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Burato A, Legname G. Comparing Prion Proteins Across Species: Is Zebrafish a Useful Model? Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04324-z. [PMID: 38918277 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04324-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Despite the considerable body of research dedicated to the field of neurodegeneration, the gap in knowledge on the prion protein and its intricate involvement in brain diseases remains substantial. However, in the past decades, many steps forward have been taken toward a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying both the physiological role of the prion protein and the misfolding event converting it into its pathological counterpart, the prion. This review aims to provide an overview of the main findings regarding this protein, highlighting the advantages of many different animal models that share a conserved amino acid sequence and/or structure with the human prion protein. A particular focus will be given to the species Danio rerio, a compelling research organism for the investigation of prion biology, thanks to its conserved orthologs, ease of genetic manipulation, and cost-effectiveness of high-throughput experimentation. We will explore its potential in filling some of the gaps on physiological and pathological aspects of the prion protein, with the aim of directing the future development of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Burato
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
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Gharemirshamloo FR, Majumder R, Kumar S U, Doss C GP, Bamdad K, Frootan F, Un C. Effects of the pathological E200K mutation on human prion protein: A computational screening and molecular dynamics approach. J Cell Biochem 2023; 124:254-265. [PMID: 36565210 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30359] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The human prion protein gene (PRNP) is mapped to the short arm of chromosome 20 (20pter-12). Prion disease is associated with mutations in the prion protein-encoding gene sequence. Earlier studies found that the mutation G127V in the PRNP increases protein stability. In contrast, the mutation E200K, which has the highest mutation rate in the prion protein, causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans and induces protein aggregation. We aimed to identify the structural mechanisms of E200k and G127V mutations causing CJD. We used a variety of bioinformatic algorithms, including SIFT, PolyPhen, I-Mutant, PhD-SNP, and SNP& GO, to predict the association of the E200K mutation with prion disease. MD simulation is performed, and graphs for root mean square deviation, root mean square fluctuation, radius of gyration, DSSP, principal component analysis, porcupine, and free energy landscape are generated to confirm and prove the stability of the wild-type and mutant protein structures. The protein is analyzed for aggregation, and the results indicate more fluctuations in the protein structure during the simulation owing to the E200K mutation; however, the G127V mutation makes the protein structure stable against aggregation during the simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ranabir Majumder
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India
| | - Udhaya Kumar S
- Department of Integrative Biology, Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - George Priya Doss C
- Department of Integrative Biology, Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kourosh Bamdad
- Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fateme Frootan
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Cemal Un
- Department of Biology, Division of Molecular Biology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
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3
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Russo L, Salzano G, Corvino A, Bistaffa E, Moda F, Celauro L, D'Abrosca G, Isernia C, Milardi D, Giachin G, Malgieri G, Legname G, Fattorusso R. Structural and dynamical determinants of a β-sheet-enriched intermediate involved in amyloid fibrillar assembly of human prion protein. Chem Sci 2022; 13:10406-10427. [PMID: 36277622 PMCID: PMC9473526 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc00345g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into a misfolded, aggregated and infectious scrapie isoform is associated with prion disease pathology and neurodegeneration. Despite the significant number of experimental and theoretical studies the molecular mechanism regulating this structural transition is still poorly understood. Here, via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) methodologies we investigate at the atomic level the mechanism of the human HuPrP(90–231) thermal unfolding and characterize the conformational equilibrium between its native structure and a β-enriched intermediate state, named β-PrPI. By comparing the folding mechanisms of metal-free and Cu2+-bound HuPrP(23–231) and HuPrP(90–231) we show that the coupling between the N- and C-terminal domains, through transient electrostatic interactions, is the key molecular process in tuning long-range correlated μs–ms dynamics that in turn modulate the folding process. Moreover, via thioflavin T (ThT)-fluorescence fibrillization assays we show that β-PrPI is involved in the initial stages of PrP fibrillation, overall providing a clear molecular description of the initial phases of prion misfolding. Finally, we show by using Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC) that the β-PrPI acts as a seed for the formation of amyloid aggregates with a seeding activity comparable to that of human infectious prions. The N-ter domain in HuPrP regulates the folding mechanism by tuning the long-range μs–ms dynamics. Removal of the N-ter domain triggers the formation of a stable β-enriched intermediate state inducing amyloid aggregates with HuPrPSc seeding activity.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Giulia Salzano
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Andrea Corvino
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Edoardo Bistaffa
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabio Moda
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Milano, Italy
| | - Luigi Celauro
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Gianluca D'Abrosca
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Carla Isernia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Danilo Milardi
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, Catania, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giachin
- Department of Chemical Sciences (DiSC), University of Padua, Padova, Italy
| | - Gaetano Malgieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
- ELETTRA Laboratory, Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - Roberto Fattorusso
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
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Cellular Prion Protein (PrPc): Putative Interacting Partners and Consequences of the Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197058. [PMID: 32992764 PMCID: PMC7583789 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular prion protein (PrPc) is a small glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored protein most abundantly found in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM) in the central nervous system (CNS). PrPc misfolding causes neurodegenerative prion diseases in the CNS. PrPc interacts with a wide range of protein partners because of the intrinsically disordered nature of the protein’s N-terminus. Numerous studies have attempted to decipher the physiological role of the prion protein by searching for proteins which interact with PrPc. Biochemical characteristics and biological functions both appear to be affected by interacting protein partners. The key challenge in identifying a potential interacting partner is to demonstrate that binding to a specific ligand is necessary for cellular physiological function or malfunction. In this review, we have summarized the intracellular and extracellular interacting partners of PrPc and potential consequences of their binding. We also briefly describe prion disease-related mutations at the end of this review.
