1
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Wei J, Meisl G, Dear A, Oosterhuis M, Melki R, Emanuelsson C, Linse S, Knowles TPJ. Kinetic models reveal the interplay of protein production and aggregation. Chem Sci 2024; 15:8430-8442. [PMID: 38846392 PMCID: PMC11151821 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc00088a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a key process in the development of many neurodegenerative disorders, including dementias such as Alzheimer's disease. Significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of aggregate formation in pure buffer systems, much of which was enabled by the development of integrated rate laws that allowed for mechanistic analysis of aggregation kinetics. However, in order to translate these findings into disease-relevant conclusions and to make predictions about the effect of potential alterations to the aggregation reactions by the addition of putative inhibitors, the current models need to be extended to account for the altered situation encountered in living systems. In particular, in vivo, the total protein concentrations typically do not remain constant and aggregation-prone monomers are constantly being produced but also degraded by cells. Here, we build a theoretical model that explicitly takes into account monomer production, derive integrated rate laws and discuss the resulting scaling laws and limiting behaviours. We demonstrate that our models are suited for the aggregation-prone Huntington's disease-associated peptide HttQ45 utilizing a system for continuous in situ monomer production and the aggregation of the tumour suppressor protein P53. The aggregation-prone HttQ45 monomer was produced through enzymatic cleavage of a larger construct in which a fused protein domain served as an internal inhibitor. For P53, only the unfolded monomers form aggregates, making the unfolding a rate-limiting step which constitutes a source of aggregation-prone monomers. The new model opens up possibilities for a quantitative description of aggregation in living systems, allowing for example the modelling of inhibitors of aggregation in a dynamic environment of continuous protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiapeng Wei
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Georg Meisl
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Alexander Dear
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University SE22100 Lund Sweden
| | - Matthijs Oosterhuis
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University Sweden
| | - Ronald Melki
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS 18 Route du Panorama, Fontenay-Aux-Roses cedex 92265 France
| | - Cecilia Emanuelsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University Sweden
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University Lund Sweden
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge J J Thomson Avenue CB3 0HE UK
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2
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Majumder S, Srivastava M, Alam P, Saha S, Kumari R, Chand AK, Asthana S, Sen S, Maiti TK. Hotspot site microenvironment in the deubiquitinase OTUB1 drives its stability and aggregation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107315. [PMID: 38663827 PMCID: PMC11154711 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107315] [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: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Lewy bodies (LB) are aberrant protein accumulations observed in the brain cells of individuals affected by Parkinson's disease (PD). A comprehensive analysis of LB proteome identified over a hundred proteins, many co-enriched with α-synuclein, a major constituent of LB. Within this context, OTUB1, a deubiquitinase detected in LB, exhibits amyloidogenic properties, yet the mechanisms underlying its aggregation remain elusive. In this study, we identify two critical sites in OTUB1-namely, positions 133 and 173-that significantly impact its amyloid aggregation. Substituting alanine at position 133 and lysine at position 173 enhances both thermodynamic and kinetic stability, effectively preventing amyloid aggregation. Remarkably, lysine at position 173 demonstrates the highest stability without compromising enzymatic activity. The increased stability and inhibition of amyloid aggregation are attributed mainly to the changes in the specific microenvironment at the hotspot. In our exploration of the in-vivo co-occurrence of α-synuclein and OTUB1 in LB, we observed a synergistic modulation of each other's aggregation. Collectively, our study unveils the molecular determinants influencing OTUB1 aggregation, shedding light on the role of specific residues in modulating aggregation kinetics and structural transition. These findings contribute valuable insights into the complex interplay of amino acid properties and protein aggregation, with potential implications for understanding broader aspects of protein folding and aggregation phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushanta Majumder
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Mitul Srivastava
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Parvez Alam
- Spectroscopy Laboratory, School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Sandhini Saha
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Raniki Kumari
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Ajay Kumar Chand
- Spectroscopy Laboratory, School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Shailendra Asthana
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Sobhan Sen
- Spectroscopy Laboratory, School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Tushar Kanti Maiti
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India.
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3
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Dada ST, Toprakcioglu Z, Cali MP, Röntgen A, Hardenberg MC, Morris OM, Mrugalla LK, Knowles TPJ, Vendruscolo M. Pharmacological inhibition of α-synuclein aggregation within liquid condensates. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3835. [PMID: 38714700 PMCID: PMC11076612 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47585-x] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggregated forms of α-synuclein constitute the major component of Lewy bodies, the proteinaceous aggregates characteristic of Parkinson's disease. Emerging evidence suggests that α-synuclein aggregation may occur within liquid condensates formed through phase separation. This mechanism of aggregation creates new challenges and opportunities for drug discovery for Parkinson's disease, which is otherwise still incurable. Here we show that the condensation-driven aggregation pathway of α-synuclein can be inhibited using small molecules. We report that the aminosterol claramine stabilizes α-synuclein condensates and inhibits α-synuclein aggregation within the condensates both in vitro and in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Parkinson's disease. By using a chemical kinetics approach, we show that the mechanism of action of claramine is to inhibit primary nucleation within the condensates. These results illustrate a possible therapeutic route based on the inhibition of protein aggregation within condensates, a phenomenon likely to be relevant in other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel T Dada
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Zenon Toprakcioglu
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Mariana P Cali
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Alexander Röntgen
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Maarten C Hardenberg
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Owen M Morris
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Lena K Mrugalla
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Disease, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
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4
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Illes-Toth E, Rempel DL, Gross ML. Exploration of Resveratrol as a Potent Modulator of α-Synuclein Fibril Formation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:503-516. [PMID: 38194353 PMCID: PMC10922803 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00571] [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: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The molecular determinants of amyloid protein misfolding and aggregation are key for the development of therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative disease. Although small synthetic molecules, bifunctional molecules, and natural products offer a potentially advantageous approach to therapeutics to remodel aggregation, their evaluation requires new platforms that are informed at the molecular level. To that end, we chose pulsed hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to discern the phenomena of aggregation modulation for a model system of alpha synuclein (αS) and resveratrol, an antiamyloid compound. We invoked, as a complement to HDX, advanced kinetic modeling described here to illuminate the details of aggregation and to determine the number of oligomeric populations by kinetically fitting the experimental data under conditions of limited proteolysis. The misfolding of αS is most evident within and nearby the nonamyloid-β component region, and resveratrol significantly remodels that aggregation. HDX distinguishes readily a less solvent-accessible, more structured oligomer that coexists with a solvent-accessible, more disordered oligomer during aggregation. A view of the misfolding emerges from time-dependent changes in the fractional species across the protein with or without resveratrol, while details were determined through kinetic modeling of the protected species. A detailed picture of the inhibitory action of resveratrol with time and regional specificity emerges, a picture that can be obtained for other inhibitors and amyloid proteins. Moreover, the model reveals that new states of aggregation are sampled, providing new insights on amyloid formation. The findings were corroborated by circular dichroism and transmission electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Illes-Toth
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Don L Rempel
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Michael L Gross
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
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5
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Parlato R, Volarić J, Lasorsa A, Bagherpoor Helabad M, Kobauri P, Jain G, Miettinen MS, Feringa BL, Szymanski W, van der Wel PCA. Photocontrol of the β-Hairpin Polypeptide Structure through an Optimized Azobenzene-Based Amino Acid Analogue. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2062-2071. [PMID: 38226790 PMCID: PMC10811659 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11155] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
A family of neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxias, are associated with an abnormal polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in mutant proteins that become prone to form amyloid-like aggregates. Prior studies have suggested a key role for β-hairpin formation as a driver of nucleation and aggregation, but direct experimental studies have been challenging. Toward such research, we set out to enable spatiotemporal control over β-hairpin formation by the introduction of a photosensitive β-turn mimic in the polypeptide backbone, consisting of a newly designed azobenzene derivative. The reported derivative overcomes the limitations of prior approaches associated with poor photochemical properties and imperfect structural compatibility with the desired β-turn structure. A new azobenzene-based β-turn mimic was designed, synthesized, and found to display improved photochemical properties, both prior and after incorporation into the backbone of a polyQ polypeptide. The two isomers of the azobenzene-polyQ peptide showed different aggregate structures of the polyQ peptide fibrils, as demonstrated by electron microscopy and solid-state NMR (ssNMR). Notably, only peptides in which the β-turn structure was stabilized (azobenzene in the cis configuration) closely reproduced the spectral fingerprints of toxic, β-hairpin-containing fibrils formed by mutant huntingtin protein fragments implicated in HD. These approaches and findings will enable better deciphering of the roles of β-hairpin structures in protein aggregation processes in HD and other amyloid-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Parlato
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jana Volarić
- Stratingh
Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747
