in neurotransmitter release in brain neurons and in the Parkinson's disease condition have challenged comprehensive description. To gain insight into molecular mechanistic properties that actuate α-synuclein function and dysfunction, the coupled protein and solvent dynamics of oligomer and fibril forms of human α-synuclein are examined in a low-temperature system that allows control of confinement and localization of a motionally sensitive electron paramagnetic resonance spin probe in the coupled solvent-protein regions. The rotational mobility of the spin probe resolves two distinct α-synuclein-associated solvent components for oligomers and fibrils, as for globular proteins, but with dramatically higher fluidities at each temperature, that are comparable to low-confinement, aqueous-cryosolvent mesophases. In contrast to the temperature-independent volumes of the solvent phases that surround globular and condensate-forming proteins, the higher-fluidity mesophase volume of α-synuclein oligomers and fibrils decreases with decreasing temperature, signaling a compression of this phase. This unique property and thermal hysteresis in the mobilities and component weights, together with previous high-resolution structural characterizations, suggest a model in which the dynamically disordered C-terminal domain of α-synuclein creates a compressible phase that maintains high fluidity under confinement. Robust dynamics and compressibility are fundamental molecular mechanical properties of α-synuclein oligomers and fibrils, which may contribute to dysfunction and inform about function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie
Lynn Whitcomb
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Kurt Warncke
- Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
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20
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Vargas KJ, Colosi PL, Girardi E, Park JM, Harmon LE, Chandra SS. α-Synuclein colocalizes with AP180 and affects the size of clathrin lattices. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105091. [PMID: 37516240 PMCID: PMC10470054 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein and family members β- and γ-synuclein are presynaptic proteins that sense and generate membrane curvature, properties important for synaptic vesicle (SV) cycling. αβγ-synuclein triple knockout neurons exhibit SV endocytosis deficits. Here, we investigated if α-synuclein affects clathrin assembly in vitro. Visualizing clathrin assembly on membranes using a lipid monolayer system revealed that α-synuclein increases clathrin lattices size and curvature. On cell membranes, we observe that α-synuclein is colocalized with clathrin and its adapter AP180 in a concentric ring pattern. Clathrin puncta that contain both α-synuclein and AP180 were significantly larger than clathrin puncta containing either protein alone. We determined that this effect occurs in part through colocalization of α-synuclein with the phospholipid PI(4,5)P2 in the membrane. Immuno-electron microscopy (EM) of synaptosomes uncovered that α-synuclein relocalizes from SVs to the presynaptic membrane upon stimulation, positioning α-synuclein to function on presynaptic membranes during or after stimulation. Additionally, we show that deletion of synucleins impacts brain-derived clathrin-coated vesicle size. Thus, α-synuclein affects the size and curvature of clathrin structures on membranes and functions as an endocytic accessory protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina J Vargas
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - P L Colosi
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; PREP Program, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Eric Girardi
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jae-Min Park
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Leah E Harmon
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sreeganga S Chandra
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
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21
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Sant'Anna R, Robbs BK, de Freitas JA, Dos Santos PP, König A, Outeiro TF, Foguel D. The alpha-synuclein oligomers activate nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) modulating synaptic homeostasis and apoptosis. Mol Med 2023; 29:111. [PMID: 37596531 PMCID: PMC10439599 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00704-8] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soluble oligomeric forms of alpha-synuclein (aSyn-O) are believed to be one of the main toxic species in Parkinson's disease (PD) leading to degeneration. aSyn-O can induce Ca2+ influx, over activating downstream pathways leading to PD phenotype. Calcineurin (CN), a phosphatase regulated by Ca2+ levels, activates NFAT transcription factors that are involved in the regulation of neuronal plasticity, growth, and survival. METHODS Here, using a combination of cell toxicity and gene regulation assays performed in the presence of classical inhibitors of the NFAT/CN pathway, we investigate NFAT's role in neuronal degeneration induced by aSyn-O. RESULTS aSyn-O are toxic to neurons leading to cell death, loss of neuron ramification and reduction of synaptic proteins which are reversed by CN inhibition with ciclosporin-A or VIVIT, a NFAT specific inhibitor. aSyn-O induce NFAT nuclear translocation and transactivation. We found that aSyn-O modulates the gene involved in the maintenance of synapses, synapsin 1 (Syn 1). Syn1 mRNA and protein and synaptic puncta are drastically reduced in cells treated with aSyn-O which are reversed by NFAT inhibition. CONCLUSIONS For the first time a direct role of NFAT in aSyn-O-induced toxicity and Syn1 gene regulation was demonstrated, enlarging our understanding of the pathways underpinnings synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Sant'Anna
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
- Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Bloco E sala 42, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-590, Brazil
| | - Bruno K Robbs
- Departamento de Ciência Básica, Instituto de Saúde de Nova Friburgo, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Nova Friburgo, RJ, 28625-650, Brazil
| | - Júlia Araújo de Freitas
- Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Bloco E sala 42, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-590, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Pires Dos Santos
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annekatrin König
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Waldweg 33, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Debora Foguel
- Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Bloco E sala 42, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-590, Brazil.
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22
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Sansevrino R, Hoffmann C, Milovanovic D. Condensate biology of synaptic vesicle clusters. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:293-306. [PMID: 36725404 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal communication crucially relies on exocytosis of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles (SVs) which are clustered at synapses. To ensure reliable neurotransmitter release, synapses need to maintain an adequate pool of SVs at all times. Decades of research have established that SVs are clustered by synapsin 1, an abundant SV-associated phosphoprotein. The classical view postulates that SVs are crosslinked in a scaffold of protein-protein interactions between synapsins and their binding partners. Recent studies have shown that synapsins cluster SVs via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), thus providing a new framework for the organization of the synapse. We discuss the evidence for phase separation of SVs, emphasizing emerging questions related to its regulation, specificity, and reversibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Sansevrino
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Hoffmann
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dragomir Milovanovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany.
