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Nair S, Jiang Y, Marchal IS, Chernobelsky E, Huang HW, Suh S, Pan R, Kong XP, Ryoo HD, Sigurdsson EM. Anti-tau single domain antibodies clear pathological tau and attenuate its toxicity and related functional defects. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:543. [PMID: 39079958 PMCID: PMC11289317 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06927-9] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the presence of tau inclusions. We have developed over fifty anti-tau single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) derived from phage display libraries of a llama immunized with recombinant and pathological tau immunogens. We examined the therapeutic potential of four of these sdAbs in a Drosophila tauopathy model following their transgenic expression either in all neurons or neuronal subtypes. Three of these sdAbs showed therapeutic potential in various assays, effectively clearing pathological tau and attenuating or preventing tau-induced phenotypes that typically manifest as defects in neuronal axonal transport, neurodegeneration, functional impairments, and shortened lifespan. Of these three, one sdAb was superior in every assay, which may at least in part be attributed to its tau-binding epitope. These findings support its development as a gene therapy for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudershana Nair
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yixiang Jiang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Isabella S Marchal
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth Chernobelsky
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Huai-Wei Huang
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Suh
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruimin Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiang-Peng Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hyung Don Ryoo
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Einar M Sigurdsson
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Parra Bravo C, Naguib SA, Gan L. Cellular and pathological functions of tau. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9. [PMID: 39014245 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00753-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Tau protein is involved in various cellular processes, including having a canonical role in binding and stabilization of microtubules in neurons. Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases marked by the abnormal accumulation of tau protein aggregates in neurons, as seen, for example, in conditions such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease. Mutations in tau coding regions or that disrupt tau mRNA splicing, tau post-translational modifications and cellular stress factors (such as oxidative stress and inflammation) increase the tendency of tau to aggregate and interfere with its clearance. Pathological tau is strongly implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and the propagation of tau aggregates is associated with disease severity. Recent technological advancements, including cryo-electron microscopy and disease models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, have increased our understanding of tau-related pathology in neurodegenerative conditions. Substantial progress has been made in deciphering tau aggregate structures and the molecular mechanisms that underlie protein aggregation and toxicity. In this Review, we discuss recent insights into the diverse cellular functions of tau and the pathology of tau inclusions and explore the potential for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Parra Bravo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah A Naguib
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA.
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3
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Dangi A, Qureshi T, Chinnathambi S, Kiran Marelli U. Macrocyclic peptides derived from AcPHF6* and AcPHF6 to selectively modulate the Tau aggregation. Bioorg Chem 2024; 151:107625. [PMID: 39013241 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Ten macrocyclic peptides, each comprising 14 amino acids, were designed and synthesized based on the Tau aggregation model hexapeptides AcPHF6* and AcPHF6. The design took into account the aggregation tendencies of each residue in AcPHF6* and AcPHF6, their aggregation models, while employing peptide-based structural design principles including N-methylation to promote turns and to block hydrogen bond propagation and elongation of the aggregation chain. NMR analysis supported that all these peptides adopted an antiparallel β-sheet conformation. Self-aggregation studies characterized the aggregation properties of these peptides, identifying two peptides with the highest (P3) and lowest (P8) aggregation tendencies. In cross-aggregation studies with the parent peptides AcPHF6* and AcPHF6, P3 and P8 were found to promote and reduce aggregation, respectively. Furthermore, P3 and P8 demonstrated an enhancement and diminution effect on the aggregation of K18wt, indicating their capacity to modulate aggregation even at the macromolecular level. Thus, the two simple peptides, P3 and P8 selectively exhibit pro- or anti-aggregation effects on PHF peptides and Tau. This study, has thus developed structurally well-defined non-complex peptides, derived from AcPHF6* and AcPHF6, to modulate Tau aggregation as desired, offering applications in Tau model studies and the development of Tau aggregation inhibitors or promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abha Dangi
- Central NMR Facility, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008 Pune, India; Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008 Pune, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-HRDC Campus, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, UP, 201002, India
| | - Tazeen Qureshi
- Neurobiology Group, Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008 Pune, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-HRDC Campus, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, UP, 201002, India
| | - Subashchandrabose Chinnathambi
- Neurobiology Group, Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008 Pune, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-HRDC Campus, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, UP, 201002, India.
| | - Udaya Kiran Marelli
- Central NMR Facility, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008 Pune, India; Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008 Pune, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-HRDC Campus, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, UP, 201002, India.
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4
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Tan W, Thiruppathi J, Hong SH, Puth S, Pheng S, Mun BR, Choi WS, Lee KH, Park HS, Nguyen DT, Lee MC, Jeong K, Zheng JH, Kim Y, Lee SE, Rhee JH. Development of an anti-tauopathy mucosal vaccine specifically targeting pathologic conformers. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:108. [PMID: 38879560 PMCID: PMC11180213 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00904-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies are associated with pathological tau protein aggregation, which plays an important role in neurofibrillary degeneration and dementia. Targeted immunotherapy to eliminate pathological tau aggregates is known to improve cognitive deficits in AD animal models. The tau repeat domain (TauRD) plays a pivotal role in tau-microtubule interactions and is critically involved in the aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. Because TauRD forms the structural core of tau aggregates, the development of immunotherapies that selectively target TauRD-induced pathological aggregates holds great promise for the modulation of tauopathies. In this study, we generated recombinant TauRD polypeptide that form neurofibrillary tangle-like structures and evaluated TauRD-specific immune responses following intranasal immunization in combination with the mucosal adjuvant FlaB. In BALB/C mice, repeated immunizations at one-week intervals induced robust TauRD-specific antibody responses in a TLR5-dependent manner. Notably, the resulting antiserum recognized only the aggregated form of TauRD, while ignoring monomeric TauRD. The antiserum effectively inhibited TauRD filament formation and promoted the phagocytic degradation of TauRD aggregate fragments by microglia. The antiserum also specifically recognized pathological tau conformers in the human AD brain. Based on these results, we engineered a built-in flagellin-adjuvanted TauRD (FlaB-TauRD) vaccine and tested its efficacy in a P301S transgenic mouse model. Mucosal immunization with FlaB-TauRD improved quality of life, as indicated by the amelioration of memory deficits, and alleviated tauopathy progression. Notably, the survival of the vaccinated mice was dramatically extended. In conclusion, we developed a mucosal vaccine that exclusively targets pathological tau conformers and prevents disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhi Tan
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Jayalakshmi Thiruppathi
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Seol Hee Hong
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- National Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Sao Puth
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Sophea Pheng
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Ram Mun
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Seok Choi
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Hwa Lee
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Sun Park
- Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Duc Tien Nguyen
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Cheol Lee
- Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Seegene Inc, Seoul, 05548, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwangjoon Jeong
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Hai Zheng
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082, China
| | - Young Kim
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Shee Eun Lee
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- National Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Joon Haeng Rhee
- Clinical Vaccine R&D Center, Chonnam National University, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- Combinatorial Tumor Immunotherapy MRC, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun-gun, Jeonnam, 58128, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Paul S, Biswas P. Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study of the Self-Assembly of Tau-Derived PHF6 and Its Inhibition by Oleuropein Aglycone from Extra Virgin Olive Oil. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:5630-5641. [PMID: 38814052 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c02393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other taupathies are neurodegenerative disorders associated with the amyloid deposition of the Tau protein in the brain. This amyloid formation may be inhibited by small molecules, which is recognized as one of the best therapeutic strategies to stop the progression of the disease. This work focuses on the small nucleating segment, hexapeptide-paired helical filament 6 (PHF6), responsible for Tau aggregation. Using computational modeling and classical molecular dynamics simulations, we show that PHF6 monomers collapse in water to form β-sheet rich structures, and the main olive oil polyphenol oleuropein aglycone (OleA) prevents peptide aggregation significantly. We gradually increase the ratio of the PHF6-OleA from 1:1 to 1:3 and find that for the 1:1 ratio, the peptide monomers are prone to form aggregated structures, while for the 1:2 ratio, the formation of the extended β-sheet structure is significantly less. For a 1:3 ratio of protein/OleA, the peptide residues are sufficiently crowded by OleA molecules through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking; hence, the peptide chains prefer to exist in a monomeric random coil conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srijita Paul
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India
| | - Parbati Biswas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India
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6
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Reich N, Parkin E, Dawson N. Liposome nanoparticle conjugation and cell penetrating peptide sequences (CPPs) enhance the cellular delivery of the tau aggregation inhibitor RI-AG03. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18477. [PMID: 38853458 PMCID: PMC11163028 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Given the pathological role of Tau aggregation in Alzheimer's disease (AD), our laboratory previously developed the novel Tau aggregation inhibitor peptide, RI-AG03. As Tau aggregates accumulate intracellularly, it is essential that the peptide can traverse the cell membrane. Here we examine the cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking of RI-AG03, in both a free and liposome-conjugated form. We also characterize the impact of adding the cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) sequences, polyarginine (polyR) or transactivator of transcription (TAT), to RI-AG03. Our data show that liposome conjugation of CPP containing RI-AG03 peptides, with either the polyR or TAT sequence, increased cellular liposome association three-fold. Inhibition of macropinocytosis modestly reduced the uptake of unconjugated and RI-AG03-polyR-linked liposomes, while having no effect on RI-AG03-TAT-conjugated liposome uptake. Further supporting macropinocytosis-mediated internalization, a 'fair' co-localisation of the free and liposome-conjugated RI-AG03-polyR peptide with macropinosomes and lysosomes was observed. Interestingly, we also demonstrate that RI-AG03-polyR detaches from liposomes following cellular uptake, thereby largely evading organellar entrapment. Collectively, our data indicate that direct membrane penetration and macropinocytosis are key routes for the internalization of liposomes conjugated with CPP containing RI-AG03. Our study also demonstrates that peptide-liposomes are suitable nanocarriers for the cellular delivery of RI-AG03, furthering their potential use in targeting Tau pathology in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Reich
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and MedicineLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
| | - Edward Parkin
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and MedicineLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
| | - Neil Dawson
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and MedicineLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
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Batra S, Vaquer-Alicea JI, Valdez C, Taylor SP, Manon VA, Vega AR, Kashmer OM, Kolay S, Lemoff A, Cairns NJ, White CL, Diamond MI. VCP regulates early tau seed amplification via specific cofactors. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4307848. [PMID: 38826306 PMCID: PMC11142303 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4307848/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Background Neurodegenerative tauopathies may progress based on seeding by pathological tau assemblies, whereby an aggregate is released from one cell, gains entry to an adjacent or connected cell, and serves as a specific template for its own replication in the cytoplasm. In vitro seeding reactions typically take days, yet seeding into the complex cytoplasmic milieu happens within hours, implicating a machinery with unknown players that controls this process in the acute phase. Methods We used proximity labeling to identify factors that control seed amplification within 5h of seed exposure. We fused split-APEX2 to the C-terminus of tau repeat domain (RD) to reconstitute peroxidase activity 5h after seeded intracellular tau aggregation. Valosin containing protein (VCP/p97) was the top hit. VCP harbors dominant mutations that underlie two neurodegenerative diseases, multisystem proteinopathy and vacuolar tauopathy, but its mechanistic role is unclear. We used immortalized cells and human neurons to study the effects of VCP on tau seeding. We exposed cells to fibrils or brain homogenates in cell culture media and measured effects on uptake and induction of intracellular tau aggregation following various genetic and chemical manipulations of VCP. Results VCP knockdown reduced tau seeding. Chemical inhibitors had opposing effects on aggregation in HEK293T tau biosensor cells and human neurons alike: ML-240 increased seeding efficiency, whereas NMS-873 decreased it. The inhibitors were effective only when administered within 8h of seed exposure, indicating a role for VCP early in seed processing. We screened 30 VCP co-factors in HEK293T biosensor cells by genetic knockout or knockdown. Reduction of ATXN3, NSFL1C, UBE4B, NGLY1, and OTUB1 decreased tau seeding, as did NPLOC4, which also uniquely increased soluble tau levels. By contrast, reduction of FAF2 increased tau seeding. Conclusions Divergent effects on tau seeding of chemical inhibitors and cofactor reduction indicate that VCP regulates this process. This is consistent with a dedicated cytoplasmic processing complex based on VCP that directs seeds acutely towards degradation vs. amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushobhna Batra
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | | | - Clarissa Valdez
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Skyler P Taylor
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Victor A Manon
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Anthony R Vega
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Sourav Kolay
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Andrew Lemoff
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Nigel J Cairns
- University of Exeter Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
| | - Charles L White
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Marc I Diamond
- UT Southwestern: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
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Bukhari H, Nithianandam V, Battaglia RA, Cicalo A, Sarkar S, Comjean A, Hu Y, Leventhal MJ, Dong X, Feany MB. Transcriptional programs mediating neuronal toxicity and altered glial-neuronal signaling in a Drosophila knock-in tauopathy model. Genome Res 2024; 34:590-605. [PMID: 38599684 PMCID: PMC11146598 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278576.123] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Missense mutations in the gene encoding the microtubule-associated protein TAU (current and approved symbol is MAPT) cause autosomal dominant forms of frontotemporal dementia. Multiple models of frontotemporal dementia based on transgenic expression of human TAU in experimental model organisms, including Drosophila, have been described. These models replicate key features of the human disease but do not faithfully recreate the genetic context of the human disorder. Here we use CRISPR-Cas-mediated gene editing to model frontotemporal dementia caused by the TAU P301L mutation by creating the orthologous mutation, P251L, in the endogenous Drosophila tau gene. Flies heterozygous or homozygous for Tau P251L display age-dependent neurodegeneration, display metabolic defects, and accumulate DNA damage in affected neurons. To understand the molecular events promoting neuronal dysfunction and death in knock-in flies, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on approximately 130,000 cells from brains of Tau P251L mutant and control flies. We found that expression of disease-associated mutant tau altered gene expression cell autonomously in all neuronal cell types identified. Gene expression was also altered in glial cells, suggestive of non-cell-autonomous regulation. Cell signaling pathways, including glial-neuronal signaling, were broadly dysregulated as were brain region and cell type-specific protein interaction networks and gene regulatory programs. In summary, we present here a genetic model of tauopathy that faithfully recapitulates the genetic context and phenotypic features of the human disease, and use the results of comprehensive single-cell sequencing analysis to outline pathways of neurotoxicity and highlight the potential role of non-cell-autonomous changes in glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
| | - Vanitha Nithianandam
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
| | - Rachel A Battaglia
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
| | - Anthony Cicalo
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Hub, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Souvarish Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Aram Comjean
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Yanhui Hu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Matthew J Leventhal
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- MIT Ph.D. Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Xianjun Dong
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Hub, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Mel B Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA;
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815, USA
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9
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Sahayaraj AE, Abdul Vahid A, Dhara A, Babu AT, Vijayan V. Role of G326 in Determining the Aggregation Propensity of R3 Tau Repeat: Insights from Studies on R1R3 Tau Construct. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:4325-4335. [PMID: 38676652 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The Microtubule-binding repeat region (MTBR) of Tau has been studied extensively due to its pathological implications in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. The pathological property of MTBR is mainly due to the R3 repeat's high propensity for self-aggregation, highlighting the critical molecular grammar of the repeat. Utilizing the R1R3 construct (WT) and its G326E mutant (EE), we determine the distinct characteristics of various peptide segments that modulate the aggregation propensity of the R3 repeat using NMR spectroscopy. Through time-dependent experiments, we have identified 317KVTSKCGS324 in R3 repeat as the aggregation initiating motif (AIM) due to its role at the initial stages of aggregation. The G326E mutation induces changes in conformation and dynamics at the AIM, thereby effectively abrogating the aggregation propensity of the R1R3 construct. We further corroborate our findings through MD simulations and propose that AIM is a robust site of interest for tauopathy drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allwin Ebenezer Sahayaraj
