MOAG-4 promotes the aggregation of α-synuclein by competing with self-protective electrostatic interactions

Molecular insights into the interaction between a disordered protein and a folded RNA

Intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) are well-established as contributors to intermolecular interactions and the formation of biomolecular condensates. In particular, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) often harbor IDRs in addition to folded RNA-binding domains that contribute to RBP function. To understand the dynamic interactions of an IDR-RNA complex, we characterized the RNA-binding features of a small (68 residues), positively charged IDR-containing protein, SERF. At high concentrations, SERF and RNA undergo charge-driven associative phase separation to form a protein- and RNA-rich dense phase. A key advantage of this model system is that this threshold for demixing is sufficiently high that we could use solution-state biophysical methods to interrogate the stoichiometric complexes of SERF with RNA in the one-phase regime. Herein, we describe our comprehensive characterization of SERF alone and in complex with a small fragment of the HIV-1 TAR RNA (TAR) with complementary biophysical methods and molecular simulations. We find that this binding event is not accompanied by the acquisition of structure by either molecule; however, we see evidence for a modest global compaction of the SERF ensemble when bound to RNA. This behavior likely reflects attenuated charge repulsion within SERF via binding to the polyanionic RNA and provides a rationale for the higher-order assembly of SERF in the context of RNA. We envision that the SERF-RNA system will lower the barrier to accessing the details that support IDR-RNA interactions and likewise deepen our understanding of the role of IDR-RNA contacts in complex formation and liquid-liquid phase separation.

Backbone 1H, 13C, and 15N chemical shift assignments for human SERF2

Human small EDRK-rich factor protein SERF2 is a cellular driver of protein amyloid formation, a process that has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. SERF2 is a 59 amino acid protein, highly charged, and well conserved whose structure and physiological function is unclear. SERF family proteins including human SERF2 have shown a tendency to form fuzzy complexes with misfolded proteins such as α-Synuclein which has been linked to Parkinson's disease. SERF family proteins have been recently identified to bind nucleic acids, but the binding mechanism(s) remain enigmatic. Here, using multidimensional solution NMR, we report the 1H, 15N, and 13C chemical shift assignments (~ 86% of backbone resonance assignments) for human SERF2. TALOS-N predicted secondary structure of SERF2 showed three very short helices (3-4 residues long) in the N-terminal region of the protein and a long helix in the C-terminal region spanning residues 37-46 which is consistent with the helical content indicated by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Paramagnetic relaxation enhancement NMR analysis revealed that a short C-terminal region E53-K55 is in the proximity of the N-terminus. Having the backbone assignment of SERF2 allowed us to probe its interaction with α-Synuclein and to identify the residues in SERF2 binding interfaces that likely promote α-Synuclein aggregation.

Protein G-quadruplex interactions and their effects on phase transitions and protein aggregation

The SERF family of proteins were originally discovered for their ability to accelerate amyloid formation. Znf706 is an uncharacterized protein whose N-terminus is homologous to SERF proteins. We show here that human Znf706 can promote protein aggregation and amyloid formation. Unexpectedly, Znf706 specifically interacts with stable, non-canonical nucleic acid structures known as G-quadruplexes. G-quadruplexes can affect gene regulation and suppress protein aggregation; however, it is unknown if and how these two activities are linked. We find Znf706 binds preferentially to parallel G-quadruplexes with low micromolar affinity, primarily using its N-terminus, and upon interaction, its dynamics are constrained. G-quadruplex binding suppresses Znf706's ability to promote protein aggregation. Znf706 in conjunction with G-quadruplexes therefore may play a role in regulating protein folding. RNAseq analysis shows that Znf706 depletion specifically impacts the mRNA abundance of genes that are predicted to contain high G-quadruplex density. Our studies give insight into how proteins and G-quadruplexes interact, and how these interactions affect both partners and lead to the modulation of protein aggregation and cellular mRNA levels. These observations suggest that the SERF family of proteins, in conjunction with G-quadruplexes, may have a broader role in regulating protein folding and gene expression than previously appreciated.