AG Groningen, The
Netherlands
| | - Alessia Lasorsa
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mahdi Bagherpoor Helabad
- Department
of Theory and Bio-Systems, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Piermichele Kobauri
- Stratingh
Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747
AG Groningen, The
Netherlands
| | - Greeshma Jain
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Markus S. Miettinen
- Computational
Biology Unit, Departments of Chemistry and Informatics, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
| | - Ben L. Feringa
- Stratingh
Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747
AG Groningen, The
Netherlands
| | - Wiktor Szymanski
- Stratingh
Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747
AG Groningen, The
Netherlands
- Medical
Imaging Center, University Medical Center
Groningen, Hanzeplein
1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick C. A. van der Wel
- Zernike
Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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6
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Kristoffersen K, Hansen KH, Andreasen M. Differential Effects of Lipid Bilayers on αPSM Peptide Functional Amyloid Formation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:102. [PMID: 38203273 PMCID: PMC10779341 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010102] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) are key virulence factors of S. aureus, and they comprise the structural scaffold of biofilm as they self-assemble into functional amyloids. They have been shown to interact with cell membranes as they display toxicity towards human cells through cell lysis, with αPSM3 being the most cytotoxic. In addition to causing cell lysis in mammalian cells, PSMs have also been shown to interact with bacterial cell membranes through antimicrobial effects. Here, we present a study on the effects of lipid bilayers on the aggregation mechanism of αPSM using chemical kinetics to study the effects of lipid vesicles on the aggregation kinetics and using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the corresponding secondary structure of the aggregates. We found that the effects of lipid bilayers on αPSM aggregation were not homogeneous between lipid type and αPSM peptides, although none of the lipids caused changes in the dominating aggregation mechanism. In the case of αPSM3, all types of lipids slowed down aggregation to a varying degree, with 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) having the most pronounced effect. For αPSM1, lipids had opposite effects, where DOPC decelerated aggregation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) accelerated the aggregation, while 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (DOPG) had no effect. For αPSM4, both DOPG and LPS accelerated the aggregation, but only at high concentration, while DOPC showed no effect. None of the lipids was capable of inducing aggregation of αPSM2. Our data reveal a complex interaction pattern between PSMs peptides and lipid bilayers that causes changes in the aggregation kinetics by affecting different kinetic parameters along with only subtle changes in morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maria Andreasen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Willhelm Meyer’s Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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7
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Marković M, Milošević J, Wang W, Cao Y. Passive Immunotherapies Targeting Amyloid- β in Alzheimer's Disease: A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Perspective. Mol Pharmacol 2023; 105:1-13. [PMID: 37907353 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) protein accumulation in the brain. Passive immunotherapies using monoclonal antibodies for targeting Aβ have shown promise for AD treatment. Indeed, recent US Food and Drug Administration approval of aducanumab and lecanemab, alongside positive donanemab Phase III results demonstrated clinical efficacy after decades of failed clinical trials for AD. However, the pharmacological basis distinguishing clinically effective from ineffective therapies remains unclear, impeding development of potent therapeutics. This study aimed to provide a quantitative perspective for effectively targeting Aβ with antibodies. We first reviewed the contradicting results associated with the amyloid hypothesis and the pharmacological basis of Aβ immunotherapy. Subsequently, we developed a quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model that describes the non-linear progression of Aβ pathology and the pharmacologic actions of the Aβ-targeting antibodies. Using the QSP model, we analyzed various scenarios for effective passive immunotherapy for AD. The model revealed that binding exclusively to the Aβ monomer has minimal effect on Aβ aggregation and plaque reduction, making the antibody affinity toward Aβ monomer unwanted, as it could become a distractive mechanism for plaque reduction. Neither early intervention, high brain penetration, nor increased dose could yield significant improvement of clinical efficacy for antibodies targeting solely monomers. Antibodies that bind all Aβ species but lack effector function exhibited moderate effects in plaque reduction. Our model highlights the importance of binding aggregate Aβ species and incorporating effector functions for efficient and early plaque reduction, guiding the development of more effective therapies for this devastating disease. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Despite previous unsuccessful attempts spanning several decades, passive immunotherapies utilizing monoclonal antibodies for targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ) have demonstrated promise with two recent FDA approvals. However, the pharmacological basis that differentiates clinically effective therapies from ineffective ones remains elusive. Our study offers a quantitative systems pharmacology perspective, emphasizing the significance of selectively targeting specific Aβ species and importance of antibody effector functions. This perspective sheds light on the development of more effective therapies for this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Marković
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (M.M., Y.C.) and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine (Y.C.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biochemistry (J.M.), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia; and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research & Development (W.W.), LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Jelica Milošević
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (M.M., Y.C.) and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine (Y.C.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biochemistry (J.M.), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia; and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research & Development (W.W.), LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Weirong Wang
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (M.M., Y.C.) and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine (Y.C.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biochemistry (J.M.), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia; and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research & Development (W.W.), LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Yanguang Cao
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (M.M., Y.C.) and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine (Y.C.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Biochemistry (J.M.), University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry, Belgrade, Serbia; and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research & Development (W.W.), LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
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8
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Zhao Y, Rao PPN. Small Molecules N-Phenylbenzofuran-2-carboxamide and N-Phenylbenzo[ b]thiophene-2-carboxamide Promote Beta-Amyloid (Aβ42) Aggregation and Mitigate Neurotoxicity. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:4185-4198. [PMID: 37972377 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00576] [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] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This study reports the unusual ability of small molecules N-phenylbenzofuran-2-carboxamide (7a) and N-phenylbenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide (7b) to promote and accelerate Aβ42 aggregation. In the in vitro aggregation kinetic assays, 7a was able to demonstrate rapid increases in Aβ42 fibrillogenesis ranging from 1.5- to 4.7-fold when tested at 1, 5, 10, and 25 μM compared to Aβ42-alone control. Similarly, compound 7b also exhibited 2.9- to 4.3-fold increases in Aβ42 fibrillogenesis at the concentration range tested. Electron microscopy studies at 1, 5, 10, and 25 μM also demonstrate the ability of compounds 7a and 7b to promote and accelerate Aβ42 aggregation with the formation of long, elongated fibril structures. Both 7a and 7b were not toxic to HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells and strikingly were able to prevent Aβ42-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells (cell viability ∼74%) compared to the Aβ42-treated group (cell viability ∼20%). Fluorescence imaging studies using BioTracker 490 green, Hoeschst 33342, and the amyloid binding dye ProteoStat further demonstrate the ability of 7a and 7b to promote Aβ42 fibrillogenesis and prevent Aβ42-induced cytotoxicity to HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells. Computational modeling studies suggest that both 7a and 7b can interact with the Aβ42 oligomer and pentamers and have the potential to modulate the self-assembly pathways. The 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) dye binding assay also demonstrates the ability of 7a and 7b to expose the hydrophobic surface of Aβ42 to the solvent surface that promotes self-assembly and rapid fibrillogenesis. These studies demonstrate the unique ability of small molecules 7a and 7b to alter the self-assembly and misfolding pathways of Aβ42 by promoting the formation of nontoxic aggregates. These findings have direct implications in the discovery and development of novel small-molecule-based chemical and pharmacological tools to study the Aβ42 aggregation mechanisms, and in the design of novel antiamyloid therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Campus, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Praveen P N Rao
- School of Pharmacy, Health Sciences Campus, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Canada
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9
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Katina N, Marchenkov V, Ryabova N, Ilyina N, Marchenko N, Balobanov V, Finkelstein A. Influence of Amino Acid Substitutions in ApoMb on Different Stages of Unfolding of Amyloids. Molecules 2023; 28:7736. [PMID: 38067466 PMCID: PMC10707739 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237736] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, most research on amyloid aggregation has focused on describing the structure of amyloids and the kinetics of their formation, while the conformational stability of fibrils remains insufficiently explored. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of amino acid substitutions on the stability of apomyoglobin (ApoMb) amyloids. A study of the amyloid unfolding of ApoMb and its six mutant variants by urea has been carried out. Changes in the structural features of aggregates during unfolding were recorded by far-UV CD and native electrophoresis. It was shown that during the initial stage of denaturation, amyloids' secondary structure partially unfolds. Then, the fibrils undergo dissociation and form intermediate aggregates weighing approximately 1 MDa, which at the last stage of unfolding decompose into 18 kDa monomeric unfolded molecules. The results of unfolding transitions suggest that the stability of the studied amyloids relative to the intermediate aggregates and of the latter relative to unfolded monomers is higher for ApoMb variants with substitutions that increase the hydrophobicity of the residues. The results presented provide a new insight into the mechanism of stabilization of protein aggregates and can serve as a base for further investigations of the amyloids' stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya Katina
- Institute of Protein Research RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (V.M.); (N.R.); (N.I.); (N.M.)