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Arshad Abdul Vahid
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Asmita Dhara
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Ann Teres Babu
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
| | - Vinesh Vijayan
- School of Chemistry, IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Maruthamala PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695551, India
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10
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Parra Bravo C, Giani AM, Madero-Perez J, Zhao Z, Wan Y, Samelson AJ, Wong MY, Evangelisti A, Cordes E, Fan L, Ye P, Zhu D, Pozner T, Mercedes M, Patel T, Yarahmady A, Carling GK, Sterky FH, Lee VMY, Lee EB, DeTure M, Dickson DW, Sharma M, Mok SA, Luo W, Zhao M, Kampmann M, Gong S, Gan L. Human iPSC 4R tauopathy model uncovers modifiers of tau propagation. Cell 2024; 187:2446-2464.e22. [PMID: 38582079 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.015] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies are age-associated neurodegenerative diseases whose mechanistic underpinnings remain elusive, partially due to a lack of appropriate human models. Here, we engineered human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neuronal lines to express 4R Tau and 4R Tau carrying the P301S MAPT mutation when differentiated into neurons. 4R-P301S neurons display progressive Tau inclusions upon seeding with Tau fibrils and recapitulate features of tauopathy phenotypes including shared transcriptomic signatures, autophagic body accumulation, and reduced neuronal activity. A CRISPRi screen of genes associated with Tau pathobiology identified over 500 genetic modifiers of seeding-induced Tau propagation, including retromer VPS29 and genes in the UFMylation cascade. In progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) brains, the UFMylation cascade is altered in neurofibrillary-tangle-bearing neurons. Inhibiting the UFMylation cascade in vitro and in vivo suppressed seeding-induced Tau propagation. This model provides a robust platform to identify novel therapeutic strategies for 4R tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Parra Bravo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Alice Maria Giani
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Jesus Madero-Perez
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Zeping Zhao
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Yuansong Wan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Avi J Samelson
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Man Ying Wong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Alessandro Evangelisti
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Ethan Cordes
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Li Fan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Pearly Ye
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Daphne Zhu
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Tatyana Pozner
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Maria Mercedes
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Tark Patel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Allan Yarahmady
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Gillian K Carling
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Fredrik H Sterky
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Virginia M Y Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Institute of Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael DeTure
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Manu Sharma
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Sue-Ann Mok
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Wenjie Luo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Mingrui Zhao
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Martin Kampmann
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Shiaoching Gong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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11
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Angera IJ, Wright MM, Del Valle JR. Beyond N-Alkylation: Synthesis, Structure, and Function of N-Amino Peptides. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:1287-1297. [PMID: 38626119 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
The growing list of physiologically important protein-protein interactions (PPIs) has amplified the need for compounds to target topologically complex biomolecular surfaces. In contrast to small molecules, peptide and protein mimics can exhibit three-dimensional shape complementarity across a large area and thus have the potential to significantly expand the "druggable" proteome. Strategies to stabilize canonical protein secondary structures without sacrificing side-chain content are particularly useful in the design of peptide-based chemical probes and therapeutics.Substitution of the backbone amide in peptides represents a subtle chemical modification with profound effects on conformation and stability. Studies focused on N-alkylation have already led to broad-ranging applications in peptidomimetic design. Inspired by nonribosomal peptide natural products harboring amide N-oxidations, we envisioned that main-chain hydrazide and hydroxamate bonds would impose distinct conformational preferences and offer unique opportunities for backbone diversification. This Account describes our exploration of peptide N-amination as a strategy for stabilizing canonical protein folds and for the structure-based design of soluble amyloid mimics.We developed a general synthetic protocol to access N-amino peptides (NAPs) on solid support. In an effort to stabilize β-strand conformation, we designed stitched peptidomimetics featuring covalent tethering of the backbone N-amino substituent to the preceding residue side chain. Using a combination of NMR, X-ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics simulations, we discovered that backbone N-amination alone could significantly stabilize β-hairpin conformation in multiple models of folding. Our studies revealed that the amide NH2 substituent in NAPs participates in cooperative noncovalent interactions that promote β-sheet secondary structure. In contrast to Cα-substituted α-hydrazino acids, we found that N-aminoglycine and its N'-alkylated derivatives instead stabilize polyproline II (PPII) conformation. The reactivity of hydrazides also allows for late-stage peptide macrocyclization, affording novel covalent surrogates of side-chain-backbone H-bonds.The pronounced β-sheet propensity of Cα-substituted α-hydrazino acids prompted us to target amyloidogenic proteins using NAP-based β-strand mimics. Backbone N-amination was found to render aggregation-prone lead sequences soluble and resistant to proteolysis. Inhibitors of Aβ and tau identified through N-amino scanning blocked protein aggregation and the formation of mature fibrils in vitro. We further identified NAP-based single-strand and cross-β tau mimics capable of inhibiting the prion-like cellular seeding activity of recombinant and patient-derived tau fibrils.Our studies establish backbone N-amination as a valuable addition to the peptido- and proteomimetic tool kit. α-Hydrazino acids show particular promise as minimalist β-strand mimics that retain side-chain information. Late-stage derivatization of hydrazides also provides facile entry into libraries of backbone-edited peptides. We anticipate that NAPs will thus find applications in the development of optimally constrained folds and modulators of PPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac J Angera
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Madison M Wright
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Juan R Del Valle
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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12
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Zheng H, Sun H, Cai Q, Tai HC. The Enigma of Tau Protein Aggregation: Mechanistic Insights and Future Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4969. [PMID: 38732197 PMCID: PMC11084794 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Tau protein misfolding and aggregation are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and over twenty neurodegenerative disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms of tau aggregation in vivo remain incompletely understood. There are two types of tau aggregates in the brain: soluble aggregates (oligomers and protofibrils) and insoluble filaments (fibrils). Compared to filamentous aggregates, soluble aggregates are more toxic and exhibit prion-like transmission, providing seeds for templated misfolding. Curiously, in its native state, tau is a highly soluble, heat-stable protein that does not form fibrils by itself, not even when hyperphosphorylated. In vitro studies have found that negatively charged molecules such as heparin, RNA, or arachidonic acid are generally required to induce tau aggregation. Two recent breakthroughs have provided new insights into tau aggregation mechanisms. First, as an intrinsically disordered protein, tau is found to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) both in vitro and inside cells. Second, cryo-electron microscopy has revealed diverse fibrillar tau conformations associated with different neurodegenerative disorders. Nonetheless, only the fibrillar core is structurally resolved, and the remainder of the protein appears as a "fuzzy coat". From this review, it appears that further studies are required (1) to clarify the role of LLPS in tau aggregation; (2) to unveil the structural features of soluble tau aggregates; (3) to understand the involvement of fuzzy coat regions in oligomer and fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hwan-Ching Tai
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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13
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Yuan Y, Mao X, Pan X, Zhang R, Su W. Kinetic Ensemble of Tau Protein through the Markov State Model and Deep Learning Analysis. J Chem Theory Comput 2024; 20:2947-2958. [PMID: 38501645 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.3c01211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The ordered assembly of Tau protein into filaments characterizes Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases, and thus, stabilization of Tau protein is a promising avenue for tauopathies therapy. To dissect the underlying aggregation mechanisms on Tau, we employ a set of molecular simulations and the Markov state model to determine the kinetics of ensemble of K18. K18 is the microtubule-binding domain of Tau protein and plays a vital role in the microtubule assembly, recycling processes, and amyloid fibril formation. Here, we efficiently explore the conformation of K18 with about 150 μs lifetimes in silico. Our results observe that all four repeat regions (R1-R4) are very dynamic, featuring frequent conformational conversion and lacking stable conformations, and the R2 region is more flexible than the R1, R3, and R4 regions. Additionally, it is worth noting that residues 300-310 in R2-R3 and residues 319-336 in R3 tend to form sheet structures, indicating that K18 has a broader functional role than individual repeat monomers. Finally, the simulations combined with Markov state models and deep learning reveal 5 key conformational states along the transition pathway and provide the information on the microsecond time scale interstate transition rates. Overall, this study offers significant insights into the molecular mechanism of Tau pathological aggregation and develops novel strategies for both securing tauopathies and advancing drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongna Yuan
- School of Information Science & Engineering, Lanzhou University, South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Xuqi Mao
- School of Information Science & Engineering, Lanzhou University, South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Xiaohang Pan
- School of Information Science & Engineering, Lanzhou University, South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Ruisheng Zhang
- School of Information Science & Engineering, Lanzhou University, South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Wei Su
- School of Information Science & Engineering, Lanzhou University, South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
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14
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Arar S, Haque MA, Bhatt N, Zhao Y, Kayed R. Effect of Natural Osmolytes on Recombinant Tau Monomer: Propensity of Oligomerization and Aggregation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1366-1377. [PMID: 38503425 PMCID: PMC10995947 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathological misfolding and aggregation of the microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT), a full length Tau2N4R with 441aa, is considered the principal disease relevant constituent in tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease (AD) with an imbalanced ratio in 3R/4R isoforms. The exact cellular fluid composition, properties, and changes that coincide with tau misfolding, seed formation, and propagation events remain obscure. The proteostasis network, along with the associated osmolytes, is responsible for maintaining the presence of tau in its native structure or dealing with misfolding. In this study, for the first time, the roles of natural brain osmolytes are being investigated for their potential effects on regulating the conformational stability of the tau monomer (tauM) and its propensity to aggregate or disaggregate. Herein, the effects of physiological osmolytes myo-inositol, taurine, trimethyl amine oxide (TMAO), betaine, sorbitol, glycerophosphocholine (GPC), and citrulline on tau's aggregation state were investigated. The overall results indicate the ability of sorbitol and GPC to maintain the monomeric form and prevent aggregation of tau, whereas myo-inositol, taurine, TMAO, betaine, and citrulline promote tau aggregation to different degrees, as revealed by protein morphology in atomic force microscopy images. Biochemical and biophysical methods also revealed that tau proteins adopt different conformations under the influence of these osmolytes. TauM in the presence of all osmolytes expressed no toxicity when tested by a lactate dehydrogenase assay. Investigating the conformational stability of tau in the presence of osmolytes may provide a better understanding of the complex nature of tau aggregation in AD and the protective and/or chaotropic nature of osmolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharif Arar
- Mitchell
Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University
of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Departments
of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, School of Science, The University
of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Md Anzarul Haque
- Mitchell
Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University
of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Departments
of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Mitchell
Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University
of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Departments
of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Yingxin Zhao
- Department
of Internal Medicine, University of Texas
Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Institute
for Translational Sciences, University of
Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell
Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University
of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Departments
of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
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15
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Stroganova I, Willenberg H, Tente T, Depraz Depland A, Bakels S, Rijs AM. Exploring the Aggregation Propensity of PHF6 Peptide Segments of the Tau Protein Using Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Techniques. Anal Chem 2024; 96:5115-5124. [PMID: 38517679 PMCID: PMC10993201 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04974] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Peptide and protein aggregation involves the formation of oligomeric species, but the complex interplay between oligomers of different conformations and sizes complicates their structural elucidation. Using ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS), we aim to reveal these early steps of aggregation for the Ac-PHF6-NH2 peptide segment from tau protein, thereby distinguishing between different oligomeric species and gaining an understanding of the aggregation pathway. An important factor that is often neglected, but which can alter the aggregation propensity of peptides, is the terminal capping groups. Here, we demonstrate the use of IM-MS to probe the early stages of aggregate formation of Ac-PHF6-NH2, Ac-PHF6, PHF6-NH2, and uncapped PHF6 peptide segments. The aggregation propensity of the four PHF6 segments is confirmed using thioflavin T fluorescence assays and transmission electron microscopy. A novel approach based on post-IM fragmentation and quadrupole selection on the TIMS-Qq-ToF (trapped ion mobility) spectrometer was developed to enhance oligomer assignment, especially for the higher-order aggregates. This approach pushes the limits of IM identification of isobaric species, whose signatures appear closer to each other with increasing oligomer size, and provides new insights into the interpretation of IM-MS data. In addition, TIMS collision cross section values are compared with traveling wave ion mobility (TWIMS) data to evaluate potential instrumental bias in the trapped ion mobility results. The two IM-MS instrumental platforms are based on different ion mobility principles and have different configurations, thereby providing us with valuable insight into the preservation of weakly bound biomolecular complexes such as peptide aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia Stroganova
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Hannah Willenberg
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Thaleia Tente
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Agathe Depraz Depland
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Sjors Bakels
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Anouk M. Rijs
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
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16
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Salmani F, Mohammadi M, Seif R, Khatami SH, Noori S, Tehrani HS, Riazi G, Balalaie S, Moosavi-Movahedi AA, Fard AM, Mahnam K, Keramatinia A, Tafakhori A, Aghamollaii V, Toutounchi AH, Shahmohammadi MR, Karima S. Lysine ε-aminolysis and incorporation of sulfhydryl groups into human brain tau 4R/1N and 306VQIVYK 311 enhances the formation of beta structures and toxicity. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 263:130223. [PMID: 38365146 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130223] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the effects of N-homocysteine thiolactone (tHcy) modification on expressed and purified tau protein and the synthesized VQIVYK target peptide. The modified constructs were subjected to comprehensive validation using various methodologies, including mass spectrometry. Subsequently, in vivo, in vitro, and in silico characterizations were performed under both reducing and non-reducing conditions, as well as in the presence and absence of heparin as a cofactor. Our results unequivocally confirmed that under reducing conditions and in the presence of heparin, the modified constructs exhibited a greater propensity for aggregation. This enhanced aggregative behavior can be attributed to the disruption of lysine positive charges and the subsequent influence of hydrophobic and p-stacking intermolecular forces. Notably, the modified oligomeric species induced apoptosis in the SH-SY5Y cell line, and this effect was further exacerbated with longer incubation times and higher concentrations of the modifier. These observations suggest a potential mechanism involving reactive oxygen species (ROS). To gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the neurotoxic effects, further investigations are warranted. Elucidating these mechanisms will contribute to the development of more effective strategies to counteract aggregation and mitigate neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Salmani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjan Mohammadi
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roozbeh Seif
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyed Hossein Khatami
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Shokoofeh Noori
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Gholamhossein Riazi
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Balalaie
- Peptide Chemistry Research Center, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Karim Mahnam
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Nanotechnology Research Center, Sharekord University, Sharekord, Iran
| | - Aliasghar Keramatinia
- Department of Community Medicine,Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Tafakhori
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Vajiheh Aghamollaii
- Neurology Department, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Haghbin Toutounchi
- Department of general surgery, Imam Hosein medical and educational center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran,Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Shahmohammadi
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Comprehensive Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Karima
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran.