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23
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Nam J, Gwon Y. Neuronal biomolecular condensates and their implications in neurodegenerative diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1145420. [PMID: 37065458 PMCID: PMC10102667 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1145420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are subcellular organizations where functionally related proteins and nucleic acids are assembled through liquid-liquid phase separation, allowing them to develop on a larger scale without a membrane. However, biomolecular condensates are highly vulnerable to disruptions from genetic risks and various factors inside and outside the cell and are strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to the classical view of the nucleation-polymerization process that triggers the protein aggregation from the misfolded seed, the pathologic transition of biomolecular condensates can also promote the aggregation of proteins found in the deposits of neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, it has been suggested that several protein or protein-RNA complexes located in the synapse and along the neuronal process are neuron-specific condensates displaying liquid-like properties. As their compositional and functional modifications play a crucial role in the context of neurodegeneration, further research is needed to fully understand the role of neuronal biomolecular condensates. In this article, we will discuss recent findings that explore the pivotal role of biomolecular condensates in the development of neuronal defects and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Youngdae Gwon
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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24
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Lazarev VF, Dutysheva EA, Kanunikov IE, Guzhova IV, Margulis BA. Protein Interactome of Amyloid-β as a Therapeutic Target. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:312. [PMID: 37259455 PMCID: PMC9965366 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The amyloid concept of Alzheimer's disease (AD) assumes the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) as the main pathogenic factor, which injures neural and other brain cells, causing their malfunction and death. Although Aβ has been documented to exert its cytotoxic effect in a solitary manner, there is much evidence to claim that its toxicity can be modulated by other proteins. The list of such Aβ co-factors or interactors includes tau, APOE, transthyretin, and others. These molecules interact with the peptide and affect the ability of Aβ to form oligomers or aggregates, modulating its toxicity. Thus, the list of potential substances able to reduce the harmful effects of the peptide should include ones that can prevent the pathogenic interactions by specifically binding Aβ and/or its partners. In the present review, we discuss the data on Aβ-based complexes in AD pathogenesis and on the compounds directly targeting Aβ or the destructors of its complexes with other polypeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir F. Lazarev
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elizaveta A. Dutysheva
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Igor E. Kanunikov
- Biological Faculty, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina V. Guzhova
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Boris A. Margulis
- Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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25
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Sharma M, Burré J. α-Synuclein in synaptic function and dysfunction. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:153-166. [PMID: 36567199 PMCID: PMC9877183 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein is a neuronal protein that is enriched in presynaptic terminals. Under physiological conditions, it binds to synaptic vesicle membranes and functions in neurotransmitter release, although the molecular details remain unclear, and it is controversial whether α-synuclein inhibits or facilitates neurotransmitter release. Pathologically, in synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease (PD), α-synuclein forms aggregates that recruit monomeric α-synuclein and spread throughout the brain, which triggers neuronal dysfunction at molecular, cellular, and organ levels. Here, we present an overview of the effects of α-synuclein on SNARE-complex assembly, neurotransmitter release, and synaptic vesicle pool homeostasis, and discuss how the observed divergent effects of α-synuclein on neurotransmitter release can be reconciled. We also discuss how gain-of-function versus loss-of-function of α-synuclein may contribute to pathogenesis in synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Sharma
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jacqueline Burré
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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26
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Wu X, Qiu H, Zhang M. Interactions between Membraneless Condensates and Membranous Organelles at the Presynapse: A Phase Separation View of Synaptic Vesicle Cycle. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167629. [PMID: 35595170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Action potential-induced neurotransmitter release in presynaptic boutons involves coordinated actions of a large list of proteins that are associated directly or indirectly with membrane structures including synaptic vesicles and plasma membranes. These proteins are often highly abundant in different synaptic bouton sub-compartments, and they rarely act alone. Instead, these proteins interact with each other forming intricate and distinct molecular complexes. Many of these complexes form condensed clusters on membrane surfaces. This review summarizes findings in recent years showing that many of presynaptic protein complex assemblies are formed via phase separation. These protein condensates extensively interact with lipid membranes via distinct modes, forming various mesoscale structures by different mode of organizations between membraneless condensates and membranous organelles. We discuss that such mesoscale interactions could have deep implications on mobilization, exocytosis, and retrieval of synaptic vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiandeng Wu
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hua Qiu
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- Greater Bay Biomedical Innocenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518036, China; School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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27
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Gao V, Briano JA, Komer LE, Burré J. Functional and Pathological Effects of α-Synuclein on Synaptic SNARE Complexes. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167714. [PMID: 35787839 PMCID: PMC10472340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein is an abundant protein at the neuronal synapse that has been implicated in Parkinson's disease for over 25 years and characterizes the hallmark pathology of a group of neurodegenerative diseases now known as the synucleinopathies. Physiologically, α-synuclein exists in an equilibrium between a synaptic vesicle membrane-bound α-helical multimer and a cytosolic largely unstructured monomer. Through its membrane-bound state, α-synuclein functions in neurotransmitter release by modulating several steps in the synaptic vesicle cycle, including synaptic vesicle clustering and docking, SNARE complex assembly, and homeostasis of synaptic vesicle pools. These functions have been ascribed to α-synuclein's interactions with the synaptic vesicle SNARE protein VAMP2/synaptobrevin-2, the synaptic vesicle-attached synapsins, and the synaptic vesicle membrane itself. How α-synuclein affects these processes, and whether disease is due to loss-of-function or gain-of-toxic-function of α-synuclein remains unclear. In this review, we provide an in-depth summary of the existing literature, discuss possible reasons for the discrepancies in the field, and propose a working model that reconciles the findings in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Gao
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Juan A Briano
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren E Komer
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA. https://www.twitter.com/lauren_komer
| | - Jacqueline Burré
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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28