Protein G-quadruplex interactions and their effects on phase transitions and protein aggregation

The SERF family of proteins were originally discovered for their ability to accelerate amyloid formation. Znf706 is an uncharacterized protein whose N-terminus is homologous to SERF proteins. We show here that human Znf706 can promote protein aggregation and amyloid formation. Unexpectedly, Znf706 specifically interacts with stable, non-canonical nucleic acid structures known as G-quadruplexes. G-quadruplexes can affect gene regulation and suppress protein aggregation; however, it is unknown if and how these two activities are linked. We find Znf706 binds preferentially to parallel G-quadruplexes with low micromolar affinity, primarily using its N-terminus, and upon interaction, its dynamics are constrained. G-quadruplex binding suppresses Znf706's ability to promote protein aggregation. Znf706 in conjunction with G-quadruplexes therefore may play a role in regulating protein folding. RNAseq analysis shows that Znf706 depletion specifically impacts the mRNA abundance of genes that are predicted to contain high G-quadruplex density. Our studies give insight into how proteins and G-quadruplexes interact, and how these interactions affect both partners and lead to the modulation of protein aggregation and cellular mRNA levels. These observations suggest that the SERF family of proteins, in conjunction with G-quadruplexes, may have a broader role in regulating protein folding and gene expression than previously appreciated.

Modulation of Primary and Secondary Processes in Tau Fibril Formation by Salt-Induced Dynamics

The initial stages of amyloid fibrilization begin with the monomers populating aggregation-prone conformers. Characterization of such aggregation-prone conformers is crucial in the study of neurodegenerative diseases. The current study characterizes the aggregation pathway of two tau protein constructs that have been recently demonstrated to form Alzheimer's (AD) fibril structures with divalent ions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) fibril structures with monovalent ions. The results highlight the involvement of identical residues in both the primary and secondary processes of both AD and CTE fibril propagation. Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation experiments reveal increased flexibility of the motifs 321KCGS within R3 and 364PGGGN within R4 in the presence of MgCl2/NaCl, correlating with faster aggregation kinetics and indicating efficient primary nucleation. Notably, the seeded aggregation kinetics of the tau monomers in the presence and absence of metal ions are strikingly different. This correlates with the overall sign of the 15N-ΔR2 profile specifying the dominant mechanism involved in the process of aggregation.

A tale of dual functions of SERF family proteins in regulating amyloid formation

The abnormal aggregation of proteins is a significant pathological hallmark of diseases, such as the amyloid formation associated with fused in sarcoma protein (FUS) in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diseases. Understanding which cellular components and how these components regulate the process of abnormal protein aggregation in living organisms is crucial for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. MOAG-4/SERF is a conserved family of proteins with rich positive charged residues, which was initially identified as an enhancer for the formation of amyloids in C. elegans. Knocking out SERF impedes the amyloid formation of various proteins, including α-synuclein and β-amyloid, which are linked to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, respectively. However, recent studies revealed SERF exhibited dual functions, as it could both promote and inhibit the fibril formation of the neurodegenerative disease-related amyloidogenic proteins. The connection between functions and structure basis of SERF in regulating the amyloid formation is still unclear. This review will outline the hallmark proteins in neurodegenerative diseases, summarize the contradictory role of the SERF protein family in promoting and inhibiting the aggregation of neurodegenerative proteins, and finally explore the potential structural basis and functional selectivity of the SERF protein.

Amyloid Modifier SERF1a Accelerates Alzheimer's Amyloid-β Fibrillization and Exacerbates the Cytotoxicity

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating, progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting the elderly in the world. The pathological hallmark senile plaques are mainly composed of amyloid-β (Aβ), in which the main isoforms are Aβ40 and Aβ42. Aβ is prone to aggregate and ultimately forms amyloid fibrils in the brains of AD patients. Factors that alter the Aβ aggregation process have been considered to be potential targets for treatments of AD. Modifier of aggregation 4 (MOAG-4)/small EDRK-rich factor (SERF) was previously selected from a chemical mutagenesis screen and identified as an amyloid modifier that promotes amyloid aggregation for α-synuclein, huntingtin, and Aβ40. The interaction and effect of yeast ScSERF on Aβ40 were previously described. Here, we examined the human SERF1a effect on Aβ40 and Aβ42 fibrillization by the Thioflavin T assay and found that SERF1a accelerated Aβ fibrillization in a dose-dependent manner without changing the fibril amount and without incorporation. By Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we found that SERF1a altered the secondary structures and the morphology of Aβ fibrils. The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) results showed that SERF1a binds to Aβ in a 1:1 stoichiometry. Moreover, the NMR study showed that SERF1a interacts with Aβ via its N-terminal region. Cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that SERF1a enhanced toxicity of Aβ intermediates, and the effect can be rescued by SERF1a antibody. Overall, our study provides the underlying molecular mechanism for the SERF1a effect on Aβ fibrillization and facilitates the therapeutic development of AD.