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17
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Mortelecque J, Zejneli O, Bégard S, Simões MC, ElHajjar L, Nguyen M, Cantrelle FX, Hanoulle X, Rain JC, Colin M, Gomes CM, Buée L, Landrieu I, Danis C, Dupré E. A selection and optimization strategy for single-domain antibodies targeting the PHF6 linear peptide within the tau intrinsically disordered protein. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107163. [PMID: 38484799 PMCID: PMC11007443 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107163] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of variable domain of the heavy-chain of the heavy-chain-only antibodies (VHHs) as disease-modifying biomolecules in neurodegenerative disorders holds promises, including targeting of aggregation-sensitive proteins. Exploitation of their clinical values depends however on the capacity to deliver VHHs with optimal physico-chemical properties for their specific context of use. We described previously a VHH with high therapeutic potential in a family of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies. The activity of this promising parent VHH named Z70 relies on its binding within the central region of the tau protein. Accordingly, we carried out random mutagenesis followed by yeast two-hybrid screening to obtain optimized variants. The VHHs selected from this initial screen targeted the same epitope as VHH Z70 as shown using NMR spectroscopy and had indeed improved binding affinities according to dissociation constant values obtained by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The improved affinities can be partially rationalized based on three-dimensional structures and NMR data of three complexes consisting of an optimized VHH and a peptide containing the tau epitope. Interestingly, the ability of the VHH variants to inhibit tau aggregation and seeding could not be predicted from their affinity alone. We indeed showed that the in vitro and in cellulo VHH stabilities are other limiting key factors to their efficacy. Our results demonstrate that only a complete pipeline of experiments, here described, permits a rational selection of optimized VHH variants, resulting in the selection of VHH variants with higher affinities and/or acting against tau seeding in cell models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Mortelecque
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
| | - Orgeta Zejneli
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Séverine Bégard
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Margarida C Simões
- BioISI - Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lea ElHajjar
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
| | - Marine Nguyen
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
| | - François-Xavier Cantrelle
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
| | - Xavier Hanoulle
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France
| | | | - Morvane Colin
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Cláudio M Gomes
- BioISI - Instituto de Biosistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luc Buée
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France.
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France.
| | - Clément Danis
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU-Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Elian Dupré
- CNRS EMR9002 - BSI - Integrative Structural Biology, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, Lille, France.
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18
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Balczon R, Lin MT, Voth S, Nelson AR, Schupp JC, Wagener BM, Pittet JF, Stevens T. Lung endothelium, tau, and amyloids in health and disease. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:533-587. [PMID: 37561137 PMCID: PMC11281824 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00006.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung endothelia in the arteries, capillaries, and veins are heterogeneous in structure and function. Lung capillaries in particular represent a unique vascular niche, with a thin yet highly restrictive alveolar-capillary barrier that optimizes gas exchange. Capillary endothelium surveys the blood while simultaneously interpreting cues initiated within the alveolus and communicated via immediately adjacent type I and type II epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and pericytes. This cell-cell communication is necessary to coordinate the immune response to lower respiratory tract infection. Recent discoveries identify an important role for the microtubule-associated protein tau that is expressed in lung capillary endothelia in the host-pathogen interaction. This endothelial tau stabilizes microtubules necessary for barrier integrity, yet infection drives production of cytotoxic tau variants that are released into the airways and circulation, where they contribute to end-organ dysfunction. Similarly, beta-amyloid is produced during infection. Beta-amyloid has antimicrobial activity, but during infection it can acquire cytotoxic activity that is deleterious to the host. The production and function of these cytotoxic tau and amyloid variants are the subject of this review. Lung-derived cytotoxic tau and amyloid variants are a recently discovered mechanism of end-organ dysfunction, including neurocognitive dysfunction, during and in the aftermath of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron Balczon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
| | - Mike T Lin
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
| | - Sarah Voth
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Monroe, Louisiana, United States
| | - Amy R Nelson
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
| | - Jonas C Schupp
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Brant M Wagener
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Jean-Francois Pittet
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Troy Stevens
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, United States
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19
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Sari L, Bali S, Joachimiak LA, Lin MM. Hairpin trimer transition state of amyloid fibril. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2756. [PMID: 38553453 PMCID: PMC10980705 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46446-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein fibril self-assembly is a universal transition implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Although fibril structure/growth are well characterized, fibril nucleation is poorly understood. Here, we use a computational-experimental approach to resolve fibril nucleation. We show that monomer hairpin content quantified from molecular dynamics simulations is predictive of experimental fibril formation kinetics across a tau motif mutant library. Hairpin trimers are predicted to be fibril transition states; one hairpin spontaneously converts into the cross-beta conformation, templating subsequent fibril growth. We designed a disulfide-linked dimer mimicking the transition state that catalyzes fibril formation, measured by ThT fluorescence and TEM, of wild-type motif - which does not normally fibrillize. A dimer compatible with extended conformations but not the transition-state fails to nucleate fibril at any concentration. Tau repeat domain simulations show how long-range interactions sequester this motif in a mutation-dependent manner. This work implies that different fibril morphologies could arise from disease-dependent hairpin seeding from different loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levent Sari
- Green Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sofia Bali
- Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Milo M Lin
- Green Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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20
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Nam Y, Prajapati R, Kim S, Shin SJ, Cheong DY, Park YH, Park HH, Lim D, Yoon Y, Lee G, Jung HA, Park I, Kim DH, Choi JS, Moon M. Dual regulatory effects of neferine on amyloid-β and tau aggregation studied by in silico, in vitro, and lab-on-a-chip technology. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 172:116226. [PMID: 38301421 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of two critical pathogenic factors: amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau. Aβ and tau become neurotoxic aggregates via self-assembly, and these aggregates contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Therefore, there has been growing interest in therapeutic strategies that simultaneously target Aβ and tau aggregates. Although neferine has attracted attention as a suitable candidate agent for alleviating AD pathology, there has been no study investigating whether neferine affects the modulation of Aβ or tau aggregation/dissociation. Herein, we investigated the dual regulatory effects of neferine on Aβ and tau aggregation/dissociation. We predicted the binding characteristics of neferine to Aβ and tau using molecular docking simulations. Next, thioflavin T and atomic force microscope analyses were used to evaluate the effects of neferine on the aggregation or dissociation of Aβ42 and tau K18. We verified the effect of neferine on Aβ fibril degradation using a microfluidic device. In addition, molecular dynamics simulation was used to predict a conformational change in the Aβ42-neferine complex. Moreover, we examined the neuroprotective effect of neferine against neurotoxicity induced by Aβ and tau and their fibrils in HT22 cells. Finally, we foresaw the pharmacokinetic properties of neferine. These results demonstrated that neferine, which has attracted attention as a potential treatment for AD, can directly affect Aβ and tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunkwon Nam
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Ritu Prajapati
- Department of Food and Life Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Sujin Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Dementia Science, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Jung Shin
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Da Yeon Cheong
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 30019, South Korea; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong 30019, South Korea
| | - Yong Ho Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ha Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Danyou Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoojeong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyudo Lee
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 30019, South Korea; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong 30019, South Korea
| | - Hyun Ah Jung
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Insu Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong-Hyun Kim
- Departments of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae Sue Choi
- Department of Food and Life Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea.
| | - Minho Moon
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Dementia Science, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea.