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Al-Harthi S, Kharchenko V, Mandal P, Gourdoupis S, Jaremko Ł. Zinc ions prevent α-synuclein aggregation by enhancing chaperone function of human serum albumin. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 222:2878-2887. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.10.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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29
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Prieto Huarcaya S, Drobny A, Marques ARA, Di Spiezio A, Dobert JP, Balta D, Werner C, Rizo T, Gallwitz L, Bub S, Stojkovska I, Belur NR, Fogh J, Mazzulli JR, Xiang W, Fulzele A, Dejung M, Sauer M, Winner B, Rose-John S, Arnold P, Saftig P, Zunke F. Recombinant pro-CTSD (cathepsin D) enhances SNCA/α-Synuclein degradation in α-Synucleinopathy models. Autophagy 2022; 18:1127-1151. [PMID: 35287553 PMCID: PMC9196656 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2022.2045534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the abnormal intracellular accumulation of SNCA/α-synuclein. While the exact mechanisms underlying SNCA pathology are not fully understood, increasing evidence suggests the involvement of autophagy as well as lysosomal deficiencies. Because CTSD (cathepsin D) has been proposed to be the major lysosomal protease involved in SNCA degradation, its deficiency has been linked to the presence of insoluble SNCA conformers in the brain of mice and humans as well as to the transcellular transmission of SNCA aggregates. We here postulate that SNCA degradation can be enhanced by the application of the recombinant human proform of CTSD (rHsCTSD). Our results reveal that rHsCTSD is efficiently endocytosed by neuronal cells, correctly targeted to lysosomes and matured to an enzymatically active protease. In dopaminergic neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) of PD patients harboring the A53T mutation within the SNCA gene, we confirm the reduction of insoluble SNCA after treatment with rHsCTSD. Moreover, we demonstrate a decrease of pathological SNCA conformers in the brain and within primary neurons of a ctsd-deficient mouse model after dosing with rHsCTSD. Boosting lysosomal CTSD activity not only enhanced SNCA clearance in human and murine neurons as well as tissue, but also restored endo-lysosome and autophagy function. Our findings indicate that CTSD is critical for SNCA clearance and function. Thus, enzyme replacement strategies utilizing CTSD may also be of therapeutic interest for the treatment of PD and other synucleinopathies aiming to decrease the SNCA burden.Abbreviations: aa: amino acid; SNCA/α-synuclein: synuclein alpha; APP: amyloid beta precursor protein; BBB: blood brain barrier; BF: basal forebrain; CBB: Coomassie Brilliant Blue; CLN: neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis; CNL10: neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 10; Corr.: corrected; CTSD: cathepsin D; CTSB: cathepsin B; DA: dopaminergic; DA-iPSn: induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons; dox: doxycycline; ERT: enzyme replacement therapy; Fx: fornix, GBA/β-glucocerebrosidase: glucosylceramidase beta; h: hour; HC: hippocampus; HT: hypothalamus; i.c.: intracranially; IF: immunofluorescence; iPSC: induced pluripotent stem cell; KO: knockout; LAMP1: lysosomal associated membrane protein 1; LSDs: lysosomal storage disorders; MAPT: microtubule associated protein tau; M6P: mannose-6-phosphate; M6PR: mannose-6-phosphate receptor; MB: midbrain; mCTSD: mature form of CTSD; neurofil.: neurofilament; PD: Parkinson disease; proCTSD: proform of CTSD; PRNP: prion protein; RFU: relative fluorescence units; rHsCTSD: recombinant human proCTSD; SAPC: Saposin C; SIM: structured illumination microscopy; T-insol: Triton-insoluble; T-sol: Triton-soluble; TEM: transmission electron microscopy, TH: tyrosine hydroxylase; Thal: thalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alice Drobny
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Fau), Erlangen, Germany
| | - André R A Marques
- iNOVA4Health, Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), Nova Medical School, Nms, Nova University Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Jan Philipp Dobert
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Fau), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Denise Balta
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Fau), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Werner
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tania Rizo
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lisa Gallwitz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Simon Bub
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Fau), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Iva Stojkovska
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois USA
| | - Nandkishore R Belur
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois USA
| | | | - Joseph R Mazzulli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Wei Xiang
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Fau), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Amitkumar Fulzele
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Ackermannweg 4, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mario Dejung
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Ackermannweg 4, Mainz, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Beate Winner
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Rose-John
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Philipp Arnold
- Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Paul Saftig
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Friederike Zunke
- Department of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Fau), Erlangen, Germany
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30
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Langen B, Vorontsov E, Spetz J, Swanpalmer J, Sihlbom C, Helou K, Forssell-Aronsson E. Age and sex effects across the blood proteome after ionizing radiation exposure can bias biomarker screening and risk assessment. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7000. [PMID: 35487913 PMCID: PMC9055069 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10271-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular biomarkers of ionizing radiation (IR) exposure are a promising new tool in various disciplines: they can give necessary information for adaptive treatment planning in cancer radiotherapy, enable risk projection for radiation-induced survivorship diseases, or facilitate triage and intervention in radiation hazard events. However, radiation biomarker discovery has not yet resolved the most basic features of personalized medicine: age and sex. To overcome this critical bias in biomarker identification, we quantitated age and sex effects and assessed their relevance in the radiation response across the blood proteome. We used high-throughput mass spectrometry on blood plasma collected 24 h after 0.5 Gy total body irradiation (15 MV nominal photon energy) from male and female C57BL/6 N mice at juvenile (7-weeks-old) or adult (18-weeks-old) age. We also assessed sex and strain effects using juvenile male and female BALB/c nude mice. We showed that age and sex created significant effects in the proteomic response regarding both extent and functional quality of IR-induced responses. Furthermore, we found that age and sex effects appeared non-linear and were often end-point specific. Overall, age contributed more to differences in the proteomic response than sex, most notably in immune responses, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cell death. Interestingly, sex effects were pronounced for DNA damage and repair pathways and associated cellular outcome (pro-survival vs. pro-apoptotic). Only one protein (AHSP) was identified as a potential general biomarker candidate across age and sex, while GMNN, REG3B, and SNCA indicated some response similarity across age. This low yield advocated that unisex or uniage biomarker screening approaches are not feasible. In conclusion, age- and sex-specific screening approaches should be implemented as standard protocol to ensure robustness and diagnostic power of biomarker candidates. Bias-free molecular biomarkers are a necessary progression towards personalized medicine and integral for advanced adaptive cancer radiotherapy and risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britta Langen
- Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Section of Molecular Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
| | - Egor Vorontsov
- Proteomics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Johan Spetz
- Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - John Swanpalmer
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Carina Sihlbom
- Proteomics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Khalil Helou
- Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eva Forssell-Aronsson
- Department of Radiation Physics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