Mechanisms and pathology of protein misfolding and aggregation

Despite advances in machine learning-based protein structure prediction, we are still far from fully understanding how proteins fold into their native conformation. The conventional notion that polypeptides fold spontaneously to their biologically active states has gradually been replaced by our understanding that cellular protein folding often requires context-dependent guidance from molecular chaperones in order to avoid misfolding. Misfolded proteins can aggregate into larger structures, such as amyloid fibrils, which perpetuate the misfolding process, creating a self-reinforcing cascade. A surge in amyloid fibril structures has deepened our comprehension of how a single polypeptide sequence can exhibit multiple amyloid conformations, known as polymorphism. The assembly of these polymorphs is not a random process but is influenced by the specific conditions and tissues in which they originate. This observation suggests that, similar to the folding of native proteins, the kinetics of pathological amyloid assembly are modulated by interactions specific to cells and tissues. Here, we review the current understanding of how intrinsic protein conformational propensities are modulated by physiological and pathological interactions in the cell to shape protein misfolding and aggregation pathology.

SERF, a family of tiny highly conserved, highly charged proteins with enigmatic functions

Amyloid formation is a misfolding process that has been linked to age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's and Huntington's. Understanding how cellular factors affect this process in vivo is vital in realizing the dream of controlling this insidious process that robs so many people of their humanity. SERF (small EDRK-rich factor) was initially isolated as a factor that accelerated polyglutamine amyloid formation in a C. elegans model. SERF knockouts inhibit amyloid formation of a number of proteins that include huntingtin, α-synuclein and β-amyloid which are associated with Huntington's, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, respectively, and purified SERF protein speeds their amyloid formation in vitro. SERF proteins are highly conserved, highly charged and conformationally dynamic proteins that form a fuzzy complex with amyloid precursors. They appear to act by specifically accelerating the primary step of amyloid nucleation. Brain-specific SERF knockout mice, though viable, appear to be more prone to deposition of amyloids, and show modified fibril morphology. Whole-body knockouts are perinatally lethal due to an apparently unrelated developmental issue. Recently, it was found that SERF binds RNA and is localized to nucleic acid-rich membraneless compartments. SERF-related sequences are commonly found fused to zinc finger sequences. These results point towards a nucleic acid-binding function. How this function relates to their ability to accelerate amyloid formation is currently obscure. In this review, we discuss the possible biological functions of SERF family proteins in the context of their structural fuzziness, modulation of amyloid pathway, nucleic acid binding and their fusion to folded proteins.

Deletion of SERF2 in mice delays embryonic development and alters amyloid deposit structure in the brain

In age-related neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, disease-specific proteins become aggregation-prone and form amyloid-like deposits. Depletion of SERF proteins ameliorates this toxic process in worm and human cell models for diseases. Whether SERF modifies amyloid pathology in mammalian brain, however, has remained unknown. Here, we generated conditional Serf2 knockout mice and found that full-body deletion of Serf2 delayed embryonic development, causing premature birth and perinatal lethality. Brain-specific Serf2 knockout mice, on the other hand, were viable, and showed no major behavioral or cognitive abnormalities. In a mouse model for amyloid-β aggregation, brain depletion of Serf2 altered the binding of structure-specific amyloid dyes, previously used to distinguish amyloid polymorphisms in the human brain. These results suggest that Serf2 depletion changed the structure of amyloid deposits, which was further supported by scanning transmission electron microscopy, but further study will be required to confirm this observation. Altogether, our data reveal the pleiotropic functions of SERF2 in embryonic development and in the brain and support the existence of modifying factors of amyloid deposition in mammalian brain, which offer possibilities for polymorphism-based interventions.

The electrostatic potential inside and around α-lactalbumin: Fluctuations and mean-field models

The electrostatic potential (EP) generated by the protein α-lactoalbumin in the presence of added salt is computed as a thermal average at a given point in space. With this aim, constant pH Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are performed within the primitive model, namely, the solvent is treated as a continuum dielectric. The study of the thermal and spatial fluctuations of the EP reveals that they are remarkably high inside the protein. The calculations indicate that fluctuations inside the protein are mainly due to the asymmetric distribution of the charge groups, while the charge fluctuations of the titratable groups play a minor role. The computed EP matches very well with the one obtained from the Poisson equation for the average charge density in spherical symmetry. The Tanford–Kirkwood multipole expansion reproduces the simulated angular-averaged potential rather accurately. Surprisingly, two of the simplest mean-field models, the linear Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) equation and Donnan potential, provide good estimations of the average EP in the effective protein surface (surface EP). The linear PB equation predicts a linear relationship between charge and surface EP, which is numerically reproduced only if the small ions within the protein are taken into account. On the other hand, the partition coefficients of the small ions inside and outside the protein predicted by Donnan theory reproduce reasonably well the simulation results.