- Branch of the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
| | - Victor Marchenkov
- Institute of Protein Research RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (V.M.); (N.R.); (N.I.); (N.M.)
| | - Natalya Ryabova
- Institute of Protein Research RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (V.M.); (N.R.); (N.I.); (N.M.)
| | - Nelly Ilyina
- Institute of Protein Research RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (V.M.); (N.R.); (N.I.); (N.M.)
| | - Natalia Marchenko
- Institute of Protein Research RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (V.M.); (N.R.); (N.I.); (N.M.)
| | - Vitalii Balobanov
- Institute of Protein Research RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (V.M.); (N.R.); (N.I.); (N.M.)
| | - Alexey Finkelstein
- Institute of Protein Research RAS, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (V.M.); (N.R.); (N.I.); (N.M.)
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10
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Österlund N, Frankel R, Carlsson A, Thacker D, Karlsson M, Matus V, Gräslund A, Emanuelsson C, Linse S. The C-terminal domain of the antiamyloid chaperone DNAJB6 binds to amyloid-β peptide fibrils and inhibits secondary nucleation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105317. [PMID: 37797698 PMCID: PMC10641233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The DNAJB6 chaperone inhibits fibril formation of aggregation-prone client peptides through interaction with aggregated and oligomeric forms of the amyloid peptides. Here, we studied the role of its C-terminal domain (CTD) using constructs comprising either the entire CTD or the first two or all four of the CTD β-strands grafted onto a scaffold protein. Each construct was expressed as WT and as a variant with alanines replacing five highly conserved and functionally important serine and threonine residues in the first β-strand. We investigated the stability, oligomerization, antiamyloid activity, and affinity for amyloid-β (Aβ42) species using optical spectroscopy, native mass spectrometry, chemical crosslinking, and surface plasmon resonance technology. While DNAJB6 forms large and polydisperse oligomers, CTD was found to form only monomers, dimers, and tetramers of low affinity. Kinetic analyses showed a shift in inhibition mechanism. Whereas full-length DNAJB6 activity is dependent on the serine and threonine residues and efficiently inhibits primary and secondary nucleation, all CTD constructs inhibit secondary nucleation only, independently of the serine and threonine residues, although their dimerization and thermal stabilities are reduced by alanine substitution. While the full-length DNAJB6 inhibition of primary nucleation is related to its propensity to form coaggregates with Aβ, the CTD constructs instead bind to Aβ42 fibrils, which affects the nucleation events at the fibril surface. The retardation of secondary nucleation by DNAJB6 can thus be ascribed to the first two β-strands of its CTD, whereas the inhibition of primary nucleation is dependent on the entire protein or regions outside the CTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicklas Österlund
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Rebecca Frankel
- Division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Andreas Carlsson
- Division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dev Thacker
- Division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maja Karlsson
- Division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Vanessa Matus
- Division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Astrid Gräslund
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Emanuelsson
- Division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sara Linse
- Division of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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11
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Horne R, Metrick MA, Man W, Rinauro DJ, Brotzakis ZF, Chia S, Meisl G, Vendruscolo M. Secondary Processes Dominate the Quiescent, Spontaneous Aggregation of α-Synuclein at Physiological pH with Sodium Salts. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3125-3131. [PMID: 37578897 PMCID: PMC10485892 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00282] [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: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The accurate recapitulation in an in vitro assay of the aggregation process of α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease has been a significant challenge. As α-synuclein does not aggregate spontaneously in most currently used in vitro assays, primary nucleation is triggered by the presence of surfaces such as lipid membranes or interfaces created by shaking, to achieve aggregation on accessible time scales. In addition, secondary nucleation is typically only observed by lowering the pH below 5.8. Here we investigated assay conditions that enables spontaneous primary nucleation and secondary nucleation at pH 7.4. Using 400 mM sodium phosphate, we observed quiescent spontaneous aggregation of α-synuclein and established that this aggregation is dominated by secondary processes. Furthermore, the presence of potassium ions enhanced the reproducibility of quiescent α-synuclein aggregation. This work provides a framework for the study of spontaneous α-synuclein aggregation at physiological pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert
I. Horne
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A. Metrick
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- College
of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Wing Man
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Dillon J. Rinauro
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Z. Faidon Brotzakis
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Chia
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Bioprocessing
Technology Institute, Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138668, Singapore
| | - Georg Meisl
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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12
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Bhopatkar AA, Kayed R. Flanking regions, amyloid cores, and polymorphism: the potential interplay underlying structural diversity. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105122. [PMID: 37536631 PMCID: PMC10482755 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105122] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The β-sheet-rich amyloid core is the defining feature of protein aggregates associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Recent investigations have revealed that there exist multiple examples of the same protein, with the same sequence, forming a variety of amyloid cores with distinct structural characteristics. These structural variants, termed as polymorphs, are hypothesized to influence the pathological profile and the progression of different neurodegenerative diseases, giving rise to unique phenotypic differences. Thus, identifying the origin and properties of these structural variants remain a focus of studies, as a preliminary step in the development of therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the potential role of the flanking regions of amyloid cores in inducing polymorphism. These regions, adjacent to the amyloid cores, show a preponderance for being structurally disordered, imbuing them with functional promiscuity. The dynamic nature of the flanking regions can then manifest in the form of conformational polymorphism of the aggregates. We take a closer look at the sequences flanking the amyloid cores, followed by a review of the polymorphic aggregates of the well-characterized proteins amyloid-β, α-synuclein, Tau, and TDP-43. We also consider different factors that can potentially influence aggregate structure and how these regions can be viewed as novel targets for therapeutic strategies by utilizing their unique structural properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anukool A Bhopatkar
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
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13
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Staats R, Brotzakis ZF, Chia S, Horne RI, Vendruscolo M. Optimization of a small molecule inhibitor of secondary nucleation in α-synuclein aggregation. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1155753. [PMID: 37701726 PMCID: PMC10493395 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1155753] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is characterised by the deposition in the brain of amyloid aggregates of α-synuclein. The surfaces of these amyloid aggregates can catalyse the formation of new aggregates, giving rise to a positive feedback mechanism responsible for the rapid proliferation of α-synuclein deposits. We report a procedure to enhance the potency of a small molecule to inhibit the aggregate proliferation process using a combination of in silico and in vitro methods. The optimized small molecule shows potency already at a compound:protein stoichiometry of 1:20. These results illustrate a strategy to accelerate the optimisation of small molecules against α-synuclein aggregation by targeting secondary nucleation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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14
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Nguyen PH, Derreumaux P. Multistep molecular mechanisms of Aβ16-22 fibril formation revealed by lattice Monte Carlo simulations. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:235101. [PMID: 37318171 DOI: 10.1063/5.0149419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
As a model of self-assembly from disordered monomers to fibrils, the amyloid-β fragment Aβ16-22 was subject to past numerous experimental and computational studies. Because dynamics information between milliseconds and seconds cannot be assessed by both studies, we lack a full understanding of its oligomerization. Lattice simulations are particularly well suited to capture pathways to fibrils. In this study, we explored the aggregation of 10 Aβ16-22 peptides using 65 lattice Monte Carlo simulations, each simulation consisting of 3 × 109 steps. Based on a total of 24 and 41 simulations that converge and do not converge to the fibril state, respectively, we are able to reveal the diversity of the pathways leading to fibril structure and the conformational traps slowing down the fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong H Nguyen
- CNRS, Université Paris Cité, UPR 9080, Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, 13 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Philippe Derreumaux
- CNRS, Université Paris Cité, UPR 9080, Laboratoire de Biochimie Théorique, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Fondation Edmond de Rothschild, 13 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005 Paris, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75005 Paris, France
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15
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Vendruscolo M. Thermodynamic and kinetic approaches for drug discovery to target protein misfolding and aggregation. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37276120 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2221024] [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: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Protein misfolding diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, are characterized by the aberrant aggregation of proteins. These conditions are still largely untreatable, despite having a major impact on our healthcare systems and societies. AREAS COVERED We describe drug discovery strategies to target protein misfolding and aggregation. We compare thermodynamic approaches, which are based on the stabilization of the native states of proteins, with kinetic approaches, which are based on the slowing down of the aggregation process. This comparison is carried out in terms of the current knowledge of the process of protein misfolding and aggregation, the mechanisms of disease and the therapeutic targets. EXPERT OPINION There is an unmet need for disease-modifying treatments that target protein misfolding and aggregation for the over 50 human disorders known to be associated with this phenomenon. With the approval of the first drugs that can prevent misfolding or inhibit aggregation, future efforts will be focused on the discovery of effective compounds with these mechanisms of action for a wide range of conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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16
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Indig RY, Landau M. Designed inhibitors to reduce amyloid virulence and cytotoxicity and combat neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 75:102318. [PMID: 37196450 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The review highlights the role of amyloids in various diseases and the challenges associated with targeting human amyloids in therapeutic development. However, due to the better understanding of microbial amyloids' role as virulence factors, there is a growing interest in repurposing and designing anti-amyloid compounds for antivirulence therapy. The identification of amyloid inhibitors has not only significant clinical implications but also provides valuable insights into the structure and function of amyloids. The review showcases small molecules and peptides that specifically target amyloids in both humans and microbes, reducing cytotoxicity and biofilm formation, respectively. The review emphasizes the importance of further research on amyloid structures, mechanisms, and interactions across all life forms to yield new drug targets and improve the design of selective treatments. Overall, the review highlights the potential for amyloid inhibitors in therapeutic development for both human diseases and microbial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinat Yona Indig
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Meytal Landau
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel; Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) and Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany; Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg, Germany.