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21
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Bukhari H, Nithianandam V, Battaglia RA, Cicalo A, Sarkar S, Comjean A, Hu Y, Leventhal MJ, Dong X, Feany MB. Transcriptional programs mediating neuronal toxicity and altered glial-neuronal signaling in a Drosophila knock-in tauopathy model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.02.578624. [PMID: 38352559 PMCID: PMC10862891 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.02.578624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Missense mutations in the gene encoding the microtubule-associated protein tau cause autosomal dominant forms of frontotemporal dementia. Multiple models of frontotemporal dementia based on transgenic expression of human tau in experimental model organisms, including Drosophila, have been described. These models replicate key features of the human disease, but do not faithfully recreate the genetic context of the human disorder. Here we use CRISPR-Cas mediated gene editing to model frontotemporal dementia caused by the tau P301L mutation by creating the orthologous mutation, P251L, in the endogenous Drosophila tau gene. Flies heterozygous or homozygous for tau P251L display age-dependent neurodegeneration, metabolic defects and accumulate DNA damage in affected neurons. To understand the molecular events promoting neuronal dysfunction and death in knock-in flies we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on approximately 130,000 cells from brains of tau P251L mutant and control flies. We found that expression of disease-associated mutant tau altered gene expression cell autonomously in all neuronal cell types identified and non-cell autonomously in glial cells. Cell signaling pathways, including glial-neuronal signaling, were broadly dysregulated as were brain region and cell-type specific protein interaction networks and gene regulatory programs. In summary, we present here a genetic model of tauopathy, which faithfully recapitulates the genetic context and phenotypic features of the human disease and use the results of comprehensive single cell sequencing analysis to outline pathways of neurotoxicity and highlight the role of non-cell autonomous changes in glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
| | - Vanitha Nithianandam
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
| | - Rachel A. Battaglia
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
| | - Anthony Cicalo
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Hub, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115
| | - Souvarish Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Aram Comjean
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Yanhui Hu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Matthew J. Leventhal
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- MIT Ph.D. Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Xianjun Dong
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Hub, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115
| | - Mel B. Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
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22
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Louros N, Wilkinson M, Tsaka G, Ramakers M, Morelli C, Garcia T, Gallardo R, D'Haeyer S, Goossens V, Audenaert D, Thal DR, Mackenzie IR, Rademakers R, Ranson NA, Radford SE, Rousseau F, Schymkowitz J. Local structural preferences in shaping tau amyloid polymorphism. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1028. [PMID: 38310108 PMCID: PMC10838331 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45429-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies encompass a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterised by diverse tau amyloid fibril structures. The persistence of polymorphism across tauopathies suggests that distinct pathological conditions dictate the adopted polymorph for each disease. However, the extent to which intrinsic structural tendencies of tau amyloid cores contribute to fibril polymorphism remains uncertain. Using a combination of experimental approaches, we here identify a new amyloidogenic motif, PAM4 (Polymorphic Amyloid Motif of Repeat 4), as a significant contributor to tau polymorphism. Calculation of per-residue contributions to the stability of the fibril cores of different pathologic tau structures suggests that PAM4 plays a central role in preserving structural integrity across amyloid polymorphs. Consistent with this, cryo-EM structural analysis of fibrils formed from a synthetic PAM4 peptide shows that the sequence adopts alternative structures that closely correspond to distinct disease-associated tau strains. Furthermore, in-cell experiments revealed that PAM4 deletion hampers the cellular seeding efficiency of tau aggregates extracted from Alzheimer's disease, corticobasal degeneration, and progressive supranuclear palsy patients, underscoring PAM4's pivotal role in these tauopathies. Together, our results highlight the importance of the intrinsic structural propensity of amyloid core segments to determine the structure of tau in cells, and in propagating amyloid structures in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Louros
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martin Wilkinson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Grigoria Tsaka
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Meine Ramakers
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chiara Morelli
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Teresa Garcia
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rodrigo Gallardo
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sam D'Haeyer
- VIB Screening Core, Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vera Goossens
- VIB Screening Core, Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dominique Audenaert
- VIB Screening Core, Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Neuropathology, KU Leuven, and Department of Pathology, UZ Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ian R Mackenzie
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- Applied and Translational Neurogenomics, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Neil A Ranson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sheena E Radford
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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23
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Malhis M, Funke SA. Mirror-Image Phage Display for the Selection of D-Amino Acid Peptide Ligands as Potential Therapeutics. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e957. [PMID: 38372457 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.957] [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: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
In neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD), endogenous proteins or peptides aggregate with themselves. These proteins may lose their function or aggregates and/or oligomers can obtain toxicity, causing injury or death to cells. Aggregation of two major proteins characterizes AD. Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is deposited in amyloid plaques within the extracellular space of the brain and Tau in so-called neurofibrillary tangles in neurons. Finding peptide ligands to halt protein aggregation is a promising therapeutical approach. Using mirror-image phage display with a commercially available, randomized 12-mer peptide library, we have selected D-amino acid peptides, which bind to the Tau protein and modulate its aggregation in vitro. Peptides can bind specifically and selectively to a target molecule, but natural L-amino acid peptides may have crucial disadvantages for in vivo applications, as they are sensitive to protease degradation and may elicit immune responses. One strategy to circumvent these disadvantages is the use of non-naturally occurring D-amino acid peptides as they exhibit increased protease resistance and generally do not activate the immune system. To perform mirror-image phage display, the target protein needs to be synthesized as D-amino acid version. If the target protein sequence is too long to be synthesized properly, smaller peptides derived from the full length protein can be used for the selection process. This also offers the possibility to influence the binding region of the selected D-peptides in the full-length target protein. Here we provide the protocols for mirror-image phage display selection on the PHF6* peptide of Tau, based on the commercially available Ph.D.™-12 Phage Display Peptide Library Kit, leading to D-peptides that also bind the full length Tau protein (Tau441), next to PHF6*. In addition, we provide protocols and data for the first characterization of those D-peptides that inhibit Tau aggregation in vitro. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Mirror image phage display selection against D-PHF6* fibrils Support Protocol 1: Single phage ELISA Basic Protocol 2: Sequencing and D-peptide generation Basic Protocol 3: Thioflavin-T (ThT) test to control inhibition of Tau aggregation Support Protocol 2: Purification of full-length Tau protein Basic Protocol 4: ELISA to demonstrate the binding of the generated D-peptides to PHF6* and full-length Tau fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Malhis
- Institut für Bioanalytik, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Coburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Aileen Funke
- Institut für Bioanalytik, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Coburg, Germany
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24
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Tang J, Sun R, Wan J, Xu Z, Zou Y, Zhang Q. Atomic insights into the inhibition of R3 domain of tau protein by epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin and gallic acid. Biophys Chem 2024; 305:107142. [PMID: 38088006 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Inhibiting tau protein aggregation has become a prospective avenue for the therapeutic development of tauopathies. The third microtubule-binding repeat (R3) domain of tau is confirmed as the most aggregation-favorable fragment of the whole protein. As dimerization is the first step of the aggregation of tau into amyloid fibrils, impeding the dimerization of the R3 domain is critical to prevent the full-length tau aggregation. Natural polyphenol small molecules epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), quercetin (QE) and gallic acid (GA) are proven to inhibit the aggregation of the full-length recombinant tau (For EGCG and QE) or the R3 domain (For GA) of tau in vitro. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the inhibitive effects on the R3 domain of tau remain largely unknown. In this study, we conducted numerous all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on R3 dimers with and without EGCG, QE or GA, respectively. The results reveal that all three molecules can effectively decrease the β structure composition of the R3 dimer, induce the dimer to adopt loosely-packed conformations, and weaken interchain interactions, thus impeding the dimerization of the R3 peptide chains. The specific preferentially binding sites for the three molecules exhibit similarities and differences. Hydrophobic, π-π stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions collectively drive EGCG, QE and GA respectively binding on the R3 dimer, while QE also binds with the dimer through cation-π interaction. Given the incurable nature of tauopathies hitherto, our research provides helpful knowledge for the development of drugs to treat tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxing Tang
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqing Sun
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaqian Wan
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengdong Xu
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zou
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qingwen Zhang
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China.
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25
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Li X, Chen Y, Yang Z, Zhang S, Wei G, Zhang L. Structural insights into the co-aggregation of Aβ and tau amyloid core peptides: Revealing potential pathological heterooligomers by simulations. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127841. [PMID: 37924907 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127841] [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: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
The self-aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins are closely implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent evidence indicates that Aβ and tau proteins can cross-interact to form co-aggregates, which aggravates the development of AD. However, their transient heterooligomer conformations and co-aggregation molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Herein, we utilize replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the conformational ensembles formed by the central hydrophobic core of Aβ (Aβ16-22) and each of two fibril-nucleating core segments of tau (PHF6* and PHF6). Both PHF6 and PHF6* are found to co-aggregate with Aβ16-22 into β-sheet-rich heterooligomers. Intriguingly, PHF6 and Aβ16-22 peptides formed closed β-barrels, while PHF6* and Aβ16-22 formed open β-barrels, implying their distinct co-aggregation property. Compared to Aβ16-22-PHF6*, Aβ16-22-PHF6 heterooligomers have higher β-sheet content, and contain longer β-strands and larger β-sheets, indicative of stronger co-aggregation ability of PHF6 with Aβ16-22. Further analyses reveal that hydrophobic and π-π stacking interactions between Y310 of PHF6 and Aβ16-22 are crucial for the closed β-barrel/larger β-sheet formation in Aβ16-22-PHF6 heterooligomers. These results highlight the paramount importance of PHF6 fragment, particularly Y310 residue, as a potential target for inhibiting Aβ-tau co-aggregation, which could help for effective therapeutic design in mitigating Aβ-tau co-aggregation related amyloidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhua Li
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 West Xianning Road, Xi'an 710049, China; State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Department of Physics, Fudan University, 2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yujie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Department of Physics, Fudan University, 2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Zhiwei Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 West Xianning Road, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Shengli Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 West Xianning Road, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Guanghong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, Key Laboratory for Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Department of Physics, Fudan University, 2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai 200438, China..
| | - Lei Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 West Xianning Road, Xi'an 710049, China.
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26
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Goedert M, Crowther RA, Scheres SHW, Spillantini MG. Tau and neurodegeneration. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:95-102. [PMID: 38073060 PMCID: PMC7615684 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
First identified in 1975, tau was implicated in Alzheimer's disease 10 years later. Filamentous tangle inclusions were known to be made of hyperphosphorylated tau by 1991, with similar inclusions gaining recognition for being associated with other neurodegenerative diseases. In 1998, mutations in MAPT, the gene that encodes tau, were identified as the cause of a dominantly inherited form of frontotemporal dementia with abundant filamentous tau inclusions. While this result indicated that assembly of tau into aberrant filaments is sufficient to drive neurodegeneration and dementia, most cases of tauopathy are sporadic. More recent work in experimental systems showed that filamentous assemblies of tau may first form in one brain area, and then spread to others in a prion-like fashion. Beginning in 2017, work on human brains using high-resolution techniques has led to a structure-based classification of tauopathies, which has opened the door to a better understanding of the significance of tau filament formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Goedert
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, UK
| | - R. Anthony Crowther
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sjors H. W. Scheres
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, UK
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27
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Lövestam S, Li D, Wagstaff JL, Kotecha A, Kimanius D, McLaughlin SH, Murzin AG, Freund SMV, Goedert M, Scheres SHW. Disease-specific tau filaments assemble via polymorphic intermediates. Nature 2024; 625:119-125. [PMID: 38030728 PMCID: PMC10764278 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06788-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Intermediate species in the assembly of amyloid filaments are believed to play a central role in neurodegenerative diseases and may constitute important targets for therapeutic intervention1,2. However, structural information about intermediate species has been scarce and the molecular mechanisms by which amyloids assemble remain largely unknown. Here we use time-resolved cryogenic electron microscopy to study the in vitro assembly of recombinant truncated tau (amino acid residues 297-391) into paired helical filaments of Alzheimer's disease or into filaments of chronic traumatic encephalopathy3. We report the formation of a shared first intermediate amyloid filament, with an ordered core comprising residues 302-316. Nuclear magnetic resonance indicates that the same residues adopt rigid, β-strand-like conformations in monomeric tau. At later time points, the first intermediate amyloid disappears and we observe many different intermediate amyloid filaments, with structures that depend on the reaction conditions. At the end of both assembly reactions, most intermediate amyloids disappear and filaments with the same ordered cores as those from human brains remain. Our results provide structural insights into the processes of primary and secondary nucleation of amyloid assembly, with implications for the design of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Li
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Abhay Kotecha
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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28
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Zhong H, Liu H, Liu H. Molecular Mechanism of Tau Misfolding and Aggregation: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2855-2871. [PMID: 37031392 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230409145247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
Tau dysfunction has a close association with many neurodegenerative diseases, which are collectively referred to as tauopathies. Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formed by misfolding and aggregation of tau are the main pathological process of tauopathy. Therefore, uncovering the misfolding and aggregation mechanism of tau protein will help to reveal the pathogenic mechanism of tauopathies. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is well suited for studying the dynamic process of protein structure changes. It provides detailed information on protein structure changes over time at the atomic resolution. At the same time, MD simulation can also simulate various conditions conveniently. Based on these advantages, MD simulations are widely used to study conformational transition problems such as protein misfolding and aggregation. Here, we summarized the structural features of tau, the factors affecting its misfolding and aggregation, and the applications of MD simulations in the study of tau misfolding and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Zhong
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hongli Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- Faculty of Applied Science, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, SAR, 999078, China
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29
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Malyshka D, Jimenez-Harrison D, Kuret J. Sedimentation and Laser Light Scattering Methods for Quantifying Synthetic Tau Aggregation Propensity. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2754:117-129. [PMID: 38512664 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3629-9_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Tau aggregation assays detect and quantify the conversion of soluble tau monomers into species having filamentous or oligomeric structure. Assays for filamentous aggregates in cross-β-sheet conformation leverage optical, biochemical, or biophysical methods, each with their own advantages and throughput capacity. Here we provide protocols for two medium-throughput assays based on sedimentation and laser light scattering and compare their performance, their utility for characterizing tau aggregation dynamics, and their limitations relative to other approaches. Additionally, a protocol for transmission electron microscopy analysis is updated so as to be compatible with the truncated tau variants that have emerged as powerful tools for interrogating the structural basis of tau polymorphism. Together these methods contribute to a rich tool kit for interrogating tau aggregation kinetics and propensity over a wide range of experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Malyshka
- Medical Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Daniela Jimenez-Harrison
- Medical Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jeff Kuret
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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30
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Paterno G, Bell BM, Riley-DiPaolo A, LaVoie MJ, Giasson BI. Polymerization of recombinant tau core fragments in vitro and seeding studies in cultured cells. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1268360. [PMID: 38161790 PMCID: PMC10757379 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1268360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The relative polymerization of specific tau protein cores that define Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease and corticobasal degeneration were investigated using amyloid fluorometry and electron microscopy. In addition, the relative prion-like activities of polymers comprised of these respective tau protein segments were investigated in a cell-based assay. It is demonstrated that the seeding activities of specific tau core fibrils are affected by the presence of pathogenic tau missense mutations and the microtubule binding domain composition of tau. The unique impact of tau phosphorylation on seeding propensity was also investigated by altering stretches of phospho-mimetic and phospho-null residues in the presence of Alzheimer's disease tau core fibrils. These results have important mechanistic implications for mutation and isoform-specific driven pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giavanna Paterno
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Brach M. Bell
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexis Riley-DiPaolo
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Matthew J. LaVoie
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Benoit I. Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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31
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Kim S, Hyun DG, Nam Y, Shin SJ, Im D, Kim HS, Leem SH, Park HH, Kim BH, Park YH, Cho E, Goddard WA, Kim DH, Kim HI, Moon M. Genipin and pyrogallol: Two natural small molecules targeting the modulation of disordered proteins in Alzheimer's disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 168:115770. [PMID: 37865990 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115770] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the aggregation of disordered proteins, such as amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau, leading to neurotoxicity and disease progression. Despite numerous efforts, effective inhibitors of Aβ and tau aggregates have not been developed. Thus, we aimed to screen natural small molecules from crude extracts that target various pathologies and are prescribed for patients with neurological diseases. In this study, we screened 162 natural small molecules prescribed for neurological diseases and identified genipin and pyrogallol as hit compounds capable of simultaneously regulating the aggregation of Aβ and tau K18. Moreover, we confirmed the dual modulatory effects of these compounds on the reduction of amyloid-mediated neurotoxicity in vitro and the disassembly of preformed Aβ42 and tau K18 fibrils. Furthermore, we observed the alleviatory effects of genipin and pyrogallol against AD-related pathologies in triple transgenic AD mice. Molecular dynamics and docking simulations revealed the molecular interaction dynamics of genipin and pyrogallol with Aβ42 and tau K18, providing insights into their suppression of aggregation. Our findings suggest the therapeutic potential of genipin and pyrogallol as dual modulators for the treatment of AD by inhibiting aggregation or promoting dissociation of Aβ and tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Dementia Science, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea
| | - Da Gyeong Hyun
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea; Center for Proteogenome Research, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea; Single Cell Analysis Laboratory, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea; Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, United States
| | - Yunkwon Nam
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Jung Shin
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea
| | - Dongjoon Im
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea; Center for Proteogenome Research, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea; Single Cell Analysis Laboratory, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea; Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, United States
| | - Hyeon Soo Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea
| | - Seol Hwa Leem
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ha Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea
| | - Byeong-Hyeon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Ho Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea
| | - Eunbi Cho
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, the Republic of Korea
| | - William A Goddard
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, United States
| | - Dong Hyun Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, the Republic of Korea.
| | - Hugh I Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea; Center for Proteogenome Research, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea; Single Cell Analysis Laboratory, Korea University, Seoul 02841, the Republic of Korea; Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, United States.
| | - Minho Moon
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Dementia Science, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, the Republic of Korea.