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31
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Carnazza KE, Komer LE, Xie YX, Pineda A, Briano JA, Gao V, Na Y, Ramlall T, Buchman VL, Eliezer D, Sharma M, Burré J. Synaptic vesicle binding of α-synuclein is modulated by β- and γ-synucleins. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110675. [PMID: 35417693 PMCID: PMC9116446 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
α-synuclein, β-synuclein, and γ-synuclein are abundantly expressed proteins in the vertebrate nervous system. α-synuclein functions in neurotransmitter release by binding to and clustering synaptic vesicles and chaperoning SNARE-complex assembly. Pathologically, aggregates originating from soluble pools of α-synuclein are deposited into Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies. The functions of β-synuclein and γ-synuclein in presynaptic terminals remain poorly studied. Using in vitro liposome binding studies, circular dichroism spectroscopy, immunoprecipitation, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments on isolated synaptic vesicles in combination with subcellular fractionation of brains from synuclein mouse models, we show that β-synuclein and γ-synuclein have a reduced affinity toward synaptic vesicles compared with α-synuclein, and that heteromerization of β-synuclein or γ-synuclein with α-synuclein results in reduced synaptic vesicle binding of α-synuclein in a concentration-dependent manner. Our data suggest that β-synuclein and γ-synuclein are modulators of synaptic vesicle binding of α-synuclein and thereby reduce α-synuclein's physiological activity at the neuronal synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Carnazza
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Lauren E Komer
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Ying Xue Xie
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - André Pineda
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Juan Antonio Briano
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Virginia Gao
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Yoonmi Na
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Trudy Ramlall
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Vladimir L Buchman
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF103AX, UK; Belgorod State National Research University, 85 Pobedy Street, Belgorod, Belgorod 308015, Russian Federation
| | - David Eliezer
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Manu Sharma
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Jacqueline Burré
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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Lan-Mark S, Miller Y. Insights into the Interactions that Trigger the Primary Nucleation of Polymorphic α-Synuclein Dimers. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:370-378. [PMID: 35044156 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is associated with the accumulation of α-synuclein (AS) aggregates that include polymorphic AS oligomers and polymorphic fibrils. There have been advances in solving the polymorphic state of AS fibrils, both by experimental techniques and molecular modeling tools. Yet, the polymorphic AS oligomers are now considered as the neurotoxic species, thus current and future studies making efforts to solve their structures at the molecular level. Importantly, it is crucial to explore the specific interactions between AS monomers within the dimer that stabilize the dimer and yield nucleation. Herein, we present a first work that probes at the molecular level the specific interactions between monomers in polymorphic AS dimers are derived from AS fibrils by applying molecular modeling tools. Our work reveals that both N-terminal and the non-amyloidogenic component domains play a role in the dimerization of all polymorphic AS dimers. In addition, helices along the N-terminal of AS monomers impede the contacts between AS monomers, thus preventing the nucleation or the dimerization of AS. This work provides insights into several mechanisms of the production of polymorphic AS dimers. Thus, the findings obtained in this work may assist in developing new therapeutic strategies for inhibiting the formation of the early-stage neurotoxic AS dimers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sapir Lan-Mark
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Yifat Miller
- Department of Chemistry Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
- The Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science & Technology Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva 84105, Israel
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Siddique Y. Neurodegenerative Disorders and the Current State, Pathophysiology, and Management of Parkinson's Disease. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2022; 21:574-595. [PMID: 34477534 DOI: 10.2174/1871527320666210903101841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the last few decades, major knowledge has been gained about pathophysiological aspects and molecular pathways behind Parkinson's Disease (PD). Based on neurotoxicological studies and postmortem investigations, there is a general concept of how environmental toxicants (neurotoxins, pesticides, insecticides) and genetic factors (genetic mutations in PD-associated proteins) cause depletion of dopamine from substantia nigra pars compacta region of the midbrain and modulate cellular processes leading to the pathogenesis of PD. α-Synuclein, a neuronal protein accumulation in oligomeric form, called protofibrils, is associated with cellular dysfunction and neuronal death, thus possibly contributing to PD propagation. With advances made in identifying loci that contribute to PD, molecular pathways involved in disease pathogenesis are now clear, and introducing therapeutic strategy at the right time may delay the progression. Biomarkers for PD have helped monitor PD progression; therefore, personalized therapeutic strategies can be facilitated. In order to further improve PD diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, independent validation of biomarkers is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasir Siddique
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Fouke KE, Wegman ME, Weber SA, Brady EB, Román-Vendrell C, Morgan JR. Synuclein Regulates Synaptic Vesicle Clustering and Docking at a Vertebrate Synapse. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:774650. [PMID: 34901020 PMCID: PMC8660973 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.774650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmission relies critically on the exocytotic release of neurotransmitters from small synaptic vesicles (SVs) at the active zone. Therefore, it is essential for neurons to maintain an adequate pool of SVs clustered at synapses in order to sustain efficient neurotransmission. It is well established that the phosphoprotein synapsin 1 regulates SV clustering at synapses. Here, we demonstrate that synuclein, another SV-associated protein and synapsin binding partner, also modulates SV clustering at a vertebrate synapse. When acutely introduced to unstimulated lamprey reticulospinal synapses, a pan-synuclein antibody raised against the N-terminal domain of α-synuclein induced a significant loss of SVs at the synapse. Both docked SVs and the distal reserve pool of SVs were depleted, resulting in a loss of total membrane at synapses. In contrast, antibodies against two other abundant SV-associated proteins, synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 (SV2) and vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP/synaptobrevin), had no effect on the size or distribution of SV clusters. Synuclein perturbation caused a dose-dependent reduction in the number of SVs at synapses. Interestingly, the large SV clusters appeared to disperse into smaller SV clusters, as well as individual SVs. Thus, synuclein regulates clustering of SVs at resting synapses, as well as docking of SVs at the active zone. These findings reveal new roles for synuclein at the synapse and provide critical insights into diseases associated with α-synuclein dysfunction, such as Parkinson’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn E Fouke
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - M Elizabeth Wegman
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States
| | - Sarah A Weber
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States.,Biological Sciences Collegiate Division, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Emily B Brady
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States
| | - Cristina Román-Vendrell
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States
| | - Jennifer R Morgan
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States