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17
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Im D, Kim S, Yoon G, Hyun DG, Eom YG, Lee YE, Sohn CH, Choi JM, Kim HI. Decoding the Roles of Amyloid-β (1-42)'s Key Oligomerization Domains toward Designing Epitope-Specific Aggregation Inhibitors. JACS AU 2023; 3:1065-1075. [PMID: 37124297 PMCID: PMC10131210 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Fibrillar amyloid aggregates are the pathological hallmarks of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. The amyloid-β (1-42) protein, in particular, is a major component of senile plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease and a primary target for disease treatment. Determining the essential domains of amyloid-β (1-42) that facilitate its oligomerization is critical for the development of aggregation inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents. In this study, we identified three key hydrophobic sites (17LVF19, 32IGL34, and 41IA42) on amyloid-β (1-42) and investigated their involvement in the self-assembly process of the protein. Based on these findings, we designed candidate inhibitor peptides of amyloid-β (1-42) aggregation. Using the designed peptides, we characterized the roles of the three hydrophobic regions during amyloid-β (1-42) fibrillar aggregation and monitored the consequent effects on its aggregation property and structural conversion. Furthermore, we used an amyloid-β (1-42) double point mutant (I41N/A42N) to examine the interactions between the two C-terminal end residues with the two hydrophobic regions and their roles in amyloid self-assembly. Our results indicate that interchain interactions in the central hydrophobic region (17LVF19) of amyloid-β (1-42) are important for fibrillar aggregation, and its interaction with other domains is associated with the accessibility of the central hydrophobic region for initiating the oligomerization process. Our study provides mechanistic insights into the self-assembly of amyloid-β (1-42) and highlights key structural domains that facilitate this process. Our results can be further applied toward improving the rational design of candidate amyloid-β (1-42) aggregation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongjoon Im
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Center
for Proteogenome Research, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Single
Cell Analysis Laboratory, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Soohyeong Kim
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Center
for Proteogenome Research, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Single
Cell Analysis Laboratory, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyusub Yoon
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Center
for Proteogenome Research, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Single
Cell Analysis Laboratory, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Da Gyeong Hyun
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Center
for Proteogenome Research, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Single
Cell Analysis Laboratory, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Gon Eom
- Department
of Chemistry, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Eun Lee
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Ho Sohn
- Center
for Nanomedicine, Institute for Basic Science
(IBS), Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Graduate
Program in Nanobiomedical Engineering, Advanced Science Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Mo Choi
- Department
of Chemistry, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- Chemistry
Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan
National University, Busan 46241, Republic
of Korea
| | - Hugh I. Kim
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Center
for Proteogenome Research, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Single
Cell Analysis Laboratory, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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18
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Sun X, Dyson HJ, Wright PE. Role of conformational dynamics in pathogenic protein aggregation. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 73:102280. [PMID: 36878172 PMCID: PMC10033434 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102280] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of pathogenic protein oligomers and aggregates is associated with several devastating amyloid diseases. As protein aggregation is a multi-step nucleation-dependent process beginning with unfolding or misfolding of the native state, it is important to understand how innate protein dynamics influence aggregation propensity. Kinetic intermediates composed of heterogeneous ensembles of oligomers are frequently formed on the aggregation pathway. Characterization of the structure and dynamics of these intermediates is critical to the understanding of amyloid diseases since oligomers appear to be the main cytotoxic agents. In this review, we highlight recent biophysical studies of the roles of protein dynamics in driving pathogenic protein aggregation, yielding new mechanistic insights that can be leveraged for design of aggregation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Sun
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - H Jane Dyson
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Peter E Wright
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology and Skaggs Institute of Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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19
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Ghosh S, Ali R, Verma S. Aβ-oligomers: A potential therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 239:124231. [PMID: 36996958 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The cascade of amyloid formation relates to multiple complex events at the molecular level. Previous research has established amyloid plaque deposition as the leading cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, detected mainly in aged population. The primary components of the plaques are two alloforms of amyloid-beta (Aβ), Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40 peptides. Recent studies have provided considerable evidence contrary to the previous claim indicating that amyloid-beta oligomers (AβOs) as the main culprit responsible for AD-associated neurotoxicity and pathogenesis. In this review, we have discussed the primary features of AβOs, such as assembly formation, the kinetics of oligomer formation, interactions with various membranes/membrane receptors, the origin of toxicity, and oligomer-specific detection methods. Recently, the discovery of rationally designed antibodies has opened a gateway for using synthesized peptides as a grafting component in the complementarity determining region (CDR) of antibodies. Thus, the Aβ sequence motif or the complementary peptide sequence in the opposite strand of the β-sheet (extracted from the Protein Data Bank: PDB) helps design oligomer-specific inhibitors. The microscopic event responsible for oligomer formation can be targeted, and thus prevention of the overall macroscopic behaviour of the aggregation or the associated toxicity can be achieved. We have carefully reviewed the oligomer formation kinetics and associated parameters. Besides, we have depicted a thorough understanding of how the synthesized peptide inhibitors can impede the early aggregates (oligomers), mature fibrils, monomers, or a mixture of the species. The oligomer-specific inhibitors (peptides or peptide fragments) lack in-depth chemical kinetics and optimization control-based screening. In the present review, we have proposed a hypothesis for effectively screening oligomer-specific inhibitors using the chemical kinetics (determining the kinetic parameters) and optimization control strategy (cost-dependent analysis). Further, it may be possible to implement the structure-kinetic-activity-relationship (SKAR) strategy instead of structure-activity-relationship (SAR) to improve the inhibitor's activity. The controlled optimization of the kinetic parameters and dose usage will be beneficial for narrowing the search window for the inhibitors.
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20
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Wilson MR, Satapathy S, Vendruscolo M. Extracellular protein homeostasis in neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:235-245. [PMID: 36828943 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00786-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
The protein homeostasis (proteostasis) system encompasses the cellular processes that regulate protein synthesis, folding, concentration, trafficking and degradation. In the case of intracellular proteostasis, the identity and nature of these processes have been extensively studied and are relatively well known. By contrast, the mechanisms of extracellular proteostasis are yet to be fully elucidated, although evidence is accumulating that their age-related progressive impairment might contribute to neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases. Constitutively secreted extracellular chaperones are emerging as key players in processes that operate to protect neurons and other brain cells by neutralizing the toxicity of extracellular protein aggregates and promoting their safe clearance and disposal. Growing evidence indicates that these extracellular chaperones exert multiple effects to promote cell viability and protect neurons against pathologies arising from the misfolding and aggregation of proteins in the synaptic space and interstitial fluid. In this Review, we outline the current knowledge of the mechanisms of extracellular proteostasis linked to neurodegenerative diseases, and we examine the latest understanding of key molecules and processes that protect the brain from the pathological consequences of extracellular protein aggregation and proteotoxicity. Finally, we contemplate possible therapeutic opportunities for neurodegenerative diseases on the basis of this emerging knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Wilson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Sandeep Satapathy
- Blavatnik Institute of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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21
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Sharma S, Tomar VR, Jayaraj A, Deep S. A computational strategy for therapeutic development against superoxide dismutase (SOD1) amyloid formation: effect of polyphenols on the various events in the aggregation pathway. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:6232-6246. [PMID: 36756854 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp05537f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Pathology of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) aggregation is linked to a neurodegenerative disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Without suitable post-translational modifications (PTMs), the protein structure tends to become aggregation-prone. Understanding the role of PTMs and targeting the aggregation-prone SOD1 with small molecules can be used to design a strategy to inhibit its aggregation. Microsecond long molecular dynamics (MD) simulations followed by free energy surface (FES) analyses show that the loss of structure in the apo monomer happens locally and stepwise. Removing the disulfide bond from apoprotein leads to further instability in the zinc-binding loop, giving rise to non-native protein conformations. Further, it was found that these non-native conformations have a higher propensity to form a non-native dimer. We chose three structurally similar polyphenols based on their binding energies and investigated their impact on SOD1 aggregation kinetics. MD simulations of apo-SOD1SH/corkscrew fibril-polyphenol complexes were also carried out. The effect of polyphenols was seen on fibril elongation as well. Based on the experiments and MD simulation results, it can be inferred that the choice of inhibitors is influenced not only by the binding energy but also by dimer interface stabilization, the proclivity to form non-native dimers, the propensity to break fibrils, and the propensity to decrease the rate of elongation. The polyphenols with 3' and 4' hydroxyl groups are better inhibitors of SOD1 aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India, 110016.
| | - Vijay Raj Tomar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India, 110016.
| | - Abhilash Jayaraj
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India, 110016.
| | - Shashank Deep
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India, 110016.