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Teferedegn EY, Yaman Y, Ün C. Novel Variations in Native Ethiopian Goat breeds PRNP Gene and Their Potential Effect on Prion Protein Stability. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6953. [PMID: 32332800 PMCID: PMC7181617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63874-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrapie is a lethal neurodegenerative disease of sheep and goats caused by the misfolding of the prion protein. Variants such as M142, D145, S146, H154, Q211, and K222 were experimentally found to increase resistance or extend scrapie incubation period in goats. We aimed to identify polymorphisms in the Afar and Arsi-Bale goat breeds of Ethiopia and computationally assess the effect of variants on prion protein stability. In the present study, four non-synonymous novel polymorphisms G67S, W68R, G69D, and R159H in the first octapeptide repeat and the highly conserved C-terminus globular domain of goat PrP were detected. The resistant genotype, S146, was detected in >50% of the present population. The current study population showed a genetic diversity in Ethiopian goat breeds. In the insilico analysis, the R68 variant was predicted to increase stability while S67, D69, and H159 decrease the stability of prion protein. The new variants in the octapeptide repeat motif were predicted to decrease amyloidogenicity but H159 increased the hotspot sequence amyloidogenic propensity. These novel variants could be the source of conformational flexibility that may trigger the gain or loss of function by prion protein. Further experimental study is required to depict the actual effects of variants on prion protein stability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yalçın Yaman
- Department of Biometry and Genetics, Bandırma Sheep Research Institute, Bandırma, Balıkesir, Turkey
| | - Cemal Ün
- Ege University, Department of Biology, Molecular Biology Division, Izmir, Turkey.
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Bernardi L, Bruni AC. Mutations in Prion Protein Gene: Pathogenic Mechanisms in C-Terminal vs. N-Terminal Domain, a Review. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3606. [PMID: 31340582 PMCID: PMC6678283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited mutations in the Prion protein (PrP), encoded by the PRNP gene, have been associated with autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders, such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD), Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS), and Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI). Notably, PRNP mutations have also been described in clinical pictures resembling other neurodegenerative diseases, such as frontotemporal dementia. Regarding the pathogenesis, it has been observed that these point mutations are located in the C-terminal region of the PRNP gene and, currently, the potential significance of the N-terminal domain has largely been underestimated. The purpose of this report is to review and provide current insights into the pathogenic mechanisms of PRNP mutations, emphasizing the differences between the C- and N-terminal regions and focusing, in particular, on the lesser-known flexible N-terminal, for which recent biophysical evidence has revealed a physical interaction with the globular C-terminal domain of the cellular prion protein (PrPC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Bernardi
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme (CZ), Italy
| | - Amalia C Bruni
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme (CZ), Italy.