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Simon C, Soga T, Okano HJ, Parhar I. α-Synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration in Dementia with Lewy bodies: the pathobiology of a paradox. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:196. [PMID: 34798911 PMCID: PMC8605528 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00709-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is epitomized by the pathognomonic manifestation of α-synuclein-laden Lewy bodies within selectively vulnerable neurons in the brain. By virtue of prion-like inheritance, the α-synuclein protein inexorably undergoes extensive conformational metamorphoses and culminate in the form of fibrillar polymorphs, instigating calamitous damage to the brain's neuropsychological networks. This epiphenomenon is nebulous, however, by lingering uncertainty over the quasi "pathogenic" behavior of α-synuclein conformers in DLB pathobiology. Despite numerous attempts, a monolithic "α-synuclein" paradigm that is able to untangle the enigma enshrouding the clinicopathological spectrum of DLB has failed to emanate. In this article, we review conceptual frameworks of α-synuclein dependent cell-autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms that are likely to facilitate the transneuronal spread of degeneration through the neuraxis. In particular, we describe how the progressive demise of susceptible neurons may evolve from cellular derangements perpetrated by α-synuclein misfolding and aggregation. Where pertinent, we show how these bona fide mechanisms may mutually accentuate α-synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration in the DLB brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Simon
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Tomoko Soga
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hirotaka James Okano
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ishwar Parhar
- Brain Research Institute, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
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Brzozowski CF, Hijaz BA, Singh V, Gcwensa NZ, Kelly K, Boyden ES, West AB, Sarkar D, Volpicelli-Daley LA. Inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity promotes anterograde axonal transport and presynaptic targeting of α-synuclein. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:180. [PMID: 34749824 PMCID: PMC8576889 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01283-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathologic inclusions composed of α-synuclein called Lewy pathology are hallmarks of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Dominant inherited mutations in leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common genetic cause of PD. Lewy pathology is found in the majority of individuals with LRRK2-PD, particularly those with the G2019S-LRRK2 mutation. Lewy pathology in LRRK2-PD associates with increased non-motor symptoms such as cognitive deficits, anxiety, and orthostatic hypotension. Thus, understanding the relationship between LRRK2 and α-synuclein could be important for determining the mechanisms of non-motor symptoms. In PD models, expression of mutant LRRK2 reduces membrane localization of α-synuclein, and enhances formation of pathologic α-synuclein, particularly when synaptic activity is increased. α-Synuclein and LRRK2 both localize to the presynaptic terminal. LRRK2 plays a role in membrane traffic, including axonal transport, and therefore may influence α-synuclein synaptic localization. This study shows that LRRK2 kinase activity influences α-synuclein targeting to the presynaptic terminal. We used the selective LRRK2 kinase inhibitors, MLi-2 and PF-06685360 (PF-360) to determine the impact of reduced LRRK2 kinase activity on presynaptic localization of α-synuclein. Expansion microscopy (ExM) in primary hippocampal cultures and the mouse striatum, in vivo, was used to more precisely resolve the presynaptic localization of α-synuclein. Live imaging of axonal transport of α-synuclein-GFP was used to investigate the impact of LRRK2 kinase inhibition on α-synuclein axonal transport towards the presynaptic terminal. Reduced LRRK2 kinase activity increases α-synuclein overlap with presynaptic markers in primary neurons, and increases anterograde axonal transport of α-synuclein-GFP. In vivo, LRRK2 inhibition increases α-synuclein overlap with glutamatergic, cortico-striatal terminals, and dopaminergic nigral-striatal presynaptic terminals. The findings suggest that LRRK2 kinase activity plays a role in axonal transport, and presynaptic targeting of α-synuclein. These data provide potential mechanisms by which LRRK2-mediated perturbations of α-synuclein localization could cause pathology in both LRRK2-PD, and idiopathic PD.
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Specht CG. A Quantitative Perspective of Alpha-Synuclein Dynamics - Why Numbers Matter. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:753462. [PMID: 34744680 PMCID: PMC8569944 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.753462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The function of synapses depends on spatially and temporally controlled molecular interactions between synaptic components that can be described in terms of copy numbers, binding affinities, and diffusion properties. To understand the functional role of a given synaptic protein, it is therefore crucial to quantitatively characterise its biophysical behaviour in its native cellular environment. Single molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM) is ideally suited to obtain quantitative information about synaptic proteins on the nanometre scale. Molecule counting of recombinant proteins tagged with genetically encoded fluorophores offers a means to determine their absolute copy numbers at synapses due to the known stoichiometry of the labelling. As a consequence of its high spatial precision, SMLM also yields accurate quantitative measurements of molecule concentrations. In addition, live imaging of fluorescently tagged proteins at synapses can reveal diffusion dynamics and local binding properties of behaving proteins under normal conditions or during pathological processes. In this perspective, it is argued that the detailed structural information provided by super-resolution imaging can be harnessed to gain new quantitative information about the organisation and dynamics of synaptic components in cellula. To illustrate this point, I discuss the concentration-dependent aggregation of α-synuclein in the axon and the concomitant changes in the dynamic equilibrium of α-synuclein at synapses in quantitative terms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian G. Specht
- Diseases and Hormones of the Nervous System (DHNS), Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
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38
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Dopaminergic Axons: Key Recitalists in Parkinson's Disease. Neurochem Res 2021; 47:234-248. [PMID: 34637100 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-021-03464-1] [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] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with dopamine depletion in the striatum owing to the selective and progressive loss of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, which results in motor dysfunction and secondary clinical manifestations. The dopamine level in the striatum is preserved because of the innervation of the substantia nigra (SN) dopaminergic neurons into it. Therefore, protection of the SN neurons is crucial for maintaining the dopamine level in the striatum and for ensuring the desired motor coordination. Several strategies have been devised to protect the degenerating dopaminergic neurons or to restore the dopamine levels for treating PD. Most of the methods focus exclusively on preventing cell body death in the neurons. Although advances have been made in understanding the disease, the search for disease-modifying drugs is an ongoing process. The present review describes the evidence from studies involving patients with PD as well as PD models that axon terminals are highly vulnerable to exogenous and endogenous insults and degenerate at the early stage of the disease. Impairment of mitochondrial dynamics, Ca2+ homeostasis, axonal transport, and loss of plasticity of axon terminals appear before the neuronal degeneration in PD. Furthermore, distortion of synaptic morphology and reduction of postsynaptic dendritic spines are the neuropathological hallmarks of early-stage disease. Thus, the review proposes a shift in focus from discerning the mechanism of neuronal cell body loss and targeting it to an entirely different approach of preventing axonal degeneration. The review also suggests appropriate strategies to prevent the loss of synaptic terminals, which could induce regrowth of the axon and its auxiliary fibers and might offer relief from the symptomatic features of PD.