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22
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Housmans JAJ, Wu G, Schymkowitz J, Rousseau F. A guide to studying protein aggregation. FEBS J 2023; 290:554-583. [PMID: 34862849 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Disrupted protein folding or decreased protein stability can lead to the accumulation of (partially) un- or misfolded proteins, which ultimately cause the formation of protein aggregates. Much of the interest in protein aggregation is associated with its involvement in a wide range of human diseases and the challenges it poses for large-scale biopharmaceutical manufacturing and formulation of therapeutic proteins and peptides. On the other hand, protein aggregates can also be functional, as observed in nature, which triggered its use in the development of biomaterials or therapeutics as well as for the improvement of food characteristics. Thus, unmasking the various steps involved in protein aggregation is critical to obtain a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of amyloid formation. This knowledge will allow a more tailored development of diagnostic methods and treatments for amyloid-associated diseases, as well as applications in the fields of new (bio)materials, food technology and therapeutics. However, the complex and dynamic nature of the aggregation process makes the study of protein aggregation challenging. To provide guidance on how to analyse protein aggregation, in this review we summarize the most commonly investigated aspects of protein aggregation with some popular corresponding methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joëlle A J Housmans
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guiqin Wu
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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23
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Ball S, Adamson JSP, Sullivan MA, Zimmermann MR, Lo V, Sanz-Hernandez M, Jiang X, Kwan AH, McKenzie ADJ, Werry EL, Knowles TPJ, Kassiou M, Meisl G, Todd MH, Rutledge PJ, Sunde M. Perphenazine-Macrocycle Conjugates Rapidly Sequester the Aβ42 Monomer and Prevent Formation of Toxic Oligomers and Amyloid. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:87-98. [PMID: 36542544 PMCID: PMC9818246 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00498] [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: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is imposing a growing social and economic burden worldwide, and effective therapies are urgently required. One possible approach to modulation of the disease outcome is to use small molecules to limit the conversion of monomeric amyloid (Aβ42) to cytotoxic amyloid oligomers and fibrils. We have synthesized modulators of amyloid assembly that are unlike others studied to date: these compounds act primarily by sequestering the Aβ42 monomer. We provide kinetic and nuclear magnetic resonance data showing that these perphenazine conjugates divert the Aβ42 monomer into amorphous aggregates that are not cytotoxic. Rapid monomer sequestration by the compounds reduces fibril assembly, even in the presence of pre-formed fibrillar seeds. The compounds are therefore also able to disrupt monomer-dependent secondary nucleation, the autocatalytic process that generates the majority of toxic oligomers. The inhibitors have a modular design that is easily varied, aiding future exploration and use of these tools to probe the impact of distinct Aβ42 species populated during amyloid assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah
R. Ball
- School
of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | - Julius S. P. Adamson
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | - Michael A. Sullivan
- School
of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | - Manuela R. Zimmermann
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Victor Lo
- School
of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | | | - Xiaofan Jiang
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | - Ann H. Kwan
- School
of Life and Environmental Sciences, The
University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | - André D. J. McKenzie
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | - Eryn L. Werry
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
- Brain and
Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, U.K.
- Cavendish
Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB3 0HE, U.K.
| | - Michael Kassiou
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | - Georg Meisl
- Centre
for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 1EW, U.K.
| | - Matthew H. Todd
- School
of Pharmacy, University College London, LondonWC1N 1AX, U.K.
| | - Peter J. Rutledge
- School
of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
| | - Margaret Sunde
- School
of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2006, Australia
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24
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Sedov I, Khaibrakhmanova D. Molecular Mechanisms of Inhibition of Protein Amyloid Fibril Formation: Evidence and Perspectives Based on Kinetic Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113428. [PMID: 36362217 PMCID: PMC9657184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of fibril formation is considered a possible treatment strategy for amyloid-related diseases. Understanding the molecular nature of inhibitor action is crucial for the design of drug candidates. In the present review, we describe the common kinetic models of fibril formation and classify known inhibitors by the mechanism of their interactions with the aggregating protein and its oligomers. This mechanism determines the step or steps of the aggregation process that become inhibited and the observed changes in kinetics and equilibrium of fibril formation. The results of numerous studies indicate that possible approaches to antiamyloid inhibitor discovery include the search for the strong binders of protein monomers, cappers blocking the ends of the growing fibril, or the species absorbing on the surface of oligomers preventing nucleation. Strongly binding inhibitors stabilizing the native state can be promising for the structured proteins while designing the drug candidates targeting disordered proteins is challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Sedov
- Chemical Institute, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia
- Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS, 420111 Kazan, Russia
- Sirius University of Science and Technology, 1 Olympic Ave, 354340 Sochi, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-9600503916
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25
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Zhu J, Salvatella X, Robustelli P. Small molecules targeting the disordered transactivation domain of the androgen receptor induce the formation of collapsed helical states. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6390. [PMID: 36302916 PMCID: PMC9613762 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34077-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically disordered proteins, which do not adopt well-defined structures under physiological conditions, are implicated in many human diseases. Small molecules that target the disordered transactivation domain of the androgen receptor have entered human trials for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), but no structural or mechanistic rationale exists to explain their inhibition mechanisms or relative potencies. Here, we utilize all-atom molecular dynamics computer simulations to elucidate atomically detailed binding mechanisms of the compounds EPI-002 and EPI-7170 to the androgen receptor. Our simulations reveal that both compounds bind at the interface of two transiently helical regions and induce the formation of partially folded collapsed helical states. We find that EPI-7170 binds androgen receptor more tightly than EPI-002 and we identify a network of intermolecular interactions that drives higher affinity binding. Our results suggest strategies for developing more potent androgen receptor inhibitors and general strategies for disordered protein drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Zhu
- grid.254880.30000 0001 2179 2404Dartmouth College, Department of Chemistry, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Xavier Salvatella
- grid.473715.30000 0004 6475 7299Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain ,grid.425902.80000 0000 9601 989XICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 0810 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paul Robustelli
- grid.254880.30000 0001 2179 2404Dartmouth College, Department of Chemistry, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
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26
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Uddin A, Malla JA, Kumar H, Kumari M, Sinha S, Sharma VK, Kumar Y, Talukdar P, Lahiri M, Maiti TK, Hazra P. Development of a Systematic Strategy toward Promotion of α-Synuclein Aggregation Using 2-Hydroxyisophthalamide-Based Systems. Biochemistry 2022; 61:2267-2279. [PMID: 36219819 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Establishing a potent scheme against α-synuclein aggregation involved in Parkinson's disease has been evaluated as a promising route to identify compounds that either inhibit or promote the aggregation process of α-synuclein. In the last two decades, this perspective has guided a dramatic increase in the efforts, focused on developing potent drugs either for retardation or promotion of the self-assembly process of α-synuclein. To address this issue, using a chemical kinetics platform, we developed a strategy that enabled a progressively detailed analysis of the molecular events leading to protein aggregation at the microscopic level in the presence of a recently synthesized 2-hydroxyisophthalamide class of small organic molecules based on their binding affinity. Furthermore, qualitatively, we have developed a strategy of disintegration of α-synuclein fibrils in the presence of these organic molecules. Finally, we have shown that these organic molecules effectively suppress the toxicity of α-synuclein oligomers in neuron cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslam Uddin
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune411008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Javid Ahmad Malla
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune411008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Harish Kumar
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru560065, India
| | - Manisha Kumari
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad121001, India
| | - Suman Sinha
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura281406, India
| | - Virender Kumar Sharma
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune411008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Yashwant Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune411008, Maharashtra, India.,National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru560065, India
| | - Pinaki Talukdar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune411008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mayurika Lahiri
- Department of Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune411008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Tushar Kanti Maiti
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad121001, India
| | - Partha Hazra
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune411008, Maharashtra, India
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27