Backbone resonance assignments and dynamics of S. cerevisiae SERF

Abnormal protein aggregation and precipitation are associated with the perturbation of cellular function and underlie a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. S. cerevisiae SERF (ScSERF), a homolog of modifier of aggregation-4 (MOAG-4) and small EDRK-rich factor protein (SERF1a) is highly conserved and discovered as an enhancer of amyloid formation of Aβ40 and α-synuclein both in vitro and in vivo. However, the detailed molecular mechanism whereby ScSERF and its homologs accelerate amyloid formation is not well known yet. Herein, we present the ¹ H, ¹⁵ N and ¹³ C NMR assignments of the 68 amino acids long ScSERF. Although ScSERF displays a very high degree of disorder, secondary chemical shifts of C_α, C_β, ¹⁵ N{¹ H}-NOE values and the residue-specific secondary structure propensity (SSP) scores indicate the segment spanning residues 36E-65 K has a strong helical propensity. This work sets the stage for further detailed structural and dynamic investigations of ScSERF and the molecular mechanism it utilizes in accelerating amyloid formation.

Surface Accessibility of an Intrinsically Disordered Protein Probed by 2D Time-Resolved Laser-Assisted NMR Spectroscopy

Probing the protein surface accessibility of different residues is a powerful way of characterizing the overall conformation of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). We present a two-dimensional (2D) time-resolved photo-CIDNP (TR-CIDNP) experiment suitable for IDP analysis. Pulse stretching of high-power laser pulses, band-selective decoupling of ¹³C^α, and simultaneous application of radiofrequency and laser pulses were implemented to quantitatively analyze the IDP surface at ultrahigh resolution. Comparative analysis with other methods that measure protein surface accessibility validated the newly developed method and emphasized the importance of dye charge in photo-CIDNP. Using the neutral riboflavin dye, surface accessibilities were measured to be nearly identical for the four Tyr residues of α-synuclein (α-Syn), whose ¹H^α-¹³C^α correlations were well-resolved in the 2D TR-CIDNP spectrum. Having confirmed the similarity between the time-resolved and steady-state photo-CIDNP results for α-Syn, we used the more sensitive latter method to show that divalent cations induce compaction of the C-terminal region and release of the N-terminal region of α-Syn. The photo-CIDNP method presented herein can be used as an orthogonal and independent method for investigating important biological processes associated with changes in the overall IDP conformation.

The cellular modifier MOAG-4/SERF drives amyloid formation through charge complementation

While aggregation-prone proteins are known to accelerate aging and cause age-related diseases, the cellular mechanisms that drive their cytotoxicity remain unresolved. The orthologous proteins MOAG-4, SERF1A, and SERF2 have recently been identified as cellular modifiers of such proteotoxicity. Using a peptide array screening approach on human amyloidogenic proteins, we found that SERF2 interacted with protein segments enriched in negatively charged and hydrophobic, aromatic amino acids. The absence of such segments, or the neutralization of the positive charge in SERF2, prevented these interactions and abolished the amyloid-promoting activity of SERF2. In protein aggregation models in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, protein aggregation and toxicity were suppressed by mutating the endogenous locus of MOAG-4 to neutralize charge. Our data indicate that MOAG-4 and SERF2 drive protein aggregation and toxicity by interactions with negatively charged segments in aggregation-prone proteins. Such charge interactions might accelerate primary nucleation of amyloid by initiating structural changes and by decreasing colloidal stability. Our study points at charge interactions between cellular modifiers and amyloidogenic proteins as potential targets for interventions to reduce age-related protein toxicity.