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Longhena F, Faustini G, Brembati V, Pizzi M, Benfenati F, Bellucci A. An updated reappraisal of synapsins: structure, function and role in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 130:33-60. [PMID: 34407457 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Synapsins (Syns) are phosphoproteins strongly involved in neuronal development and neurotransmitter release. Three distinct genes SYN1, SYN2 and SYN3, with elevated evolutionary conservation, have been described to encode for Synapsin I, Synapsin II and Synapsin III, respectively. Syns display a series of common features, but also exhibit distinctive localization, expression pattern, post-translational modifications (PTM). These characteristics enable their interaction with other synaptic proteins, membranes and cytoskeletal components, which is essential for the proper execution of their multiple functions in neuronal cells. These include the control of synapse formation and growth, neuron maturation and renewal, as well as synaptic vesicle mobilization, docking, fusion, recycling. Perturbations in the balanced expression of Syns, alterations of their PTM, mutations and polymorphisms of their encoding genes induce severe dysregulations in brain networks functions leading to the onset of psychiatric or neurological disorders. This review presents what we have learned since the discovery of Syn I in 1977, providing the state of the art on Syns structure, function, physiology and involvement in central nervous system disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Longhena
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Gaia Faustini
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Viviana Brembati
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Marina Pizzi
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Italian Institute of Technology, Via Morego 30, Genova, Italy; IRCSS Policlinico San Martino Hospital, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy.
| | - Arianna Bellucci
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy; Laboratory for Preventive and Personalized Medicine, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
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40
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Oliveira LMA, Gasser T, Edwards R, Zweckstetter M, Melki R, Stefanis L, Lashuel HA, Sulzer D, Vekrellis K, Halliday GM, Tomlinson JJ, Schlossmacher M, Jensen PH, Schulze-Hentrich J, Riess O, Hirst WD, El-Agnaf O, Mollenhauer B, Lansbury P, Outeiro TF. Alpha-synuclein research: defining strategic moves in the battle against Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2021; 7:65. [PMID: 34312398 PMCID: PMC8313662 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-021-00203-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advent of the genetic era in Parkinson's disease (PD) research in 1997, α-synuclein was identified as an important player in a complex neurodegenerative disease that affects >10 million people worldwide. PD has been estimated to have an economic impact of $51.9 billion in the US alone. Since the initial association with PD, hundreds of researchers have contributed to elucidating the functions of α-synuclein in normal and pathological states, and these remain critical areas for continued research. With this position paper the authors strive to achieve two goals: first, to succinctly summarize the critical features that define α-synuclein's varied roles, as they are known today; and second, to identify the most pressing knowledge gaps and delineate a multipronged strategy for future research with the goal of enabling therapies to stop or slow disease progression in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M A Oliveira
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Thomas Gasser
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert Edwards
- Departments of Neurology and Physiology, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ronald Melki
- Institut François Jacob, MIRCen, CEA and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Leonidas Stefanis
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Neurology, Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Sulzer
- Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kostas Vekrellis
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julianna J Tomlinson
- Neuroscience Program, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Schlossmacher
- Neuroscience Program, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurology, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Poul Henning Jensen
- Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine & DANDRITE, Danish Research Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Julia Schulze-Hentrich
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Warren D Hirst
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Unit, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Omar El-Agnaf
- Neurological Disorder Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Brit Mollenhauer
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Paracelsus-Elena-Klinik, Kassel, Germany
| | | | - Tiago F Outeiro
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany.
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
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Gentzel RC, Toolan D, Jinn S, Schachter JB, Ma L, Kahle PJ, Smith SM, Marcus JN. Intracranial administration of alpha-synuclein fibrils in A30P-synuclein transgenic mice causes robust synucleinopathy and microglial induction. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 106:12-25. [PMID: 34225000 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.05.012] [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] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative disorders involving pathological alpha-synuclein (αSyn) protein, including dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy and Parkinson's disease (PD). Current in vivo models of synucleinopathy include transgenic mice overexpressing αSyn variants and methods based on administration of aggregated, exogenous αSyn. Combining these techniques offers the ability to study consequences of introducing pathological αSyn into primed neuronal environments likely to develop synucleinopathy. Herein, we characterize the impacts pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) of recombinant, human αSyn have in mice overexpressing human A30P αSyn, a mutation associated with autosomal dominant PD. A30P mouse brain contains detergent insoluble αSyn biochemically similar to PD brain, and these mice develop Lewy-like synucleinopathy with age. Administration of PFFs in A30P mice resulted in regionally-specific accumulations of phosphorylated synuclein, microglial induction and a motor phenotype that differed from PFF-induced effects in wildtype mice. Surprisingly, PFF-induced losses of tyrosine hydroxylase were similar in A30P and wildtype mice. Thus, the PFF-A30P model recapitulates key aspects of synucleinopathy with induction of microglia, creating an appropriate system for evaluating neurodegenerative therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee C Gentzel
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
| | - Dawn Toolan
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
| | - Sarah Jinn
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
| | - Joel B Schachter
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA; Currently at Takeda Pharmaceutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lei Ma
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
| | - Philipp J Kahle
- Laboratory of Functional Neurogenetics, Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sean M Smith
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
| | - Jacob N Marcus
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA.
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Altered conformation of α-synuclein drives dysfunction of synaptic vesicles in a synaptosomal model of Parkinson's disease. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109333. [PMID: 34233191 PMCID: PMC8552450 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
While misfolding of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is central to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), fundamental questions about its structure and function at the synapse remain unanswered. We examine synaptosomes from non-transgenic and transgenic mice expressing wild-type human αSyn, the E46K fPD-causing mutation, or an amplified form of E46K ("3K"). Synaptosomes from mice expressing the 3K mutant show reduced Ca2+-dependent vesicle exocytosis, altered synaptic vesicle ultrastructure, decreased SNARE complexes, and abnormal levels of certain synaptic proteins. With our intra-synaptosomal nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method, we reveal that WT αSyn participates in heterogeneous interactions with synaptic components dependent on endogenous αSyn and synaptosomal integrity. The 3K mutation markedly alters these interactions. The synaptic microenvironment is necessary for αSyn to reach its native conformations and establish a physiological interaction network. Its inability to populate diverse conformational ensembles likely represents an early step in αSyn dysfunction that contributes to the synaptotoxicity observed in synucleinopathies.