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Heck JR, Miele E, Mouthaan RP, Frosz MH, Knowles TPJ, Euser TG. Label-free monitoring of proteins in optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fibres. Methods Appl Fluoresc 2022; 10. [PMID: 36084629 DOI: 10.1088/2050-6120/ac9113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The fluorescent detection of proteins without labels or stains, which affect their behaviour and require additional genetic or chemical preparation, has broad applications to biological research. However, standard approaches require large sample volumes or analyse only a small fraction of the sample. Here we use optofluidic hollow-core photonic crystal fibres to detect and quantify sub-microlitre volumes of unmodified bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein down to 100 nM concentrations. The optofluidic fibre's waveguiding properties are optimised for guidance at the (auto)fluorescence emission wavelength, enabling fluorescence collection from a 10 cm long excitation region, increasing sensitivity. The observed spectra agree with spectra taken from a conventional cuvette-based fluorimeter, corrected for the guidance properties of the fibre. The BSA fluorescence depended linearly on BSA concentration, while only a small hysteresis effect was observed, suggesting limited biofouling of the fibre sensor. Finally, we briefly discuss how this method could be used to study aggregation kinetics. With small sample volumes, the ability to use unlabelled proteins, and continuous flow, the method will be of interest to a broad range of protein-related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Robert Heck
- Department of Physics, Cambridge University, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 071, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Ermanno Miele
- Department of Physics, Cambridge University, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1TN, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Ralf P Mouthaan
- Department of Physics, Cambridge University, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1TN, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Michael H Frosz
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Max-Planck-Institut fuer die Physik des Lichts, Staudtstr. 2, Erlangen, 91058, GERMANY
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Department of Physics, Cambridge University, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1TN, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
| | - Tijmen G Euser
- Department of Physics, Cambridge University, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1TN, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
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28
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An aggregation inhibitor specific to oligomeric intermediates of Aβ42 derived from phage display libraries of stable, small proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2121966119. [PMID: 35580187 PMCID: PMC9173773 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121966119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease affects a growing number of people, but a cure is lacking. The disease is connected to the formation of plaques in the brain, the first of which appear years before the first symptoms. Current approaches fail to stop or revert the propagation of these plaques, which are also a source of neurotoxic species in the form of oligomers. This work represents two directions toward therapeutic developments: 1) the design and production of protein libraries based on a small and stable scaffold, and 2) the realization of a screening procedure that allows for the identification of oligomer binders. The approach is successful in identifying a candidate protein that binds to oligomers and reduces the rate of plaque proliferation. The self-assembly of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) to fibrillar and oligomeric aggregates is linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Aβ binders may serve as inhibitors of aggregation to prevent the generation of neurotoxic species and for the detection of Aβ species. A particular challenge involves finding binders to on-pathway oligomers given their transient nature. Here we construct two phage–display libraries built on the highly inert and stable protein scaffold S100G, one containing a six-residue variable surface patch and one harboring a seven-residue variable loop insertion. Monomers and fibrils of Aβ40 and Aβ42 were separately coupled to silica nanoparticles, using a coupling strategy leading to the presence of oligomers on the monomer beads, and they were used in three rounds of affinity selection. Next-generation sequencing revealed sequence clusters and candidate binding proteins (SXkmers). Two SXkmers were expressed as soluble proteins and tested in terms of aggregation inhibition via thioflavin T fluorescence. We identified an SXkmer with loop–insertion YLTIRLM as an inhibitor of the secondary nucleation of Aβ42 and binding analyses using surface plasmon resonance technology, Förster resonance energy transfer, and microfluidics diffusional sizing imply an interaction with intermediate oligomeric species. A linear peptide with the YLTIRLM sequence was found inhibitory but at a lower potency than the more constrained SXkmer loop. We identified an SXkmer with side-patch VI-WI-DD as an inhibitor of Aβ40 aggregation. Remarkably, our data imply that SXkmer-YLTIRLM blocks secondary nucleation through an interaction with oligomeric intermediates in solution or at the fibril surface, which is a unique inhibitory mechanism for a library-derived inhibitor.
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29
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Michaels TCT, Dear AJ, Cohen SIA, Vendruscolo M, Knowles TPJ. Kinetic profiling of therapeutic strategies for inhibiting the formation of amyloid oligomers. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:164904. [PMID: 35490011 DOI: 10.1063/5.0077609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein self-assembly into amyloid fibrils underlies several neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. It has become apparent that the small oligomers formed during this process constitute neurotoxic molecular species associated with amyloid aggregation. Targeting the formation of oligomers represents, therefore, a possible therapeutic avenue to combat these diseases. However, it remains challenging to establish which microscopic steps should be targeted to suppress most effectively the generation of oligomeric aggregates. Recently, we have developed a kinetic model of oligomer dynamics during amyloid aggregation. Here, we use this approach to derive explicit scaling relationships that reveal how key features of the time evolution of oligomers, including oligomer peak concentration and lifetime, are controlled by the different rate parameters. We discuss the therapeutic implications of our framework by predicting changes in oligomer concentrations when the rates of the individual microscopic events are varied. Our results identify the kinetic parameters that control most effectively the generation of oligomers, thus opening a new path for the systematic rational design of therapeutic strategies against amyloid-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C T Michaels
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J Dear
- Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Samuel I A Cohen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michele Vendruscolo
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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30
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Zhang K, Gao YH, Zhong WS, Cao H, Yue K, Wang L, Wang H. Ca 2+ accelerates peptide fibrillogenesis via a heterogeneous secondary nucleation pathway. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:3899-3906. [PMID: 35212699 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr07719h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A binding-induced fibrillogenesis (BIF) peptide mimics the fibrillogenesis of fibronectin, forming fibrous networks for disease theranostics. However, the mechanism of fast fibrillogenesis of the BIF peptide remains unclear. In this study, the fibrillogenesis processes of the BIF peptide in the absence and presence of receptors, i.e. Ca2+, are carefully studied. The BIF peptide, lauric acid-FFVLK-HSDVHK (LAFH) can self-assemble into nanoparticles (NPs) in solution and further transform into a fibrous structure, the fibrillogenesis of which could be accelerated by the addition of Ca2+. In detail, the fibrillogenesis of LAFH NPs without Ca2+ is achieved through a nucleation-elongation mechanism, in which homogeneous secondary nucleation is involved, followed by detachment of the newly formed fibers from pre-formed nanofibers (NFs). The fibrillogenesis of LAFH NPs in the presence of Ca2+ starts with an Ostwald ripening process, followed by a heterogeneous secondary nucleation, in which LAFH NPs bind to pre-formed LAFH NFs via Ca2+. The phenomenon of heterogeneous secondary nucleation including the attachment and shape change of LAFH NPs on pre-formed LAFH NFs is first revealed by TEM observation. These findings contribute to the understanding of the fast BIF process, supporting the mechanism study at the cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, No. 30 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China.
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Yong-Hong Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, No. 30 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China.
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Wei-Shen Zhong
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, No. 30 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Hui Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, No. 30 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Kai Yue
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, No. 30 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Lei Wang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Hao Wang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), No. 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China.
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31
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Khaibrakhmanova D, Nikiforova A, Li Z, Sedov I. Effect of ligands with different affinity on albumin fibril formation. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 204:709-717. [PMID: 35134455 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.01.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The effect of binding of several ligands to bovine serum albumin on the kinetics of fibril formation at denaturing conditions is studied. The considered ligands are clinical drugs with different binding constants to albumin: relatively strong binders (naproxen, ibuprofen, warfarin with 105 to 107 binding constant values) and weak binders (isoniazid, ranitidine with 103 to 104 binding constant values). The data of thioflavin fluorescence binding assay, Congo red binding assay, and circular dichroism spectroscopy indicate ligand concentration-dependent suppression of fibril formation in the presence of strong binders and no effects in the presence of weak binders. Analysis of kinetic curves shows no induction lag associated with fibril nucleation and the first-order kinetics of fibril formation with respect to albumin concentration for all the studied systems. Using DSC method, the fractions of unfolded albumin at incubation temperature were determined for each albumin-ligand system and ligand concentration. Their magnitudes ranging from 0 to 1 correlate with the initial rates of fibril formation and with equilibrium concentrations of fibrils formed in the system after incubation for at least 120 min. The results indicate that fibrils are formed from partially or completely denatured albumin form with the rate proportional to the fraction of this form. Strong albumin binders act as thermodynamic inhibitors of fibrillation shifting the unfolding equilibrium to the side of the native ligand-bound protein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alena Nikiforova
- Chemical Institute, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Ziying Li
- Chemical Institute, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Igor Sedov
- Chemical Institute, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia.