The contribution of electrostatics to hydrogen exchange in the unfolded protein state

Although electrostatics have long been recognized to play an important role in hydrogen exchange (HX) with solvent, the quantitative assessment of its magnitude in the unfolded state has hitherto been lacking. This limits the utility of HX as a quantitative method to study protein stability, folding, and dynamics. Using the intrinsically disordered human protein α-synuclein as a proxy for the unfolded state, we show that a hybrid mean-field approach can effectively compute the electrostatic potential at all backbone amide positions along the chain. From the electrochemical potential, a fourfold reduction in hydroxide concentration near the protein backbone is predicted for the C-terminal domain, a prognosis that is in direct agreement with experimentally derived protection factors from NMR spectroscopy. Thus, impeded HX for the C-terminal region of α-synuclein is not the result of intramolecular hydrogen bonding and/or structure formation.

A novel knockout mouse for the small EDRK-rich factor 2 (Serf2) showing developmental and other deficits

The small EDRK-rich factor 2 (SERF2) is a highly conserved protein that modifies amyloid fibre assembly in vitro and promotes protein misfolding. However, the role of SERF2 in regulating age-related proteotoxicity remains largely unexplored due to a lack of in vivo models. Here, we report the generation of Serf2 knockout mice using an ES cell targeting approach, with Serf2 knockout alleles being bred onto different defined genetic backgrounds. We highlight phenotyping data from heterozygous Serf2^+/− mice, including unexpected male-specific phenotypes in startle response and pre-pulse inhibition. We report embryonic lethality in Serf2^−/− null animals when bred onto a C57BL/6 N background. However, homozygous null animals were viable on a mixed genetic background and, remarkably, developed without obvious abnormalities. The Serf2 knockout mice provide a powerful tool to further investigate the role of SERF2 protein in previously unexplored pathophysiological pathways in the context of a whole organism.

Polyphosphates induce amyloid fibril formation of α-synuclein in concentration-dependent distinct manners

Polyphosphates (polyPs), chains of phosphate residues found in species across nature from bacteria to mammals, were recently reported to accelerate the amyloid fibril formation of many proteins. How polyPs facilitate this process, however, remains unknown. To gain insight into their mechanisms, we used various physicochemical approaches to examine the effects of polyPs of varying chain lengths on ultrasonication-dependent α-synuclein (α-syn) amyloid formation. Although orthophosphate and diphosphate exhibited a single optimal concentration of amyloid formation, triphosphate and longer-chain phosphates exhibited two optima, with the second at a concentration lower than that of orthophosphate or diphosphate. The second optimum decreased markedly as the polyP length increased. This suggested that although the optima at lower polyP concentrations were caused by interactions between negatively charged phosphate groups and the positive charges of α-syn, the optima at higher polyP concentrations were caused by the Hofmeister salting-out effects of phosphate groups, where the effects do not depend on the net charge. NMR titration experiments of α-syn with tetraphosphate combined with principal component analysis revealed that, at low tetraphosphate concentrations, negatively charged tetraphosphates interacted with positively charged "KTK" segments in four KTKEGV repeats located at the N-terminal region. At high concentrations, hydrated tetraphosphates affected the surface-exposed hydrophilic groups of compact α-syn. Taken together, our results suggest that long-chain polyPs consisting of 60 to 70 phosphates induce amyloid formation at sub-μM concentrations, which are comparable with the concentrations of polyPs in the blood or tissues. Thus, these findings may identify a role for polyPs in the pathogenesis of amyloid-related diseases.

Regulation of Age-Related Protein Toxicity

Proteome damage plays a major role in aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Under healthy conditions, molecular quality control mechanisms prevent toxic protein misfolding and aggregation. These mechanisms include molecular chaperones for protein folding, spatial compartmentalization for sequestration, and degradation pathways for the removal of harmful proteins. These mechanisms decline with age, resulting in the accumulation of aggregation-prone proteins that are harmful to cells. In the past decades, a variety of fast- and slow-aging model organisms have been used to investigate the biological mechanisms that accelerate or prevent such protein toxicity. In this review, we describe the most important mechanisms that are required for maintaining a healthy proteome. We describe how these mechanisms decline during aging and lead to toxic protein misassembly, aggregation, and amyloid formation. In addition, we discuss how optimized protein homeostasis mechanisms in long-living animals contribute to prolonging their lifespan. This knowledge might help us to develop interventions in the protein homeostasis network that delay aging and age-related pathologies.