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43
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Magnusen AF, Hatton SL, Rani R, Pandey MK. Genetic Defects and Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurol 2021; 12:636139. [PMID: 34239490 PMCID: PMC8259624 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.636139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a movement disorder attributed to the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons mainly in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Motor symptoms include resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesias, while non-motor symptoms include autonomic dysfunction, anxiety, and sleeping problems. Genetic mutations in a number of genes (e.g., LRRK2, GBA, SNCA, PARK2, PARK6, and PARK7) and the resultant abnormal activation of microglial cells are assumed to be the main reasons for the loss of DA neurons in PD with genetic causes. Additionally, immune cell infiltration and their participation in major histocompatibility complex I (MHCI) and/or MHCII-mediated processing and presentation of cytosolic or mitochondrial antigens activate the microglial cells and cause the massive generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which are all critical for the propagation of brain inflammation and the neurodegeneration in PD with genetic and idiopathic causes. Despite knowing the involvement of several of such immune devices that trigger neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in PD, the exact disease mechanism or the innovative biomarker that could detect disease severity in PD linked to LRRK2, GBA, SNCA, PARK2, PARK6, and PARK7 defects is largely unknown. The current review has explored data from genetics, immunology, and in vivo and ex vivo functional studies that demonstrate that certain genetic defects might contribute to microglial cell activation and massive generation of a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which ultimately drive the brain inflammation and lead to neurodegeneration in PD. Understanding the detailed involvement of a variety of immune mediators, their source, and the target could provide a better understanding of the disease process. This information might be helpful in clinical diagnosis, monitoring of disease progression, and early identification of affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Frank Magnusen
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Shelby Loraine Hatton
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Reena Rani
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Manoj Kumar Pandey
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Paediatrics of University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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44
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Hoffmann C, Sansevrino R, Morabito G, Logan C, Vabulas RM, Ulusoy A, Ganzella M, Milovanovic D. Synapsin Condensates Recruit alpha-Synuclein. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166961. [PMID: 33774037 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Neurotransmission relies on the tight spatial and temporal regulation of the synaptic vesicle (SV) cycle. Nerve terminals contain hundreds of SVs that form tight clusters. These clusters represent a distinct liquid phase in which one component of the phase are SVs and the other synapsin 1, a highly abundant synaptic protein. Another major family of disordered proteins at the presynapse includes synucleins, most notably α-synuclein. The precise physiological role of α-synuclein in synaptic physiology remains elusive, albeit its role has been implicated in nearly all steps of the SV cycle. To determine the effect of α-synuclein on the synapsin phase, we employ the reconstitution approach using natively purified SVs from rat brains and the heterologous cell system to generate synapsin condensates. We demonstrate that synapsin condensates recruit α-synuclein, and while enriched into these synapsin condensates, α-synuclein still maintains its high mobility. The presence of SVs enhances the rate of synapsin/α-synuclein condensation, suggesting that SVs act as catalyzers for the formation of synapsin condensates. Notably, at physiological salt and protein concentrations, α-synuclein alone is not able to cluster isolated SVs. Excess of α-synuclein disrupts the kinetics of synapsin/SV condensate formation, indicating that the molar ratio between synapsin and α-synuclein is important in assembling the functional condensates of SVs. Understanding the molecular mechanism of α-synuclein interactions at the nerve terminals is crucial for clarifying the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies, where α-synuclein, synaptic proteins and lipid organelles all accumulate as insoluble intracellular inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Hoffmann
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Roberto Sansevrino
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Morabito
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Chinyere Logan
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - R Martin Vabulas
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Biochemistry, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ayse Ulusoy
- Laboratory of Neuroprotective Mechanisms, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Marcelo Ganzella
- Department of Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dragomir Milovanovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany.
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45
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Bang S, Lee S, Choi N, Kim HN. Emerging Brain-Pathophysiology-Mimetic Platforms for Studying Neurodegenerative Diseases: Brain Organoids and Brains-on-a-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2002119. [PMID: 34028201 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202002119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders characterized by progressive degeneration of the structural and functional integrity of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Millions of people suffer from degenerative brain diseases worldwide, and the mortality continues to increase every year, causing a growing demand for knowledge of the underlying mechanisms and development of therapeutic targets. Conventional 2D-based cell culture platforms and animal models cannot fully recapitulate the pathophysiology, and this has limited the capability for estimating drug efficacy. Recently, engineered platforms, including brain organoids and brain-on-a-chip, have emerged. They mimic the physiology of brain tissue and reflect the fundamental pathophysiological signatures of neurodegenerative diseases, such as the accumulation of neurotoxic proteins, structural abnormalities, and functional loss. In this paper, recent advances in brain-mimetic platforms and their potential for modeling features of neurodegenerative diseases in vitro are reviewed. The development of a physiologically relevant model should help overcome unresolved neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seokyoung Bang
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Songhyun Lee
- Department of Medical Engineering Yonsei University College of Medicine Seoul 03722 Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- KU‐KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Brain Science Institute Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio‐Medical Science & Technology KIST School Korea University of Science and Technology (UST) Seoul 02792 Republic of Korea
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46
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Runwal G, Edwards RH. The Membrane Interactions of Synuclein: Physiology and Pathology. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2021; 16:465-485. [PMID: 33497259 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-031920-092547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Specific proteins accumulate in neurodegenerative disease, and human genetics has indicated a causative role for many. In most cases, however, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Degeneration is thought to involve a gain of abnormal function, although we do not know the normal function of many proteins implicated. The protein α-synuclein accumulates in the Lewy pathology of Parkinson's disease and related disorders, and mutations in α-synuclein cause degeneration, but we have not known its normal function or how it triggers disease. α-Synuclein localizes to presynaptic boutons and interacts with membranes in vitro. Overexpression slows synaptic vesicle exocytosis, and recent data suggest a normal role for the endogenous synucleins in dilation of the exocytic fusion pore. Disrupted membranes also appear surprisingly prominent in Lewy pathology. Synuclein thus interacts with membranes under both physiological and pathological conditions, suggesting that the normal function of synuclein may illuminate its role in degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Runwal
- Departments of Neurology and Physiology, Graduate Programs in Cell Biology, Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA;