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32
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Zimmermann MR, Bera SC, Meisl G, Dasadhikari S, Ghosh S, Linse S, Garai K, Knowles TPJ. Mechanism of Secondary Nucleation at the Single Fibril Level from Direct Observations of Aβ42 Aggregation. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:16621-16629. [PMID: 34582216 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The formation of amyloid fibrils and oligomers is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), and contributes to the disease pathway. To progress our understanding of these diseases at a molecular level, it is crucial to determine the mechanisms and rates of amyloid formation and replication. In the context of AD, the self-replication of aggregates of the Aβ42 peptide by secondary nucleation, leading to the formation of new aggregates on the surfaces of existing ones, is a major source of both new fibrils and smaller toxic oligomeric species. However, the core mechanistic determinants, including the presence of intermediates, as well as the role of heterogeneities in the fibril population, are challenging to determine from bulk aggregation measurements. Here, we obtain such information by monitoring directly the time evolution of individual fibrils by TIRF microscopy. Crucially, essentially all aggregates have the ability to self-replicate via secondary nucleation, and the amplification of the aggregate concentration cannot be explained by a small fraction of "superspreader" fibrils. We observe that secondary nucleation is a catalytic multistep process involving the attachment of soluble species to the fibril surface, followed by conversion/detachment to yield a new fibril in solution. Furthermore, we find that fibrils formed by secondary nucleation resemble the parent fibril population. This detailed level of mechanistic insights into aggregate self-replication is key in the rational design of potential inhibitors of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela R Zimmermann
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Subhas C Bera
- TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, 500046 Hyderabad, India.,Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Georg Meisl
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Shamasree Ghosh
- TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, 500046 Hyderabad, India
| | - Sara Linse
- Department of Chemistry, Division for Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Kanchan Garai
- TIFR Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, 500046 Hyderabad, India
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, CB2 1EW Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CB3 0HE Cambridge, United Kingdom
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33
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Sharma S, Modi P, Sharma G, Deep S. Kinetics theories to understand the mechanism of aggregation of a protein and to design strategies for its inhibition. Biophys Chem 2021; 278:106665. [PMID: 34419715 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2021.106665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Protein aggregation phenomenon is closely related to the formation of amyloids which results in many neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In order to prevent and treat these diseases, a clear understanding of the mechanism of misfolding and self-assembly of peptides and proteins is very crucial. The aggregation of a protein may involve various microscopic events. Multiple simulations utilizing the solutions of the master equation have given a better understanding of the kinetic profiles involved in the presence and absence of a particular microscopic event. This review focuses on understanding the contribution of these molecular events to protein aggregation based on the analysis of kinetic profiles of aggregation. We also discuss the effect of inhibitors, which target various species of aggregation pathways, on the kinetic profile of protein aggregation. At the end of this review, some strategies for the inhibition of aggregation that can be utilized by combining the chemical kinetics approach with thermodynamics are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Priya Modi
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Gargi Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Shashank Deep
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
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34
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Iwakawa N, Morimoto D, Walinda E, Shirakawa M, Sugase K. Multiple-State Monitoring of SOD1 Amyloid Formation at Single-Residue Resolution by Rheo-NMR Spectroscopy. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:10604-10613. [PMID: 34232041 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c02974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Formation of protein aggregates or fibrils entails the conversion of soluble native protein monomers via multiple molecular states. No spectroscopic techniques have succeeded in capturing the transient molecular-scale events of fibrillation in situ. Here we report residue- and state-specific real-time monitoring of the fibrillation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-related SOD1 by rheology NMR (Rheo-NMR) spectroscopy. Under moderately denaturing conditions, where NMR signals of folded and unfolded monomeric SOD1 are simultaneously observable, the cross-peak intensities of folded monomeric SOD1 decreased faster than those of the unfolded species, and a 310-helix in folded SOD1 was deformed prior to global unfolding. Furthermore, real-time protein dynamics analysis identified residues involved in the core structure formation of SOD1 oligomers. Our findings provide insight into local and global unfolding events in SOD1 and fibril formation. This Rheo-NMR analysis will be applicable not only to atomic-level monitoring of other amyloidogenic proteins but also to quantification of shear-induced structural changes of non-amyloidogenic proteins and elucidation of shear-enhanced chemical phenomena such as viscosity increase and crystallization of various solution-state compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Iwakawa
- Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-Daigaku Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Daichi Morimoto
- Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-Daigaku Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Erik Walinda
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Masahiro Shirakawa
- Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-Daigaku Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
| | - Kenji Sugase
- Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto-Daigaku Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
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35
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Najarzadeh Z, Zaman M, Sereikaite V, Strømgaard K, Andreasen M, Otzen DE. Heparin promotes fibrillation of most phenol-soluble modulin virulence peptides from Staphylococcus aureus. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100953. [PMID: 34270957 PMCID: PMC8363829 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs), such as α-PSMs, β-PSMs, and δ-toxin, are virulence peptides secreted by different Staphylococcus aureus strains. PSMs are able to form amyloid fibrils, which may strengthen the biofilm matrix that promotes bacterial colonization of and extended growth on surfaces (e.g., cell tissue) and increases antibiotic resistance. Many components contribute to biofilm formation, including the human-produced highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan heparin. Although heparin promotes S. aureus infection, the molecular basis for this is unclear. Given that heparin is known to induce fibrillation of a wide range of proteins, we hypothesized that heparin aids bacterial colonization by promoting PSM fibrillation. Here, we address this hypothesis using a combination of thioflavin T-fluorescence kinetic studies, CD, FTIR, electron microscopy, and peptide microarrays to investigate the mechanism of aggregation, the structure of the fibrils, and identify possible binding regions. We found that heparin accelerates fibrillation of all α-PSMs (except PSMα2) and δ-toxin but inhibits β-PSM fibrillation by blocking nucleation or reducing fibrillation levels. Given that S. aureus secretes higher levels of α-PSM than β-PSM peptides, heparin is therefore likely to promote fibrillation overall. Heparin binding is driven by multiple positively charged lysine residues in α-PSMs and δ-toxins, the removal of which strongly reduced binding affinity. Binding of heparin did not affect the structure of the resulting fibrils, that is, the outcome of the aggregation process. Rather, heparin provided a scaffold to catalyze or inhibit fibrillation. Based on our findings, we speculate that heparin may strengthen the bacterial biofilm and therefore enhance colonization via increased PSM fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Najarzadeh
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Masihuz Zaman
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Vita Sereikaite
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Kristian Strømgaard
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Maria Andreasen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Daniel E Otzen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
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36
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Lutter L, Aubrey LD, Xue WF. On the Structural Diversity and Individuality of Polymorphic Amyloid Protein Assemblies. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167124. [PMID: 34224749 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The prediction of highly ordered three-dimensional structures of amyloid protein fibrils from the amino acid sequences of their monomeric self-assembly precursors constitutes a challenging and unresolved aspect of the classical protein folding problem. Because of the polymorphic nature of amyloid assembly whereby polypeptide chains of identical amino acid sequences under identical conditions are capable of self-assembly into a spectrum of different fibril structures, the prediction of amyloid structures from an amino acid sequence requires a detailed and holistic understanding of its assembly free energy landscape. The full extent of the structure space accessible to the cross-β molecular architecture of amyloid must also be resolved. Here, we review the current understanding of the diversity and the individuality of amyloid structures, and how the polymorphic landscape of amyloid links to biology and disease phenotypes. We present a comprehensive review of structural models of amyloid fibrils derived by cryo-EM, ssNMR and AFM to date, and discuss the challenges ahead for resolving the structural basis and the biological consequences of polymorphic amyloid assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liisa Lutter
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NJ Canterbury, UK
| | - Liam D Aubrey
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NJ Canterbury, UK
| | - Wei-Feng Xue
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NJ Canterbury, UK.