Evidence of the existence of micellar-like aggregates for α-synuclein

We have been investigating the early stages of α-synuclein (Syn) aggregation, a small presynaptic protein implicated in Parkinson's disease. We previously reported that for pH jumps (1000 s) from pH 7 to pH 2 the variation of the Syn intrinsic fluorescence intensity did not change in the concentration range of ca. 10-50 μM (ref. 16). Additionally, I reported dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments revealing the formation of early large Syn aggregates (ref. 7). These reported results mean that some molecular entity is being early formed. Herein, it was decided to investigate in detail these early Syn aggregates by using light scattering. By DLS analysis, these aggregates exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of ca. 420 nm along with a high scattering intensity, characteristic of micellar-like aggregates formation. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) at which the Syn micellar-like aggregates are formed was ca. 10 μM. DLS analysis has also revealed that the micellar-like aggregates for Syn evolved, for protein concentrations >100 μM, to the formation of smaller aggregates (hydrodynamic diameter of ca. 165 nm), possibly Syn oligomers. The Syn micellar-like aggregates formed at pH 7 solutions seem to be active species and to have a role in this protein aggregation mechanism.

Benzimidazole-based fluorophores for the detection of amyloid fibrils with higher sensitivity than Thioflavin-T

Protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils is a key feature of a multitude of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Prion disease. To detect amyloid fibrils, fluorophores with high sensitivity and better efficiency coupled with the low toxicity are in high demand even to date. In this pursuit, we have unveiled two benzimidazole-based fluorescence sensors ([C₁₅ H₁₅ N₃ ] (C1) and [C₁₆ H₁₆ N₃ O₂ ] (C2), which possess exceptional affinity toward different amyloid fibrils in its submicromolar concentration (8 × 10^-9  M), whereas under a similar concentration, the gold standard Thioflavin-T (ThT) fails to bind with amyloid fibrils. These fluorescent markers bind to α-Syn amyloid fibrils as well as amyloid fibrils forming other proteins/peptides including Aβ42 amyloid fibrils. The ¹ H-¹⁵ N heteronuclear quantum correlation spectroscopy nuclear magnetic resonance data collected on wild-type α-Syn monomer with and without the fluorophores (C1 and C2) reveal that there is weak or no interactions between C1 or C2 with residues in α-Syn monomer, which indirectly reflects the specific binding ability of C1 and C2 to the α-Syn amyloid fibrils. Detailed studies further suggest that C1 and C2 can detect/bind with the α-Syn amyloid fibril as low as 100 × 10^-9  M. Extremely low or no cytotoxicity is observed for C1 and C2 and they do not interfere with α-Syn fibrillation kinetics, unlike ThT. Both C1/C2 not only shows selective binding with amyloid fibrils forming various proteins/peptides but also displays excellent affinity and selectivity toward α-Syn amyloid aggregates in SH-SY5Y cells and Aβ42 amyloid plaques in animal brain tissues. Overall, our data show that the developed dyes could be used for the detection of amyloid fibrils including α-Syn and Aβ42 amyloids with higher sensitivity as compared to currently used ThT.

Structural Fuzziness of the RNA-Organizing Protein SERF Determines a Toxic Gain-of-interaction

The mechanisms by which protein complexes convert from functional to pathogenic are the subject of intensive research. Here, we report how functionally unfavorable protein interactions can be induced by structural fuzziness, i.e., by persisting conformational disorder in protein complexes. We show that extreme disorder in the bound state transforms the intrinsically disordered protein SERF1a from an RNA-organizing factor into a pathogenic enhancer of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) amyloid toxicity. We demonstrate that SERF1a promotes the incorporation of RNA into nucleoli and liquid-like artificial RNA-organelles by retaining an unusually high degree of conformational disorder in the RNA-bound state. However, this type of structural fuzziness also determines an undifferentiated interaction with aSyn. RNA and aSyn both bind to one identical, positively charged site of SERF1a by an analogous electrostatic binding mode, with similar binding affinities, and without any observable disorder-to-order transition. The absence of primary or secondary structure discriminants results in SERF1a being unable to select between nucleic acid and amyloidogenic protein, leading the pro-amyloid aSyn:SERF1a interaction to prevail in the cytosol under conditions of cellular stress. We suggest that fuzzy disorder in SERF1a complexes accounts for an adverse gain-of-interaction which favors toxic binding to aSyn at the expense of nontoxic RNA binding, thereby leading to a functionally distorted and pathogenic process. Thus, structural fuzziness constitutes a direct link between extreme conformational flexibility, amyloid aggregation, and the malfunctioning of RNA-associated cellular processes, three signatures of neurodegenerative proteinopathies.