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Bhattacharya S, Xu L, Thompson D. Molecular Simulations Reveal Terminal Group Mediated Stabilization of Helical Conformers in Both Amyloid-β42 and α-Synuclein. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2830-2842. [PMID: 30917651 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of partially structured helices in natively unfolded amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) and α-synuclein (αS) has been shown to accelerate fibrillation in the onset of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, respectively. At the other extreme, folded stable helical conformers have also been reported to resist amyloid formation. Recent studies indicate that amyloidogenic aggregation can be impeded using small molecules that stabilize the α-helical monomers and switch off the neurotoxic pathway. We predict a common intrapeptide route to stabilization based on the plasticity of helical conformations of Aβ42 and αS as assessed through extensive atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations (∼36 μs) across ten distinct protein force field and water model combinations. Computed free energies and interaction maps (not obtainable from experiments alone) show that flexible terminal groups (N-terminus of Aβ42 and C-terminus of αS) show a tendency to stabilize folded helical conformations in both peptides via primary hydrophobic interactions with central hydrophobic domains, and secondary salt bridges with other domains. These interactions confer aggregation resistance by decreasing the population of partially structured helices and are absent in control simulations of complete unfolding. Computed helical stability is also significantly reduced in terminal-deleted variants. The models suggest new strategies to tackle neurodegeneration by rationally re-engineering terminal groups to optimize their predicted ability to deactivate helical monomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayon Bhattacharya
- Department of Physics, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of Physics, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Damien Thompson
- Department of Physics, Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick V94 T9PX, Ireland
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Zheng Z, Zhang M, Wang Y, Ma R, Guo C, Feng L, Wu J, Yao H, Lin D. Structural basis for the complete resistance of the human prion protein mutant G127V to prion disease. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13211. [PMID: 30181558 PMCID: PMC6123418 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31394-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are caused by the propagation of misfolded cellular prion proteins (PrPs). A completely prion disease-resistant genotype, V127M129, has been identified in Papua New Guinea and verified in transgenic mice. To disclose the structural basis of the disease-resistant effect of the G127V mutant, we determined and compared the structural and dynamic features of the G127V-mutated human PrP (residues 91-231) and the wild-type PrP in solution. HuPrP(G127V) contains α1, α2 and α3 helices and a stretch-strand (SS) pattern comprising residues Tyr128-Gly131 (SS1) and Val161-Arg164 (SS2), with extending atomic distances between the SS1 and SS2 strands, and a structural rearrangement of the Tyr128 side chain due to steric hindrance of the larger hydrophobic side chain of Val127. The extended α1 helix gets closer to the α2 and α3 helices. NMR dynamics analysis revealed that Tyr128, Gly131 and Tyr163 underwent significant conformational exchanges. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that HuPrP(G127V) prevents the formation of stable β-sheets and dimers. Unique structural and dynamic features potentially inhibit the conformational conversion of the G127V mutant. This work is beneficial for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the complete resistance of the G127V mutant to prion disease and for developing new therapeutics for prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Meilan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yongheng Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Rongsheng Ma
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Chenyun Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Liubin Feng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jihui Wu
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Hongwei Yao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Donghai Lin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Spectrochemical Analysis & Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
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Chandramowlishwaran P, Sun M, Casey KL, Romanyuk AV, Grizel AV, Sopova JV, Rubel AA, Nussbaum-Krammer C, Vorberg IM, Chernoff YO. Mammalian amyloidogenic proteins promote prion nucleation in yeast. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:3436-3450. [PMID: 29330303 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.809004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 12/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrous cross-β aggregates (amyloids) and their transmissible forms (prions) cause diseases in mammals (including humans) and control heritable traits in yeast. Initial nucleation of a yeast prion by transiently overproduced prion-forming protein or its (typically, QN-rich) prion domain is efficient only in the presence of another aggregated (in most cases, QN-rich) protein. Here, we demonstrate that a fusion of the prion domain of yeast protein Sup35 to some non-QN-rich mammalian proteins, associated with amyloid diseases, promotes nucleation of Sup35 prions in the absence of pre-existing aggregates. In contrast, both a fusion of the Sup35 prion domain to a multimeric non-amyloidogenic protein and the expression of a mammalian amyloidogenic protein that is not fused to the Sup35 prion domain failed to promote prion nucleation, further indicating that physical linkage of a mammalian amyloidogenic protein to the prion domain of a yeast protein is required for the nucleation of a yeast prion. Biochemical and cytological approaches confirmed the nucleation of protein aggregates in the yeast cell. Sequence alterations antagonizing or enhancing amyloidogenicity of human amyloid-β (associated with Alzheimer's disease) and mouse prion protein (associated with prion diseases), respectively, antagonized or enhanced nucleation of a yeast prion by these proteins. The yeast-based prion nucleation assay, developed in our work, can be employed for mutational dissection of amyloidogenic proteins. We anticipate that it will aid in the identification of chemicals that influence initial amyloid nucleation and in searching for new amyloidogenic proteins in a variety of proteomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Meng Sun
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Kristin L Casey
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Andrey V Romanyuk
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Anastasiya V Grizel
- the Laboratory of Amyloid Biology.,Institute of Translational Biomedicine, and
| | - Julia V Sopova
- the Laboratory of Amyloid Biology.,Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.,the St. Petersburg Branch, N. I. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Aleksandr A Rubel
- the Laboratory of Amyloid Biology.,Institute of Translational Biomedicine, and.,Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Carmen Nussbaum-Krammer
- the Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany, and
| | - Ina M Vorberg
- the Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Yury O Chernoff
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, .,the Laboratory of Amyloid Biology.,Institute of Translational Biomedicine, and
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