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32
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Hazari A, Sawaya MR, Sajimon M, Vlahakis N, Rodriguez J, Eisenberg D, Raskatov JA. Racemic Peptides from Amyloid β and Amylin Form Rippled β-Sheets Rather Than Pleated β-Sheets. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:25917-25926. [PMID: 37972334 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The rippled β-sheet was theorized by Pauling and Corey in 1953 as a structural motif in which mirror image peptide strands assemble into hydrogen-bonded periodic arrays with strictly alternating chirality. Structural characterization of the rippled β-sheet was limited to biophysical methods until 2022 when atomic resolution structures of the motif were first obtained. The crystal structural foundation is restricted to four model tripeptides composed exclusively of aromatic residues. Here, we report five new rippled sheet crystal structures derived from amyloid β and amylin, the aggregating toxic peptides of Alzheimer's disease and type II diabetes, respectively. Despite the variation in peptide sequence composition, all five structures form antiparallel rippled β-sheets that extend, like a fibril, along the entire length of the crystalline needle. The long-range packing of the crystals, however, varies. In three of the crystals, the sheets pack face-to-face and exclude water, giving rise to cross-β architectures grossly resembling the steric zipper motif of amyloid fibrils but differing in fundamental details. In the other two crystals, the solvent is encapsulated between the sheets, yielding fibril architectures capable of host-guest chemistry. Our study demonstrates that the formation of rippled β-sheets from aggregating racemic peptide mixtures in three-dimensional (3D) assemblies is a general phenomenon and provides a structural basis for targeting intrinsically disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaruka Hazari
- Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSC, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Michael R Sawaya
- Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East, Box 951569, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
| | - Maria Sajimon
- Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSC, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Niko Vlahakis
- Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East, Box 951569, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
| | - Jose Rodriguez
- Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East, Box 951569, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
| | - David Eisenberg
- Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East, Box 951569, Los Angeles, California 90095-1569, United States
| | - Jevgenij A Raskatov
- Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSC, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
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33
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Pretti E, Shell MS. Mapping the configurational landscape and aggregation phase behavior of the tau protein fragment PHF6. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2309995120. [PMID: 37983502 PMCID: PMC10691331 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309995120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The PHF6 (Val-Gln-Ile-Val-Tyr-Lys) motif, found in all isoforms of the microtubule-associated protein tau, forms an integral part of ordered cores of amyloid fibrils formed in tauopathies and is thought to play a fundamental role in tau aggregation. Because PHF6 as an isolated hexapeptide assembles into ordered fibrils on its own, it is investigated as a minimal model for insight into the initial stages of aggregation of larger tau fragments. Even for this small peptide, however, the large length and time scales associated with fibrillization pose challenges for simulation studies of its dynamic assembly, equilibrium configurational landscape, and phase behavior. Here, we develop an accurate, bottom-up coarse-grained model of PHF6 for large-scale simulations of its aggregation, which we use to uncover molecular interactions and thermodynamic driving forces governing its assembly. The model, not trained on any explicit information about fibrillar structure, predicts coexistence of formed fibrils with monomers in solution, and we calculate a putative equilibrium phase diagram in concentration-temperature space. We also characterize the configurational and free energetic landscape of PHF6 oligomers. Importantly, we demonstrate with a model of heparin that this widely studied cofactor enhances the aggregation propensity of PHF6 by ordering monomers during nucleation and remaining associated with growing fibrils, consistent with experimentally characterized heparin-tau interactions. Overall, this effort provides detailed molecular insight into PHF6 aggregation thermodynamics and pathways and, furthermore, demonstrates the potential of modern multiscale modeling techniques to produce predictive models of amyloidogenic peptides simultaneously capturing sequence-specific effects and emergent aggregate structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Pretti
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106-5080
| | - M. Scott Shell
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106-5080
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34
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Longhini AP, DuBose A, Lobo S, Vijayan V, Bai Y, Rivera EK, Sala-Jarque J, Nikitina A, Carrettiero DC, Unger M, Sclafani O, Fu V, Vigers M, Buee L, Landrieu I, Shell S, Shea JE, Han S, Kosik KS. Precision Proteoform Design for 4R Tau Isoform Selective Templated Aggregation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.31.555649. [PMID: 37693456 PMCID: PMC10491155 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.31.555649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Prion-like spread of disease-specific tau conformers is a hallmark of all tauopathies. A 19-residue probe peptide containing a P301L mutation and spanning the R2/R3 splice junction of tau, folds and stacks into seeding-competent fibrils and induces aggregation of 4R, but not 3R tau. These tau peptide fibrils propagate aggregated intracellular tau over multiple generations, have a high β-sheet content, a colocalized lipid signal, and adopt a well-defined U-shaped fold found in 4R tauopathy brain-derived fibrils. Fully atomistic replica exchange molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to compute the free energy landscapes of the conformational ensemble of the peptide monomers. These identified an aggregation-prohibiting β-hairpin structure and an aggregation-competent U-fold unique to 4R tauopathy fibrils. Guided by MD simulations, we identified that the N-terminal-flanking residues to PHF6, which slightly vary between 4R and 3R isoforms, modulate seeding. Strikingly, when a single amino acid switch at position 305 replaced the serine of 4R tau with a lysine from the corresponding position in the first repeat of 3R tau, the seeding induced by the 19-residue peptide was markedly reduced. Conversely, a 4R tau mimic with three repeats, prepared by replacing those amino acids in the first repeat with those amino acids uniquely present in the second repeat, recovered aggregation when exposed to the 19-residue peptide. These peptide fibrils function as partial prions to recruit naïve 4R tau-ten times the length of the peptide-and serve as a critical template for 4R tauopathy propagation. These results hint at opportunities for tau isoform-specific therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P. Longhini
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Austin DuBose
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Samuel Lobo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Vishnu Vijayan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Yeran Bai
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp., Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA
| | - Erica Keane Rivera
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Julia Sala-Jarque
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Arina Nikitina
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Daniel C. Carrettiero
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Matthew Unger
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Olivia Sclafani
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Valerie Fu
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Michael Vigers
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Luc Buee
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, LilNCog – Lille Neuroscience & Cognition, F-59000 Lille, France
- LabEx DISTALZ, Alzheimer & Tauopathies Team, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Isabelle Landrieu
- CNRS EMR9002 – BSI - Integrative Structural Biology F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Scott Shell
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Joan E. Shea
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167 - RID-AGE - Risk Factors and Molecular Determinants of Aging-Related Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France. Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
| | - Songi Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Lead Contacts
| | - Kenneth S. Kosik
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Lead Contacts
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35
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Rupert J, Monti M, Zacco E, Tartaglia G. RNA sequestration driven by amyloid formation: the alpha synuclein case. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:11466-11478. [PMID: 37870427 PMCID: PMC10681735 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad857] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acids can act as potent modulators of protein aggregation, and RNA has the ability to either hinder or facilitate protein assembly, depending on the molecular context. In this study, we utilized a computational approach to characterize the physico-chemical properties of regions involved in amyloid aggregation. In various experimental datasets, we observed that while the core is hydrophobic and highly ordered, external regions, which are more disordered, display a distinct tendency to interact with nucleic acids. To validate our predictions, we performed aggregation assays with alpha-synuclein (aS140), a non-nucleic acid-binding amyloidogenic protein, and a mutant truncated at the acidic C-terminus (aS103), which is predicted to have a higher tendency to interact with RNA. For both aS140 and aS103, we observed an acceleration of aggregation upon RNA addition, with a significantly stronger effect for aS103. Due to favorable electrostatics, we noted an enhanced nucleic acid sequestration ability for the aggregated aS103, allowing it to entrap a larger amount of RNA compared to the aggregated wild-type counterpart. Overall, our research suggests that RNA sequestration might be a common phenomenon linked to protein aggregation, constituting a gain-of-function mechanism that warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Rupert
- Centre for Human Technologies (CHT), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Enrico Melen, 83, 16152, Genova, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Michele Monti
- Centre for Human Technologies (CHT), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Enrico Melen, 83, 16152, Genova, Italy
| | - Elsa Zacco
- Centre for Human Technologies (CHT), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Enrico Melen, 83, 16152, Genova, Italy
| | - Gian Gaetano Tartaglia
- Centre for Human Technologies (CHT), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Enrico Melen, 83, 16152, Genova, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, Rome 00185, Italy
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
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Shah SJA, Zhang Q, Guo J, Liu H, Liu H, Villà-Freixa J. Identification of Aggregation Mechanism of Acetylated PHF6* and PHF6 Tau Peptides Based on Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Markov State Modeling. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3959-3971. [PMID: 37830541 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) has a critical role in the development and preservation of the nervous system. However, tau's dysfunction and accumulation in the human brain can lead to several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, and frontotemporal dementia. The microtubule binding (MTB) domain plays a significant, important role in determining the tau's pathophysiology, as the core of paired helical filaments PHF6* (275VQIINK280) and PHF6 (306VQIVYK311) of R2 and R3 repeat units, respectively, are formed in this region, which promotes tau aggregation. Post-translational modifications, and in particular lysine acetylation at K280 of PHF6* and K311 of PHF6, have been previously established to promote tau misfolding and aggregation. However, the exact aggregation mechanism is not known. In this study, we established an atomic-level nucleation-extension mechanism of the separated aggregation of acetylated PHF6* and PHF6 hexapeptides, respectively, of tau. We show that the acetylation of the lysine residues promotes the formation of β-sheet enriched high-ordered oligomers. The Markov state model analysis of ac-PHF6* and ac-PHF6 aggregation revealed the formation of an antiparallel dimer nucleus which could be extended from both sides in a parallel manner to form mixed-oriented and high-ordered oligomers. Our study describes the detailed mechanism for acetylation-driven tau aggregation, which provides valuable insights into the effect of post-translation modification in altering the pathophysiology of tau hexapeptides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, 999078 Macao, SAR, China
| | - Jingjing Guo
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, 999078 Macao, SAR, China
| | - Hongli Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004 Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, 999078 Macao, SAR, China
| | - Jordi Villà-Freixa
- Departament de Biociències, Universitat de Vic─Universitat Central de Catalunya, 08500 Vic, Spain
- Institut de Recerca i Innovació en Ciències de la Vida i de la Salut a la Catalunya Central (IRIS-CC), 08500 Vic, Spain
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37
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Duan P, Dregni AJ, Mammeri NE, Hong M. Structure of the nonhelical filament of the Alzheimer's disease tau core. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2310067120. [PMID: 37878719 PMCID: PMC10622913 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310067120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau aggregates into neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The main type of aggregates, the paired helical filaments (PHF), incorporate about 20% of the full-length protein into the rigid core. Recently, cryo-electron microscopy data showed that a protease-resistant fragment of tau (residues 297-391) self-assembles in vitro in the presence of divalent cations to form twisted filaments whose molecular structure resembles that of AD PHF tau [S. Lövestam et al., Elife 11, e76494 (2022)]. To investigate whether this tau construct is uniquely predisposed to this morphology and structure, we fibrillized tau (297-391) under the reported conditions and determined its structure using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Unexpectedly, the protein assembled predominantly into nontwisting ribbons whose rigid core spans residues 305-357. This rigid core forms a β-arch that turns at residues 322CGS324. Two protofilaments stack together via a long interface that stretches from G323 to I354. Together, these two protofilaments form a four-layered β-sheet core whose sidechains are stabilized by numerous polar and hydrophobic interactions. This structure gives insight into the fibril morphologies and molecular conformations that can be adopted by this protease-resistant core of AD tau under different pH and ionic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Aurelio J. Dregni
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Nadia El Mammeri
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
| | - Mei Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139
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Rajewski BH, Makwana KM, Angera IJ, Geremia DK, Zepeda AR, Hallinan GI, Vidal R, Ghetti B, Serrano AL, Del Valle JR. β-Bracelets: Macrocyclic Cross-β Epitope Mimics Based on a Tau Conformational Strain. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:23131-23142. [PMID: 37844142 PMCID: PMC10823581 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c06830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
The aggregation of misfolded tau into neurotoxic fibrils is linked to the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Disease-associated conformations of filamentous tau are characterized by hydrophobic interactions between side chains on unique and distant β-strand modules within each protomer. Here, we report the design and diversity-oriented synthesis of β-arch peptide macrocycles composed of the aggregation-prone PHF6 hexapeptide of tau and the cross-β module specific to the AD tau fold. Termed "β-bracelets", these proteomimetics assemble in a sequence- and macrocycle-dependent fashion, resulting in amyloid-like fibrils that feature in-register parallel β-sheet structure. Backbone N-amination of a selected β-bracelet affords soluble inhibitors of tau aggregation. We further demonstrate that the N-aminated macrocycles block the prion-like cellular seeding activity of recombinant tau as well as mature fibrils from AD patient extracts. These studies establish β-bracelets as a new class of cross-β epitope mimics and demonstrate their utility in the rational design of molecules targeting amyloid propagation and seeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H. Rajewski
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Kamlesh M. Makwana
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Isaac J. Angera
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Danielle K. Geremia
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Anna R. Zepeda
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Grace I. Hallinan
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
| | - Arnaldo L. Serrano
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Juan R. Del Valle
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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39
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Wu X, Zhu L, Wang G, Zhang Q, Qian Z. Dose-dependent binding behavior of anthraquinone derivative purpurin interacting with tau-derived peptide protofibril. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:26787-26796. [PMID: 37781899 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp03883a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is hallmarked by microtubule-associated protein tau tangles and amyloid-β plaques. The β-structure propensity of tau inclusions is closely related to the hexapeptide motif VQIVYK (termed PHF6), and disruption of this motif prevents tau aggregation. Small-molecule inhibitors are considered a promising therapeutic strategy, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the correlation between dose and inhibitory effects are still unclear. In this work, we investigated the dose-induced influence of purpurin, an anthraquinone derivative, on the structural stability of the PHF6 fibrillar nucleus by performing microsecond all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water. The stability of PHF6 protofibrils of different sizes was first examined, and it was found that the structural stability of fibrillar oligomers increases with oligomer size, and that the octamer is the minimal stable nucleus for fibril formation. When purpurin molecules were added to the protofibril octamer at a low purpurin/peptide ratio, they bound to the octamer with different coupling states, and the different states may transition to each of the other states through an uncoupling state or directly through a short-time transition. With increasing purpurin/peptide ratio, purpurins tend to self-aggregate rather than bind to the protein surface. Interestingly, the contacts between individual purpurins and the octamer as a function of the purpurin number show a power-law behavior, which may serve as a useful indicator to reflect the binding efficiency of ligands to proteins in drug screening. The interaction analysis reveals that purpurin prefers to bind to the hydrophilic and aromatic Tyr and has the lowest probability with the hydrophobic Val located in the middle of PHF6. Aromatic stacking plays a key role in the octamer-purpurin interaction, in which the three aromatic rings of purpurin have different contributions. In addition, purpurin shows a remarkable disruptive effect on the protofibril octamer when the molar ratio of purpurin to peptide is 1 : 2; above this ratio, the binding mode and disruption effect of purpurin do not change significantly. Our work provides a detailed picture of the dynamics and interactions of purpurin binding to the PHF6 protofibril and expands the understanding of the dose-induced inhibitory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
| | - Lili Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
- Shang Xing School, 6 Shangli Road, Shenzhen 518100, Guangdong, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
| | - Qingwen Zhang
- College of Physical Education and Training, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenyu Qian
- Key Laboratory of Exercise and Health Sciences (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, and School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, China.