SERF engages in a fuzzy complex that accelerates primary nucleation of amyloid proteins

The assembly of small disordered proteins into highly ordered amyloid fibrils in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients is closely associated with dementia and neurodegeneration. Understanding the process of amyloid formation is thus crucial in the development of effective treatments for these devastating neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, a tiny, highly conserved and disordered protein called SERF was discovered to modify amyloid formation in Caenorhabditis elegans and humans. Here, we use kinetics measurements and native ion mobility-mass spectrometry to show that SERF mainly affects the rate of primary nucleation in amyloid formation for the disease-related proteins Aβ40 and α-synuclein. SERF's high degree of plasticity enables it to bind various conformations of monomeric Aβ40 and α-synuclein to form structurally diverse, fuzzy complexes. This structural diversity persists into early stages of amyloid formation. Our results suggest that amyloid nucleation is considerably more complex than age-related conversion of Aβ40 and α-synuclein into single amyloid-prone conformations.

Coordination of Platinum to α-Synuclein Inhibits Filamentous Aggregation in Solution

Accumulation of filamentous aggregates of α-synuclein (AS) in Lewy bodies and neurites is characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Inhibition of AS fibrillation is helpful for understanding of AS aggregate structure and for developing chemical therapies. Herein, we report that the Pt^II -containing antitumor drug cisplatin suppresses filamentous aggregation of AS in solution. Pt^II thus contrasts strongly with reported transition-metal ions such as Mn^II , Fe^III , and Cu^II , which accelerate AS aggregation. Interaction between Pt^II and the side chains of methionine and histidine residues was essential for inhibition of AS fibrillation. Binding of Pt^II to AS did not change the protein's overall random coil structure, as indicated by solution-state two-dimensional NMR and circular dichroism spectroscopy; and a solution of the AS⋅Pt^II complex remained free of filamentous aggregates. Our results constitute interesting new information about the biological chemistry of metal ions in Parkinson's disease and might open new lines of research into the suppression of filamentous aggregation.

Increased Aggregation Tendency of Alpha-Synuclein in a Fully Disordered Protein Complex

The recent discovery of biologically active fully disordered, so called random fuzzy protein-protein interactions leads to the question of how the high flexibility of these protein complexes correlates to aggregation and pathologic misfolding. We identify the structural mechanism by which a random fuzzy protein complex composed of the intrinsically disordered proteins alpha-Synuclein and SERF1a is able to potentiate cytotoxic aggregation. A structural model derived from an integrated NMR/SAXS analysis of the reconstituted aSyn:SERF1a complex enabled us to observe the partial deprotection of one precise aSyn amyloid nucleation element in the fully unstructured ensemble. This minimal exposure was sufficient to increase the amyloidogenic tendency of SERF1a-bound aSyn. Our findings provide a structural explanation of the previously observed pro-amyloid activity of SERF1a. They further demonstrate that random fuzziness can trigger a structurally organized disease-associated reaction such as amyloid polymerization.

The free energy landscape of the oncogene protein E7 of human papillomavirus type 16 reveals a complex interplay between ordered and disordered regions

When present, structural disorder makes it very challenging to characterise the conformational properties of proteins. This is particularly the case of proteins, such as the oncogene protein E7 of human papillomavirus type 16, which contain both ordered and disordered domains, and that can populate monomeric and oligomeric states under physiological conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is emerging as a powerful method to study these complex systems, most notably in combination with molecular dynamics simulations. Here we use NMR chemical shifts and residual dipolar couplings as structural restraints in replica-averaged molecular dynamics simulations to determine the free energy landscape of E7. This landscape reveals a complex interplay between a folded but highly dynamical C-terminal domain and a disordered N-terminal domain that forms transient secondary and tertiary structures, as well as an equilibrium between a high-populated (98%) dimeric state and a low-populated (2%) monomeric state. These results provide compelling evidence of the complex conformational heterogeneity associated with the behaviour and interactions of this disordered protein associated with disease.

α-Synuclein-derived lipoparticles in the study of α-Synuclein amyloid fibril formation

Aggregation of the protein α-Synuclein (αSyn) is of great interest due to its involvement in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease. However, under in vitro conditions αSyn is very soluble and kinetically stable for extended time periods. As a result, most αSyn aggregation assays rely on conditions that artificially induce or enhance aggregation, often by introducing rather non-native conditions. It has been shown that αSyn interacts with membranes and conditions have been identified in which membranes can promote as well as inhibit αSyn aggregation. It has also been shown that αSyn has the intrinsic capability to assemble lipid-protein-particles, in a similar way as apolipoproteins can form lipid-bilayer nanodiscs. Here we show that these αSyn-lipid particles (αSyn-LiPs) can also effectively induce, accelerate or inhibit αSyn aggregation, depending on the applied conditions. αSyn-LiPs therefore provide a general platform and additional tool, complementary to other setups, to study various aspects of αSyn amyloid fibril formation.