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37
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Sepahvandi A, Ghaffari M, Bahmanpour AH, Moztarzadeh F, Zarrintaj P, Uludağ H, Mozafari M. COVID-19: insights into virus-receptor interactions. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2021; 2:10. [PMID: 34766003 PMCID: PMC8035060 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-021-00033-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) calls for rapid mobilization of scientists to probe and explore solutions to this deadly disease. A limited understanding of the high transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) relative to other coronavirus strains guides a deeper investigation into the virus/receptor interactions. The cutting-edge studies in thermodynamic and kinetic properties of interactions such as protein-protein interplays have been reviewed in many modeling and analysis studies. Highlighting the thermodynamic assessments of biological interactions and emphasizing the boosted transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 despite its high similarity in structure and sequence with other coronavirus strains is an important and highly valuable investigation that can lead scientists to discover analytical and fundamental approaches in studying virus's interactions. Accordingly, we have attempted to describe the crucial factors such as conformational changes and hydrophobicity particularities that influence on thermodynamic potentials in the SARS-COV-2 S-protein adsorption process. Discussing the thermodynamic potentials and the kinetics of the SARS-CoV-2 S-protein in its interaction with the ACE2 receptors of the host cell is a fundamental approach that would be extremely valuable in designing candidate pharmaceutical agents or exploring alternative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azadeh Sepahvandi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, 301 Main St, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| | - Maryam Ghaffari
- Biomaterial Group, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering (Center of Excellence), Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Bahmanpour
- Biomaterial Group, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering (Center of Excellence), Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fathollah Moztarzadeh
- Biomaterial Group, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering (Center of Excellence), Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Payam Zarrintaj
- School of Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 420 Engineering North, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
| | - Hasan Uludağ
- Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2V4 Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1 Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3 Canada
| | - Masoud Mozafari
- Department of Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
- Currently at: Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
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38
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Hofmann J, Ginex T, Espargaró A, Scheiner M, Gunesch S, Aragó M, Stigloher C, Sabaté R, Luque FJ, Decker M. Azobioisosteres of Curcumin with Pronounced Activity against Amyloid Aggregation, Intracellular Oxidative Stress, and Neuroinflammation. Chemistry 2021; 27:6015-6027. [PMID: 33666306 PMCID: PMC8048673 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202005263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Many (poly-)phenolic natural products, for example, curcumin and taxifolin, have been studied for their activity against specific hallmarks of neurodegeneration, such as amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42) aggregation and neuroinflammation. Due to their drawbacks, arising from poor pharmacokinetics, rapid metabolism, and even instability in aqueous medium, the biological activity of azobenzene compounds carrying a pharmacophoric catechol group, which have been designed as bioisoteres of curcumin has been examined. Molecular simulations reveal the ability of these compounds to form a hydrophobic cluster with Aβ42, which adopts different folds, affecting the propensity to populate fibril-like conformations. Furthermore, the curcumin bioisosteres exceeded the parent compound in activity against Aβ42 aggregation inhibition, glutamate-induced intracellular oxidative stress in HT22 cells, and neuroinflammation in microglial BV-2 cells. The most active compound prevented apoptosis of HT22 cells at a concentration of 2.5 μm (83 % cell survival), whereas curcumin only showed very low protection at 10 μm (21 % cell survival).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Hofmann
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal ChemistryInstitute of, Pharmacy and Food ChemistryUniversity of WürzburgAm Hubland97074WürzburgGermany
| | - Tiziana Ginex
- Department of Nutrition Food Science and GastronomyFaculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Theoretical and Computational, Chemistry and Institute of Biomedicine, Campus TorriberaUniversity of BarcelonaSanta Coloma de Gramenet08921Spain
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-ChemistrySchool of Pharmacy Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, (IN2UB)University of Barcelona08028BarcelonaSpain
| | - Matthias Scheiner
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal ChemistryInstitute of, Pharmacy and Food ChemistryUniversity of WürzburgAm Hubland97074WürzburgGermany
| | - Sandra Gunesch
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal ChemistryInstitute of, Pharmacy and Food ChemistryUniversity of WürzburgAm Hubland97074WürzburgGermany
| | - Marc Aragó
- Department of Nutrition Food Science and GastronomyFaculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Theoretical and Computational, Chemistry and Institute of Biomedicine, Campus TorriberaUniversity of BarcelonaSanta Coloma de Gramenet08921Spain
| | - Christian Stigloher
- Imaging Core FacilityBiocenter/Theodor-Boveri-InstituteUniversity of WürzburgAm Hubland97074WürzburgGermany
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-ChemistrySchool of Pharmacy Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, (IN2UB)University of Barcelona08028BarcelonaSpain
| | - F. Javier Luque
- Department of Nutrition Food Science and GastronomyFaculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Theoretical and Computational, Chemistry and Institute of Biomedicine, Campus TorriberaUniversity of BarcelonaSanta Coloma de Gramenet08921Spain
| | - Michael Decker
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal ChemistryInstitute of, Pharmacy and Food ChemistryUniversity of WürzburgAm Hubland97074WürzburgGermany
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39
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Single Molecule Characterization of Amyloid Oligomers. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26040948. [PMID: 33670093 PMCID: PMC7916856 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26040948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The misfolding and aggregation of polypeptide chains into β-sheet-rich amyloid fibrils is associated with a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. Growing evidence indicates that the oligomeric intermediates populated in the early stages of amyloid formation rather than the mature fibrils are responsible for the cytotoxicity and pathology and are potentially therapeutic targets. However, due to the low-populated, transient, and heterogeneous nature of amyloid oligomers, they are hard to characterize by conventional bulk methods. The development of single molecule approaches provides a powerful toolkit for investigating these oligomeric intermediates as well as the complex process of amyloid aggregation at molecular resolution. In this review, we present an overview of recent progress in characterizing the oligomerization of amyloid proteins by single molecule fluorescence techniques, including single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), single-molecule photobleaching and super-resolution optical imaging. We discuss how these techniques have been applied to investigate the different aspects of amyloid oligomers and facilitate understanding of the mechanism of amyloid aggregation.
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40
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Löhr T, Kohlhoff K, Heller GT, Camilloni C, Vendruscolo M. A kinetic ensemble of the Alzheimer's Aβ peptide. NATURE COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 1:71-78. [PMID: 38217162 DOI: 10.1038/s43588-020-00003-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
The conformational and thermodynamic properties of disordered proteins are commonly described in terms of structural ensembles and free energy landscapes. To provide information on the transition rates between the different states populated by these proteins, it would be desirable to generalize this description to kinetic ensembles. Approaches based on the theory of stochastic processes can be particularly suitable for this purpose. Here, we develop a Markov state model and apply it to determine a kinetic ensemble of Aβ42, a disordered peptide associated with Alzheimer's disease. Through the Google Compute Engine, we generated 315-µs all-atom molecular dynamics trajectories. Using a probabilistic-based definition of conformational states in a neural network approach, we found that Aβ42 is characterized by inter-state transitions on the microsecond timescale, exhibiting only fully unfolded or short-lived, partially folded states. Our results illustrate how kinetic ensembles provide effective information about the structure, thermodynamics and kinetics of disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Löhr
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Carlo Camilloni
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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41
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Kreiser RP, Wright AK, Block NR, Hollows JE, Nguyen LT, LeForte K, Mannini B, Vendruscolo M, Limbocker R. Therapeutic Strategies to Reduce the Toxicity of Misfolded Protein Oligomers. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228651. [PMID: 33212787 PMCID: PMC7696907 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The aberrant aggregation of proteins is implicated in the onset and pathogenesis of a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Mounting evidence indicates that misfolded protein oligomers produced as intermediates in the aggregation process are potent neurotoxic agents in these diseases. Because of the transient and heterogeneous nature of these elusive aggregates, however, it has proven challenging to develop therapeutics that can effectively target them. Here, we review approaches aimed at reducing oligomer toxicity, including (1) modulating the oligomer populations (e.g., by altering the kinetics of aggregation by inhibiting, enhancing, or redirecting the process), (2) modulating the oligomer properties (e.g., through the size–hydrophobicity–toxicity relationship), (3) modulating the oligomer interactions (e.g., by protecting cell membranes by displacing oligomers), and (4) reducing oligomer toxicity by potentiating the protein homeostasis system. We analyze examples of these complementary approaches, which may lead to the development of compounds capable of preventing or treating neurodegenerative disorders associated with protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P. Kreiser
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (R.P.K.); (A.K.W.); (N.R.B.); (J.E.H.); (L.T.N.); (K.L.)
| | - Aidan K. Wright
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (R.P.K.); (A.K.W.); (N.R.B.); (J.E.H.); (L.T.N.); (K.L.)
| | - Natalie R. Block
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (R.P.K.); (A.K.W.); (N.R.B.); (J.E.H.); (L.T.N.); (K.L.)
| | - Jared E. Hollows
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (R.P.K.); (A.K.W.); (N.R.B.); (J.E.H.); (L.T.N.); (K.L.)
| | - Lam T. Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (R.P.K.); (A.K.W.); (N.R.B.); (J.E.H.); (L.T.N.); (K.L.)
| | - Kathleen LeForte
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (R.P.K.); (A.K.W.); (N.R.B.); (J.E.H.); (L.T.N.); (K.L.)
| | - Benedetta Mannini
- 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;
- Correspondence: (M.V.); (R.L.)
| | - Ryan Limbocker
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 10996, USA; (R.P.K.); (A.K.W.); (N.R.B.); (J.E.H.); (L.T.N.); (K.L.)
- Correspondence: (M.V.); (R.L.)
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42
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Heller GT, Aprile FA, Michaels TCT, Limbocker R, Perni M, Ruggeri FS, Mannini B, Löhr T, Bonomi M, Camilloni C, De Simone A, Felli IC, Pierattelli R, Knowles TPJ, Dobson CM, Vendruscolo M. Small-molecule sequestration of amyloid-β as a drug discovery strategy for Alzheimer's disease. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/45/eabb5924. [PMID: 33148639 PMCID: PMC7673680 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb5924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Disordered proteins are challenging therapeutic targets, and no drug is currently in clinical use that modifies the properties of their monomeric states. Here, we identify a small molecule (10074-G5) capable of binding and sequestering the intrinsically disordered amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in its monomeric, soluble state. Our analysis reveals that this compound interacts with Aβ and inhibits both the primary and secondary nucleation pathways in its aggregation process. We characterize this interaction using biophysical experiments and integrative structural ensemble determination methods. We observe that this molecule increases the conformational entropy of monomeric Aβ while decreasing its hydrophobic surface area. We also show that it rescues a Caenorhabditis elegans model of Aβ-associated toxicity, consistent with the mechanism of action identified from the in silico and in vitro studies. These results illustrate the strategy of stabilizing the monomeric states of disordered proteins with small molecules to alter their behavior for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella T Heller
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Francesco A Aprile
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Thomas C T Michaels
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
- Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ryan Limbocker
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Michele Perni
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Francesco Simone Ruggeri
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Benedetta Mannini
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Thomas Löhr
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Massimiliano Bonomi
- Structural Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry. CNRS UMR 3528, C3BI, CNRS USR 3756, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Carlo Camilloni
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Division of Molecular Biosciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II," 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Isabella C Felli
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff," University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Roberta Pierattelli
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff," University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - 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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