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40
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Hedna R, DiMaio A, Robin M, Allegro D, Tatoni M, Peyrot V, Barbier P, Kovacic H, Breuzard G. 2-Aminothiazole-Flavonoid Hybrid Derivatives Binding to Tau Protein and Responsible for Antitumor Activity in Glioblastoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15050. [PMID: 37894731 PMCID: PMC10606064 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau protein has been described for several decades as a promoter of tubulin assembly into microtubules. Dysregulation or alterations in Tau expression have been related to various brain cancers, including the highly aggressive and lethal brain tumor glioblastoma multiform (GBM). In this respect, Tau holds significant promise as a target for the development of novel therapies. Here, we examined the structure-activity relationship of a new series of seventeen 2-aminothiazole-fused to flavonoid hybrid compounds (TZF) on Tau binding, Tau fibrillation, and cellular effects on Tau-expressing cancer cells. By spectrofluorometric approach, we found that two compounds, 2 and 9, demonstrated high affinity for Tau and exhibited a strong propensity to inhibit Tau fibrillation. Then, the biological activity of these compounds was evaluated on several Tau-expressing cells derived from glioblastoma. The two lead compounds displayed a high anti-metabolic activity on cells related to an increased fission of the mitochondria network. Moreover, we showed that both compounds induced microtubule bundling within newly formed neurite-like protrusions, as well as with defection of cell migration. Taken together, our results provide a strong experimental basis to develop new potent molecules targeting Tau-expressing cancer cells, such as GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayane Hedna
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France; (R.H.); (D.A.); (M.T.); (V.P.); (P.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Attilio DiMaio
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), UMR 7263, CNRS, IRD 237, Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France; (A.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Maxime Robin
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), UMR 7263, CNRS, IRD 237, Aix-Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France; (A.D.); (M.R.)
| | - Diane Allegro
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France; (R.H.); (D.A.); (M.T.); (V.P.); (P.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Mario Tatoni
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France; (R.H.); (D.A.); (M.T.); (V.P.); (P.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Vincent Peyrot
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France; (R.H.); (D.A.); (M.T.); (V.P.); (P.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Pascale Barbier
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France; (R.H.); (D.A.); (M.T.); (V.P.); (P.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Hervé Kovacic
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France; (R.H.); (D.A.); (M.T.); (V.P.); (P.B.); (H.K.)
| | - Gilles Breuzard
- Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales, Institut de Neurophysiopathologie (INP), UMR 7051, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France; (R.H.); (D.A.); (M.T.); (V.P.); (P.B.); (H.K.)
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41
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Abskharon R, Pan H, Sawaya MR, Seidler PM, Olivares EJ, Chen Y, Murray KA, Zhang J, Lantz C, Bentzel M, Boyer DR, Cascio D, Nguyen BA, Hou K, Cheng X, Pardon E, Williams CK, Nana AL, Vinters HV, Spina S, Grinberg LT, Seeley WW, Steyaert J, Glabe CG, Ogorzalek Loo RR, Loo JA, Eisenberg DS. Structure-based design of nanobodies that inhibit seeding of Alzheimer's patient-extracted tau fibrils. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300258120. [PMID: 37801475 PMCID: PMC10576031 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300258120] [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: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite much effort, antibody therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have shown limited efficacy. Challenges to the rational design of effective antibodies include the difficulty of achieving specific affinity to critical targets, poor expression, and antibody aggregation caused by buried charges and unstructured loops. To overcome these challenges, we grafted previously determined sequences of fibril-capping amyloid inhibitors onto a camel heavy chain antibody scaffold. These sequences were designed to cap fibrils of tau, known to form the neurofibrillary tangles of AD, thereby preventing fibril elongation. The nanobodies grafted with capping inhibitors blocked tau aggregation in biosensor cells seeded with postmortem brain extracts from AD and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients. The tau capping nanobody inhibitors also blocked seeding by recombinant tau oligomers. Another challenge to the design of effective antibodies is their poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. In this study, we also designed a bispecific nanobody composed of a nanobody that targets a receptor on the BBB and a tau capping nanobody inhibitor, conjoined by a flexible linker. We provide evidence that the bispecific nanobody improved BBB penetration over the tau capping inhibitor alone after intravenous administration in mice. Our results suggest that the design of synthetic antibodies that target sequences that drive protein aggregation may be a promising approach to inhibit the prion-like seeding of tau and other proteins involved in AD and related proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romany Abskharon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Hope Pan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Michael R. Sawaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Paul M. Seidler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | | | - Yu Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Molecular Instrumentation Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Kevin A. Murray
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Jeffrey Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Carter Lantz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Megan Bentzel
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - David R. Boyer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Duilio Cascio
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Binh A. Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Ke Hou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Xinyi Cheng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Els Pardon
- VIB-Vrije Universiteit Brussel Center for Structural Biology, VIB and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, BrusselsB-1050, Belgium
| | - Christopher K. Williams
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Alissa L. Nana
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Harry V. Vinters
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Salvatore Spina
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Lea T. Grinberg
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - William W. Seeley
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Jan Steyaert
- VIB-Vrije Universiteit Brussel Center for Structural Biology, VIB and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, BrusselsB-1050, Belgium
| | - Charles G. Glabe
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
| | - Rachel R. Ogorzalek Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Joseph A. Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - David S. Eisenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA,Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- HHMI, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
- UCLA-Department of Energy Institute, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA90095
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42
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Schweighauser M, Murzin AG, Macdonald J, Lavenir I, Crowther RA, Scheres SHW, Goedert M. Cryo-EM structures of tau filaments from the brains of mice transgenic for human mutant P301S Tau. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:160. [PMID: 37798679 PMCID: PMC10552433 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01658-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice transgenic for human mutant P301S tau are widely used as models for human tauopathies. They develop neurodegeneration and abundant filamentous inclusions made of human mutant four-repeat tau. Here we used electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structures of tau filaments from the brains of Tg2541 and PS19 mice. Both lines express human P301S tau (0N4R for Tg2541 and 1N4R for PS19) on mixed genetic backgrounds and downstream of different promoters (murine Thy1 for Tg2541 and murine Prnp for PS19). The structures of tau filaments from Tg2541 and PS19 mice differ from each other and those of wild-type tau filaments from human brains. The structures of tau filaments from the brains of humans with mutations P301L, P301S or P301T in MAPT are not known. Filaments from the brains of Tg2541 and PS19 mice share a substructure at the junction of repeats 2 and 3, which comprises residues I297-V312 of tau and includes the P301S mutation. The filament core from the brainstem of Tg2541 mice consists of residues K274-H329 of tau and two disconnected protein densities. Two non-proteinaceous densities are also in evidence. The filament core from the cerebral cortex of line PS19 extends from residues G271-P364 of tau. One strong non-proteinaceous density is also present. Unlike the tau filaments from human brains, the sequences following repeat 4 are missing from the cores of tau filaments from the brains of Tg2541 and PS19 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexey G Murzin
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Isabelle Lavenir
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Sjors H W Scheres
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Michel Goedert
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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43
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Atkinson PJ, Swami M, Ridgway N, Roberts M, Kinghorn J, Warner TT, Staddon JM, Takle AK. Advancing novel therapies for neurodegeneration through an innovative model for industry-academia collaborations: A decade of the Eisai-UCL experience. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103732. [PMID: 37541423 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103732] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
External innovation initiatives in the pharmaceutical industry have become an integral part of research and development. Collaborations have been built to enhance innovation, mitigate risk, and share cost, especially for neurodegenerative diseases, a therapeutic area that has suffered from high attrition rates. This article outlines the Eisai-University College London (UCL) Drug Discovery and Development Collaboration as a case study of how to implement a productive industry-academic partnership. In the first 10 years, seven projects have been established and the first project, a novel anti-tau antibody for Alzheimer's disease, has entered clinical trials, providing early validation of this collaboration model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meera Swami
- Eisai Ltd., EMEA Knowledge Centre, Mosquito Way, Hatfield, UK
| | - Nicola Ridgway
- Translational Research Office, University College London, UCL Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, UK
| | - Malcolm Roberts
- Eisai Ltd., EMEA Knowledge Centre, Mosquito Way, Hatfield, UK
| | - Jane Kinghorn
- Translational Research Office, University College London, UCL Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, UK
| | - Thomas T Warner
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, 1 Wakefield Street, London, UK
| | - James M Staddon
- Eisai Ltd., EMEA Knowledge Centre, Mosquito Way, Hatfield, UK
| | - Andrew K Takle
- Eisai Ltd., EMEA Knowledge Centre, Mosquito Way, Hatfield, UK
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44
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Rodrigues S, Anglada-Huguet M, Hochgräfe K, Kaniyappan S, Wegmann S, Mandelkow EM. Spreading of Tau Protein Does Not Depend on Aggregation Propensity. J Mol Neurosci 2023; 73:693-712. [PMID: 37606769 PMCID: PMC10694122 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-023-02143-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
The stereotypical progression of Tau pathology during Alzheimer disease has been attributed to trans-neuronal spreading of misfolded Tau proteins, followed by prion-like templated aggregation of Tau. The nature of Tau and the cellular mechanisms of Tau spreading are still under debate. We hypothesized that Tau's propensity for aggregation would correlate with its ability to spread across synapses and propagate pathology. To study the progressive propagation of Tau proteins in brain regions relevant for Alzheimer disease, we used mice expressing near-physiological levels of full-length human Tau protein carrying pro-aggregant (TauΔK280, TauΔK) or anti-aggregant (TauΔK280-PP, TauΔK-PP) mutations in the entorhinal cortex (EC). To enhance Tau expression in the EC, we performed EC injections of adeno-associated virus (AAV) particles encoding TauΔK or TauΔK-PP. The brains of injected and non-injected EC/TauΔK and EC/TauΔK-PP mice were studied by immunohistological and biochemical techniques to detect Tau propagation to dentate gyrus (DG) neurons and Tau-induced pathological changes. Pro- and anti-aggregant mice had comparable low transgene expression (~0.2 times endogenous mouse Tau). They accumulated human Tau at similar rates and only in expressing EC neurons, including their axonal projections of the perforant path and presynaptic terminals in the molecular layer of the DG. Pro-aggregant EC/TauΔK mice showed misfolded Tau and synaptic protein alterations in EC neurons, not observed in anti-aggregant EC/TauΔK-PP mice. Additional AAV-mediated expression of TauΔK or TauΔK-PP in EC/TauΔK or EC/TauΔK-PP mice, respectively, increased the human Tau expression to ~0.65 times endogenous mouse Tau, with comparable spreading of TauΔK and TauΔK-PP throughout the EC. There was a low level of transcellular propagation of Tau protein, without pathological phosphorylation or misfolding, as judged by diagnostic antibodies. Additionally, TauΔK but not TauΔK-PP expression induced hippocampal astrogliosis. Low levels of pro- or anti-aggregant full-length Tau show equivalent distributions in EC neurons, independent of their aggregation propensity. Increasing the expression via AAV induce local Tau misfolding in the EC neurons, synaptotoxicity, and astrogliosis and lead to a low level of detectable trans-neuronal spreading of Tau. This depends on its concentration in the EC, but, contrary to expectations, does not depend on Tau's aggregation propensity/misfolding and does not lead to templated misfolding in recipient neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rodrigues
- DZNE, German Ctr. for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marta Anglada-Huguet
- DZNE, German Ctr. for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katja Hochgräfe
- DZNE, German Ctr. for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Senthilvelrajan Kaniyappan
- DZNE, German Ctr. for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- CAESAR Research Center, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Gerontopsychiatry, University of Bonn Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Susanne Wegmann
- DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Chariteplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Mandelkow
- DZNE, German Ctr. for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Venusberg-Campus 1/99, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
- CAESAR Research Center, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175, Bonn, Germany.