| | - Robert H Edwards
- Departments of Neurology and Physiology, Graduate Programs in Cell Biology, Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA;
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47
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Liu C, Zhao Y, Xi H, Jiang J, Yu Y, Dong W. The Membrane Interaction of Alpha-Synuclein. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:633727. [PMID: 33746714 PMCID: PMC7969880 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.633727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A presynaptic protein closely related to Parkinson's disease (PD), α-synuclein (α-Syn), has been studied extensively regarding its pathogenic mechanisms. As a physiological protein in presynapses, however, α-Syn's physiological function remains unclear. Its location in nerve terminals and effects on membrane fusion also imply its functional role in synaptic transmission, including its possible interaction with high-curvature membranes via its N-terminus and amorphous C-terminus. PD-related mutants that disrupt the membrane interaction (e.g., A30P and G51D) additionally suggest a relationship between α-Syn's pathogenic mechanisms and physiological roles through the membrane binding. Here, we summarize recent research on how α-Syn and its variants interact with membranes and influence synaptic transmission. We list several membrane-related connections between the protein's physiological function and the pathological mechanisms that stand to expand current understandings of α-Syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cencen Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yunfei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Huan Xi
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Neurosurgical Clinical Research Center of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, China
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48
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Román-Vendrell C, Medeiros AT, Sanderson JB, Jiang H, Bartels T, Morgan JR. Effects of Excess Brain-Derived Human α-Synuclein on Synaptic Vesicle Trafficking. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:639414. [PMID: 33613189 PMCID: PMC7890186 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.639414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein is a presynaptic protein that regulates synaptic vesicle trafficking under physiological conditions. However, in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy, α-synuclein accumulates throughout the neuron, including at synapses, leading to altered synaptic function, neurotoxicity, and motor, cognitive, and autonomic dysfunction. Neurons typically contain both monomeric and multimeric forms of α-synuclein, and it is generally accepted that disrupting the balance between them promotes aggregation and neurotoxicity. However, it remains unclear how distinct molecular species of α-synuclein affect synapses where α-synuclein is normally expressed. Using the lamprey reticulospinal synapse model, we previously showed that acute introduction of excess recombinant monomeric or dimeric α-synuclein impaired distinct stages of clathrin-mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis, leading to a loss of synaptic vesicles. Here, we expand this knowledge by investigating the effects of native, physiological α-synuclein isolated from the brain of a neuropathologically normal human subject, which comprised predominantly helically folded multimeric α-synuclein with a minor component of monomeric α-synuclein. After acute introduction of excess brain-derived human α-synuclein, there was a moderate reduction in the synaptic vesicle cluster and an increase in the number of large, atypical vesicles called "cisternae." In addition, brain-derived α-synuclein increased synaptic vesicle and cisternae sizes and induced atypical fusion/fission events at the active zone. In contrast to monomeric or dimeric α-synuclein, the brain-derived multimeric α-synuclein did not appear to alter clathrin-mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Taken together, these data suggest that excess brain-derived human α-synuclein impairs intracellular vesicle trafficking and further corroborate the idea that different molecular species of α-synuclein produce distinct trafficking defects at synapses. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms by which excess α-synuclein contributes to synaptic deficits and disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Román-Vendrell
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States
| | - Audrey T Medeiros
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States
| | - John B Sanderson
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Haiyang Jiang
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tim Bartels
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer R Morgan
- The Eugene Bell Center for Regenerative Biology and Tissue Engineering, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, United States
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49
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Li S, Kerman K. Electrochemical biosensors for biometal-protein interactions in neurodegenerative diseases. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 179:113035. [PMID: 33578115 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113035] [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] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Electrochemical biosensors have been adopted into a wide range of applications in the study of biometal-protein interactions in neurodegenerative diseases. Transition metals such as zinc, copper, and iron that are significant to biological functions have been shown to have strong implications in the progressive neural degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and prion protein diseases. This review presents a summative examination of the progress made in the design, fabrication, and applications of electrochemical biosensors in recent literature at understanding the metal-protein interactions in neurodegenerative diseases. The focus will be drawn on disease-causing biomarkers such as amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins for AD, α-synuclein (α-syn) for PD, and prion proteins (PrP). Topics such as the use of electrochemical biosensing in monitoring biometal-induced conformational changes, elucidation of complexation motifs, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as the influence on downstream biomolecular interactions will be discussed. Major results and important concepts presented in these studies will be summarized in the hope to spark inspiration for the next generation of electrochemical sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaopei Li
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Kagan Kerman
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada.
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50
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Hardenberg MC, Sinnige T, Casford S, Dada ST, Poudel C, Robinson EA, Fuxreiter M, Kaminksi CF, Kaminski Schierle GS, Nollen EAA, Dobson CM, Vendruscolo M. Observation of an α-synuclein liquid droplet state and its maturation into Lewy body-like assemblies. J Mol Cell Biol 2021; 13:282-294. [PMID: 33386842 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjaa075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Misfolded α-synuclein is a major component of Lewy bodies, which are a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). A large body of evidence shows that α-synuclein can aggregate into amyloid fibrils, but the relationship between α-synuclein self-assembly and Lewy body formation remains unclear. Here, we show, both in vitro and in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of PD, that α-synuclein undergoes liquid‒liquid phase separation by forming a liquid droplet state, which converts into an amyloid-rich hydrogel with Lewy-body-like properties. This maturation process towards the amyloid state is delayed in the presence of model synaptic vesicles in vitro. Taken together, these results suggest that the formation of Lewy bodies may be linked to the arrested maturation of α-synuclein condensates in the presence of lipids and other cellular components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten C Hardenberg
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Tessa Sinnige
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Sam Casford
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Samuel T Dada
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Chetan Poudel
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Elizabeth A Robinson
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Monika Fuxreiter
- MTA-DE Laboratory of Protein Dynamics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Clemens F Kaminksi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK
| | | | - Ellen A A Nollen
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Aging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen 9713 AV, The Netherlands
| | - Christopher M Dobson
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
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