α-Synuclein interacts directly but reversibly with psychosine: implications for α-synucleinopathies

Aggregation of α-synuclein, the hallmark of α-synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease, occurs in various glycosphingolipidoses. Although α-synuclein aggregation correlates with deficiencies in the lysosomal degradation of glycosphingolipids (GSL), the mechanism(s) involved in this aggregation remains unclear. We previously described the aggregation of α-synuclein in Krabbe’s disease (KD), a neurodegenerative glycosphingolipidosis caused by lysosomal deficiency of galactosyl-ceramidase (GALC) and the accumulation of the GSL psychosine. Here, we used a multi-pronged approach including genetic, biophysical and biochemical techniques to determine the pathogenic contribution, reversibility, and molecular mechanism of aggregation of α-synuclein in KD. While genetic knock-out of α-synuclein reduces, but does not completely prevent, neurological signs in a mouse model of KD, genetic correction of GALC deficiency completely prevents α-synuclein aggregation. We show that psychosine forms hydrophilic clusters and binds the C-terminus of α-synuclein through its amino group and sugar moiety, suggesting that psychosine promotes an open/aggregation-prone conformation of α-synuclein. Dopamine and carbidopa reverse the structural changes of psychosine by mediating a closed/aggregation-resistant conformation of α-synuclein. Our results underscore the therapeutic potential of lysosomal correction and small molecules to reduce neuronal burden in α-synucleinopathies, and provide a mechanistic understanding of α-synuclein aggregation in glycosphingolipidoses.

Pandemic Avian Influenza and Intra/Interhaemagglutinin Subtype Electrostatic Variation among Viruses Isolated from Avian, Mammalian, and Human Hosts

Host jump can result in deadly pandemic events when avian influenza A viruses broaden their host specificity and become able to infect mammals, including humans. Haemagglutinin—the major capsid protein in influenza A viruses—is subjected to high rate mutations, of which several occur at its “head”: the receptor-binding domain that mediates specific binding to host cell receptors. Such surface-changing mutations may lead to antigenically novel influenza A viruses hence in pandemics by host jump and in vaccine escape by antigenic drift. Changes in haemagglutinin surface electrostatics have been recently associated with antigenic drift and with clades evolution and spreading in H5N1 and H9N2 viruses. We performed a comparative analysis of haemagglutinin surface electrostatics to investigate clustering and eventual fingerprints among representative pandemic (H5 and H7) and nonpandemic (H4 and H6) avian influenza viral subtypes. We observed preferential sorting of viruses isolated from mammalian/human hosts among these electrostatic clusters of a subtype; however, sorting was not “100% specific” to the different clusters. Therefore, electrostatic fingerprints can help in understanding, but they cannot explain alone the host jumping mechanism.

Meeting Report - proteostasis in Ericeira

It was a sunny Ericeira, in Portugal, that received the participants of the EMBO Workshop on Proteostasis, from 17 to 21 November 2017. Most participants gave talks or presented posters concerning their most recent research results, and lively scientific discussions occurred against the backdrop of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.Proteostasis is the portmanteau of the words protein and homeostasis, and it refers to the biological mechanisms controlling the biogenesis, folding, trafficking and degradation of proteins in cells. An imbalance in proteostasis can lead to the accumulation of misfolded proteins or excessive protein degradation, and is associated with many human diseases. A wide variety of research approaches are used to identify the mechanisms that regulate proteostasis, typically involving different model organisms (yeast, invertebrates or mammalian systems) and different methodologies (genetics, biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, cell biology and organismal biology). Around 140 researchers in the proteostasis field met in the Hotel Vila Galé, Ericeira, Portugal for the EMBO Workshop in Proteostasis, organized by Pedro Domingos (ITQB-NOVA, Oeiras, Portugal) and Colin Adrain (IGC, Oeiras, Portugal). In this report, we attempt to review and integrate the ideas that emerged at the workshop. Owing to space restrictions, we could not cover all talks or posters and we apologize to the colleagues whose presentations could not be discussed.