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45
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Dutta D, Jana M, Paidi RK, Majumder M, Raha S, Dasarathy S, Pahan K. Tau fibrils induce glial inflammation and neuropathology via TLR2 in Alzheimer's disease-related mouse models. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e161987. [PMID: 37552543 PMCID: PMC10503811 DOI: 10.1172/jci161987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Glial activation and inflammation coincide with neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation in neurons. However, the mechanism behind the interaction between tau fibrils and glia is poorly understood. Here, we found that tau preformed fibrils (PFFs) caused induction of inflammation in microglia by specifically activating the TLR2/MyD88, but not the TLR4/MyD88, pathway. Accordingly, the WT TLR2-interacting domain of MyD88 (wtTIDM) peptide inhibited tau PFF-induced activation of the TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, resulting in reduced inflammation. Nasal administration of wtTIDM in P301S tau-expressing PS19 mice was found to inhibit gliosis and inflammatory markers, as well as to reduce pathogenic tau in the hippocampus, resulting in improved cognitive behavior in PS19 mice. The inhibitory effect of wtTIDM on tau pathology was absent in PS19 mice lacking TLR2, reinforcing the essential involvement of TLR2 in wtTIDM-mediated effects in vivo. Studying the mechanism further, we found that the tau promoter harbored a potential NF-κB-binding site and that proinflammatory molecules increased transcription of tau in neurons via NF-κB. These results suggest that tau-induced neuroinflammation and neuropathology require TLR2 and that neuroinflammation directly upregulates tau in neurons via NF-κB, highlighting a direct connection between inflammation and tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashis Dutta
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Malabendu Jana
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ramesh Kumar Paidi
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Moumita Majumder
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sumita Raha
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sridevi Dasarathy
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kalipada Pahan
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Division of Research and Development, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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46
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Wang C, Terrigno M, Li J, Distler T, Pandya NJ, Ebeling M, Tyanova S, Hoozemans JJM, Dijkstra AA, Fuchs L, Xiang S, Bonni A, Grüninger F, Jagasia R. Increased G3BP2-Tau interaction in tauopathies is a natural defense against Tau aggregation. Neuron 2023; 111:2660-2674.e9. [PMID: 37385246 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Many RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), particularly those associated with RNA granules, promote pathological protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we demonstrate that G3BP2, a core component of stress granules, directly interacts with Tau and inhibits Tau aggregation. In the human brain, the interaction of G3BP2 and Tau is dramatically increased in multiple tauopathies, and it is independent of neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Surprisingly, Tau pathology is significantly elevated upon loss of G3BP2 in human neurons and brain organoids. Moreover, we found that G3BP2 masks the microtubule-binding region (MTBR) of Tau, thereby inhibiting Tau aggregation. Our study defines a novel role for RBPs as a line of defense against Tau aggregation in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congwei Wang
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Marco Terrigno
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Juan Li
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Anhui, China
| | - Tania Distler
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nikhil J Pandya
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Ebeling
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefka Tyanova
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jeroen J M Hoozemans
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anke A Dijkstra
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Luisa Fuchs
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shengqi Xiang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Anhui, China
| | - Azad Bonni
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fiona Grüninger
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ravi Jagasia
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland.
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47
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Zou Y, Qi B, Tan J, Guan L, Zhang Q, Sun Y, Huang F. Deciphering the Inhibitory Mechanism of Naphthoquinone-Dopamine on the Aggregation of Tau Core Fragments PHF6* and PHF6. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3265-3277. [PMID: 37585669 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00434] [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: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation of neurofibrillary tangles by abnormal aggregation of tau protein is considered to be an important pathological characteristic of tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Two hexapeptides 275VQIINK280 and 306VQIVYK311 in the microtubule binding region, named PHF6* and PHF6, are known to be aggregation-prone and responsible for tau fibrillization. Previous experiments reported that naphthoquinone-dopamine (NQDA) could effectively inhibit the aggregation of PHF6* and PHF6 and disrupt the fibrillar aggregates into nontoxic species, displaying a dual effect on the amyloid aggregation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains mostly elusive. Herein, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for 114 μs in total to systematically investigate the impacts of NQDA on the oligomerization of PHF6* and PHF6. The conformational ensembles of PHF6* and PHF6 peptides generated by replica exchange MD simulations show that NQDA could effectively prevent the hydrogen bond formation, reduce the ability of peptides to self-assemble into long β-strand and large β-sheets, and induce peptides to form a loosely packed and coil-rich oligomer. The interaction analysis shows that the binding of NQDA to PHF6* is mainly through hydrophobic interactions with residue I277 and hydrogen bonding interactions with Q276; for the PHF6 peptides, NQDA displays a strong π-π stacking interaction with residue Y310, thus impeding the Y310-Y310 π-π stacking and I308-Y310 CH-π interactions. The DA group of NQDA displays a stronger cation-π interaction than the NQ group, while the NQ group exhibits a stronger π-π stacking interaction. MD simulations demonstrate that NQDA prevents the conformational conversion to β-sheet-rich aggregates and displays an inhibitory effect on the oligomerization dynamics of PHF6* and PHF6. Our results provide a complete picture of inhibitory mechanisms of NQDA on PHF6* and PHF6 oligomerization, which may pave the way for designing drug candidates for the treatment of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zou
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Bote Qi
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jingwang Tan
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Lulu Guan
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, College of Education, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Qingwen Zhang
- College of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, 399 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- Department of Physics, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Fengjuan Huang
- Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering (NIIME), Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
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48
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Le Guen Y, Luo G, Ambati A, Damotte V, Jansen I, Yu E, Nicolas A, de Rojas I, Peixoto Leal T, Miyashita A, Bellenguez C, Lian MM, Parveen K, Morizono T, Park H, Grenier-Boley B, Naito T, Küçükali F, Talyansky SD, Yogeshwar SM, Sempere V, Satake W, Alvarez V, Arosio B, Belloy ME, Benussi L, Boland A, Borroni B, Bullido MJ, Caffarra P, Clarimon J, Daniele A, Darling D, Debette S, Deleuze JF, Dichgans M, Dufouil C, During E, Düzel E, Galimberti D, Garcia-Ribas G, García-Alberca JM, García-González P, Giedraitis V, Goldhardt O, Graff C, Grünblatt E, Hanon O, Hausner L, Heilmann-Heimbach S, Holstege H, Hort J, Jung YJ, Jürgen D, Kern S, Kuulasmaa T, Lee KH, Lin L, Masullo C, Mecocci P, Mehrabian S, de Mendonça A, Boada M, Mir P, Moebus S, Moreno F, Nacmias B, Nicolas G, Niida S, Nordestgaard BG, Papenberg G, Papma J, Parnetti L, Pasquier F, Pastor P, Peters O, Pijnenburg YAL, Piñol-Ripoll G, Popp J, Porcel LM, Puerta R, Pérez-Tur J, Rainero I, Ramakers I, Real LM, Riedel-Heller S, Rodriguez-Rodriguez E, Ross OA, Luís Royo J, Rujescu D, Scarmeas N, Scheltens P, Scherbaum N, Schneider A, Seripa D, Skoog I, Solfrizzi V, Spalletta G, Squassina A, van Swieten J, Sánchez-Valle R, Tan EK, Tegos T, Teunissen C, Thomassen JQ, Tremolizzo L, Vyhnalek M, Verhey F, Waern M, Wiltfang J, Zhang J, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, He Z, Williams J, Amouyel P, Jessen F, Kehoe PG, Andreassen OA, Van Duin C, Tsolaki M, Sánchez-Juan P, Frikke-Schmidt R, Sleegers K, Toda T, Zettergren A, Ingelsson M, Okada Y, Rossi G, Hiltunen M, Gim J, Ozaki K, Sims R, Foo JN, van der Flier W, Ikeuchi T, Ramirez A, Mata I, Ruiz A, Gan-Or Z, Lambert JC, Greicius MD, Mignot E. Multiancestry analysis of the HLA locus in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases uncovers a shared adaptive immune response mediated by HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302720120. [PMID: 37643212 PMCID: PMC10483635 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302720120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Across multiancestry groups, we analyzed Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) associations in over 176,000 individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) versus controls. We demonstrate that the two diseases share the same protective association at the HLA locus. HLA-specific fine-mapping showed that hierarchical protective effects of HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes best accounted for the association, strongest with HLA-DRB1*04:04 and HLA-DRB1*04:07, and intermediary with HLA-DRB1*04:01 and HLA-DRB1*04:03. The same signal was associated with decreased neurofibrillary tangles in postmortem brains and was associated with reduced tau levels in cerebrospinal fluid and to a lower extent with increased Aβ42. Protective HLA-DRB1*04 subtypes strongly bound the aggregation-prone tau PHF6 sequence, however only when acetylated at a lysine (K311), a common posttranslational modification central to tau aggregation. An HLA-DRB1*04-mediated adaptive immune response decreases PD and AD risks, potentially by acting against tau, offering the possibility of therapeutic avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Le Guen
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford94305, CA
- Institut du Cerveau–Paris Brain Institute–ICM, Paris75013, France
| | - Guo Luo
- Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto94304, CA
| | - Aditya Ambati
- Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto94304, CA
| | - Vincent Damotte
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liés au vieillissement, Lille59000, France
| | - Iris Jansen
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, 1081 HVAmsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije University, 1081 HVAmsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Yu
- The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), Montreal, QuebecH3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QuebecH3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QuebecH3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Aude Nicolas
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liés au vieillissement, Lille59000, France
| | - Itziar de Rojas
- Research Center and Memory clinic Fundació ACE, Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona08029, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
| | - Thiago Peixoto Leal
- Genomic Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland44196, OH
| | - Akinori Miyashita
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata950-218, Japan
| | - Céline Bellenguez
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liés au vieillissement, Lille59000, France
| | - Michelle Mulan Lian
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore308232, Singapore
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore138672, Singapore
| | - Kayenat Parveen
- Division of Neurogenetics and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne50937, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, Bonn53127, Germany
| | - Takashi Morizono
- Medical Genome Center, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu474-8511, Japan
| | - Hyeonseul Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju61452, Korea
| | - Benjamin Grenier-Boley
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liés au vieillissement, Lille59000, France
| | - Tatsuhiko Naito
- Department of Statistical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita565-0871, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo192-0982, Japan
| | - Fahri Küçükali
- Complex Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp2610, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born–Bunge, Antwerp2610, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp2000, Belgium
| | - Seth D. Talyansky
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford94305, CA
| | - Selina Maria Yogeshwar
- Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto94304, CA
- Department of Neurology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin, Berlin10117, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Berlin10117, Germany
| | - Vicente Sempere
- Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto94304, CA
| | - Wataru Satake
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo192-0982, Japan
| | - Victoria Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Genética, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo33011, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo33011, Spain
| | - Beatrice Arosio
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan20122, Italy
| | - Michael E. Belloy
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford94305, CA
| | - Luisa Benussi
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia25125, Italy
| | - Anne Boland
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry91057, France
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia25123, Italy
| | - María J. Bullido
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (UAM-CSIC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid28049, Spain
- Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria "Hospital la Paz" (IdIPaz), Madrid48903, Spain
| | - Paolo Caffarra
- Unit of Neurology, University of Parma and AOU, Parma43121, Italy
| | - Jordi Clarimon
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
- Department of Neurology, II B Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona08193, Spain
| | - Antonio Daniele
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome00168, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, Rome00168, Italy
| | - Daniel Darling
- Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto94304, CA
| | - Stéphanie Debette
- University Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Bordeaux33000, France
- Department of Neurology, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux33400, France
| | - Jean-François Deleuze
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Evry91057, France
| | - Martin Dichgans
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich37075, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology, Munich81377, Germany
| | - Carole Dufouil
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Univ. Bordeaux, ISPED, CIC 1401-EC, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux33405, France
- CHU de Bordeaux, Pole santé publique, Bordeaux33400, France
| | - Emmanuel During
- Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto94304, CA
| | - Emrah Düzel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg39120, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg39106, Germany
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan20122, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan20122, Italy
| | | | - José María García-Alberca
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
- Alzheimer Research Center and Memory Clinic, Andalusian Institute for Neuroscience, Málaga29012, Spain
| | - Pablo García-González
- Research Center and Memory clinic Fundació ACE, Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona08029, Spain
| | - Vilmantas Giedraitis
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala751 22, Sweden
- Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala751 22, Sweden
| | - Oliver Goldhardt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum recs der Isar, Munich80333, Germany
| | - Caroline Graff
- Unit for Hereditary Dementias, Theme Aging, Karolinska University Hospital-Solna, Stockholm171 64, Swdeen
| | - Edna Grünblatt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich8032, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich8057, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich8057, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Hanon
- Université de Paris, EA 4468, APHP, Hôpital Broca, Paris75013, France
| | - Lucrezia Hausner
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Central Institute for Mental Health Mannheim, Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg68159, Germany
| | - Stefanie Heilmann-Heimbach
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine and University Hospital Bonn, Bonn53127, Germany
| | - Henne Holstege
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, 1081 HVAmsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Jakub Hort
- Department of Neurology, Memory Clinic, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague150 06, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno656 91, Czech Republic
| | - Yoo Jin Jung
- Stanford Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford94305, CA
| | - Deckert Jürgen
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Center of Mental Health, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg97080, Germany
| | - Silke Kern
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health (AGECAP) at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg405 30, Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Psychiatry, Cognition and Old Age Psychiatry Clinic, Gothenburg413 45, Sweden
| | - Teemu Kuulasmaa
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Kuopio, Eastern Finland80101, Finland
| | - Kun Ho Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju61452, Republic of Korea
- Department of Integrative Biological Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju61452, Republic of Korea
- Gwangju Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Cohort Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju61452, Republic of Korea
- Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu41062, Republic of Korea
- Neurozen Inc., Seoul06236, Republic of Korea
| | - Ling Lin
- Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto94304, CA
| | - Carlo Masullo
- Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome20123, Italy
| | - Patrizia Mecocci
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia06123, Italy
| | - Shima Mehrabian
- Clinic of Neurology, UH “Alexandrovska”, Medical University–Sofia, Sofia1431, Bulgaria
| | | | - Mercè Boada
- Research Center and Memory clinic Fundació ACE, Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona08029, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
| | - Pablo Mir
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
- Unidad de Trastornos del Movimiento, Servicio de Neurología y Neurofisiología, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville41013, Spain
| | - Susanne Moebus
- Institute for Urban Public Health, University Hospital of University Duisburg-Essen, Essen45147, Germany
| | - Fermin Moreno
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Donostia, San Sebastian20014, Spain
- Neurosciences Area, Instituto Biodonostia, San Sebastian20014, Spain
| | - Benedetta Nacmias
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health University of Florence, Florence50121, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence20162, Italy
| | - Gael Nicolas
- Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245 and CHU Rouen, RouenF-76000, France
| | - Shumpei Niida
- Medical Genome Center, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu474-8511, Japan
| | - Børge G. Nordestgaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital-Herlev Gentofte, Copenhagen2730, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen1172, Denmark
| | - Goran Papenberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm171 77, Sweden
| | - Janne Papma
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam3000, The Netherlands
| | - Lucilla Parnetti
- Centre for Memory Disturbances, Lab of Clinical Neurochemistry, Section of Neurology, University of Perugia, Perugia06123, Italy
| | - Florence Pasquier
- Université de Lille, Inserm 1172, CHU Clinical and Research Memory Research Centre of Distalz, Lille59000, France
| | - Pau Pastor
- Fundació Docència i Recerca MútuaTerrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona08221, Spain
- Memory Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari Mutua de Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona08221, Spain
| | - Oliver Peters
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin37075, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin12203, Germany
| | - Yolande A. L. Pijnenburg
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, 1081 HVAmsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard Piñol-Ripoll
- Unitat Trastorns Cognitius, Hospital Universitari Santa Maria de Lleida, Lleida25198, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomedica de Lleida, Lleida25198, Spain
| | - Julius Popp
- Department of Psychiatry, Old Age Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne1005, Switzerland
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zürich, Zürich8032, Switzerland
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich8952, Switzerland
| | - Laura Molina Porcel
- Neurological Tissue Bank–Biobanc- Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona08036, Spain
- Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona08036, Spain
| | - Raquel Puerta
- Research Center and Memory clinic Fundació ACE, Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona08029, Spain
| | - Jordi Pérez-Tur
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
- Unitat de Genètica Molecular, Institut de Biomedicina de València-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasValencia46010, Spain
- Unidad Mixta de Neurologia Genètica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia46026, Spain
| | - Innocenzo Rainero
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Torino, Torino10126, Italy
| | - Inez Ramakers
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychologie, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht6229 GS, The Netherlands
| | - Luis M. Real
- Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla41014, Spain
- Depatamento de Especialidades Quirúrgicas, Bioquímica e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga29010, Spain
| | - Steffi Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig04109, Germany
| | - Eloy Rodriguez-Rodriguez
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
- Neurology Service, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (University of Cantabria and IDIVAL), Santander39011, Spain
| | - Owen A. Ross
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic-Florida, Jacksonville32224, FL
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic-Florida, Jacksonville32224, FL
| | - Jose Luís Royo
- Depatamento de Especialidades Quirúrgicas, Bioquímica e Inmunología. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga29010, Spain
| | - Dan Rujescu
- Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, University Clinic and Outpatient Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Halle (Saale)06120, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Scarmeas
- Department of Neurology, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York10032, NY
- 1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens106 79, Greece
| | - Philip Scheltens
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, 1081 HVAmsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Norbert Scherbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, LVR-Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147Duisberg, Germany
| | - Anja Schneider
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen), 37075Göttingen, Germany
- Department for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn53127, Germany
| | - Davide Seripa
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant, Laboratory for Advanced Hematological Diagnostics, Lecce73100, Italy
| | - Ingmar Skoog
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health (AGECAP) at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg405 30, Sweden
- Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health (AGECAP) at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg405 30, Sweden
| | - Vincenzo Solfrizzi
- Interdisciry Department of Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Memory Unit, University of Bari “A. Moro, Bari70121, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Spalletta
- Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome00179, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston77030, TX
| | - Alessio Squassina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari09124, Italy
| | - John van Swieten
- Department of Neurology, ErasmusMC, Rotterdam3000CA, Netherlands
| | - Raquel Sánchez-Valle
- Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders unit, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona08036, Spain
| | - Eng-King Tan
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore308433, Singapore
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore169857, Singapore
| | - Thomas Tegos
- 1st Department of Neurology, Medical school, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki541 24, Greece
| | - Charlotte Teunissen
- Neurochemistry Lab, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081 HV, Netherlands
| | - Jesper Qvist Thomassen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital–Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- Neurology, "San Gerardo" hospital, Monza and University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza20900, Italy
| | - Martin Vyhnalek
- Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Memory Clinic, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague150 06, Czech Republic
| | - Frans Verhey
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychologie, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht6229 GS, Netherlands
| | - Margda Waern
- Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health (AGECAP) at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg431 41, Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Psychosis Clinic, Gothenburg413 45, Sweden
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen37075, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen), Goettingen37075, Germany
- Department of Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, Aveiro3810-193, Portugal
| | - Jing Zhang
- Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto94304, CA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal431 41, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, MölndalSE-43180, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, LondonWC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, LondonWC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal431 41, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, MölndalSE-43180, Sweden
| | - Zihuai He
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford94305, CA
| | - Julie Williams
- UKDRI@Cardiff, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, WalesCF14 4YS, United Kingdom
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff WalesCF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Philippe Amouyel
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liés au vieillissement, Lille59000, France
| | - Frank Jessen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen), 37075Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne50937, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne50931, Germany
| | - Patrick G. Kehoe
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, BristolBS8 1QU, United Kingdom
| | - Ole A. Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo0450, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cornelia Van Duin
- Department of Epidemiology, ErasmusMC, Rotterdam3000 CA, The Netherlands
- Nuffield Department of Population Health Oxford University, OxfordOX3 7LF, United Kingdom
| | - Magda Tsolaki
- 1st Department of Neurology, Medical school, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki541 24, Greece
| | - Pascual Sánchez-Juan
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
- Alzheimer’s Centre Reina Sofia-CIEN Foundation, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ruth Frikke-Schmidt
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen1172, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital–Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Kristel Sleegers
- Complex Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp2610, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born–Bunge, Antwerp2610, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp2000, Belgium
| | - Tatsushi Toda
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo192-0982, Japan
| | - Anna Zettergren
- Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy, Centre for Ageing and Health (AGECAP) at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg431 41, Sweden
| | - Martin Ingelsson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala751 22, Sweden
- Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala751 22, Sweden
- Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, TorontoM5G 2C4, Canada
- Department of Medicine and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, TorontoM5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yukinori Okada
- Department of Statistical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita565-0871, Japan
- Laboratory of Statistical Immunology, Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, Suita565-0871, Japan
- Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, Suita565-0871, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita565-0871, Japan
| | - Giacomina Rossi
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan20133, Italy
| | - Mikko Hiltunen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Kuopio, Eastern Finland80101, Finland
| | - Jungsoo Gim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju61452, Korea
- Department of Integrative Biological Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju61452, Republic of Korea
- Gwangju Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Cohort Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju61452, Republic of Korea
| | - Kouichi Ozaki
- Medical Genome Center, Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu474-8511, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Rebecca Sims
- Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, WalesCF14 4YS, United Kingdom
| | - Jia Nee Foo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore308232, Singapore
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore138672, Singapore
| | - Wiesje van der Flier
- Department of Neurology, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, 1081 HVAmsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Takeshi Ikeuchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata950-218, Japan
| | - Alfredo Ramirez
- Division of Neurogenetics and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne50937, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, Bonn53127, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen), 37075Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne50931, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio78229, TX
| | - Ignacio Mata
- Genomic Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland44196, OH
| | - Agustín Ruiz
- Research Center and Memory clinic Fundació ACE, Institut Català de Neurociències Aplicades, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona08029, Spain
- Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIRNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28029, Spain
| | - Ziv Gan-Or
- The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), Montreal, QuebecH3A 2B4, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QuebecH3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QuebecH3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Jean-Charles Lambert
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE facteurs de risque et déterminants moléculaires des maladies liés au vieillissement, Lille59000, France
| | - Michael D. Greicius
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford94305, CA
| | - Emmanuel Mignot
- Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto94304, CA
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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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50
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Batra S, Vaquer-Alicea J, Manon VA, Kashmer OM, Lemoff A, Cairns NJ, White CL, Diamond MI. VCP increases or decreases tau seeding using specific cofactors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.30.555637. [PMID: 37693404 PMCID: PMC10491269 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.30.555637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Background Neurodegenerative tauopathies may progress based on seeding by pathological tau assemblies, whereby an aggregate is released from one cell, gains entry to an adjacent or connected cell, and serves as a specific template for its own replication in the cytoplasm. In vitro seeding reactions typically take days, yet seeding into the complex cytoplasmic milieu can happen within hours. A cellular machinery might regulate this process, but potential players are unknown. Methods We used proximity labeling to identify factors that control seed amplification. We fused split-APEX2 to the C-terminus of tau repeat domain (RD) to reconstitute peroxidase activity upon seeded intracellular tau aggregation. We identified valosin containing protein (VCP/p97) 5h after seeding. Mutations in VCP underlie two neurodegenerative diseases, multisystem proteinopathy and vacuolar tauopathy, but its mechanistic role is unclear. We utilized tau biosensors, a cellular model for tau aggregation, to study the effects of VCP on tau seeding. Results VCP knockdown reduced tau seeding. However, distinct chemical inhibitors of VCP and the proteasome had opposing effects on aggregation, but only when given <8h of seed exposure. ML-240 increased seeding efficiency ~40x, whereas NMS-873 decreased seeding efficiency by 50%, and MG132 increased seeding ~10x. We screened VCP co-factors in HEK293 biosensor cells by genetic knockout or knockdown. Reduction of ATXN3, NSFL1C, UBE4B, NGLY1, and OTUB1 decreased tau seeding, as did NPLOC4, which also uniquely increased soluble tau levels. Reduction of FAF2 and UBXN6 increased tau seeding. Conclusions VCP uses distinct cofactors to determine seed replication efficiency, consistent with a dedicated cytoplasmic processing complex that directs seeds towards dissolution vs. amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushobhna Batra
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Victor A Manon
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Andrew Lemoff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Nigel J Cairns
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
- Department of Neurology, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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