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Flint Z, Grannemann H, Baffour K, Koti N, Taylor E, Grier E, Sutton C, Johnson D, Dandawate P, Patel R, Santra S, Banerjee T. Mechanistic Insights Behind the Self-Assembly of Human Insulin under the Influence of Surface-Engineered Gold Nanoparticles. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2359-2371. [PMID: 38728258 PMCID: PMC11157486 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the underlying principles of amyloid protein self-assembly at nanobio interfaces is extremely challenging due to the diversity in physicochemical properties of nanomaterials and their physical interactions with biological systems. It is, therefore, important to develop nanoscale materials with dynamic features and heterogeneities. In this work, through engineering of hierarchical polyethylene glycol (PEG) structures on gold nanoparticle (GNP) surfaces, tailored nanomaterials with different surface properties and conformations (GNPs-PEG) are created for modulating the self-assembly of a widely studied protein, insulin, under amyloidogenic conditions. Important biophysical studies including thioflavin T (ThT) binding, circular dichroism (CD), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that higher-molecular weight GNPs-PEG triggered the formation of amyloid fibrils by promoting adsorption of proteins at nanoparticle surfaces and favoring primary nucleation rate. Moreover, the modulation of fibrillation kinetics reduces the overall toxicity of insulin oligomers and fibrils. In addition, the interaction between the PEG polymer and amyloidogenic insulin examined using MD simulations revealed major changes in the secondary structural elements of the B chain of insulin. The experimental findings provide molecular-level descriptions of how the PEGylated nanoparticle surface modulates protein adsorption and drives the self-assembly of insulin. This facile approach provides a new avenue for systematically altering the binding affinities on nanoscale surfaces by tailoring their topologies for examining adsorption-induced fibrillogenesis phenomena of amyloid proteins. Together, this study suggests the role of nanobio interfaces during surface-induced heterogeneous nucleation as a primary target for designing therapeutic interventions for amyloid-related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Flint
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri
State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - Haylee Grannemann
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri
State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - Kristos Baffour
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri
State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - Neelima Koti
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri
State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - Emma Taylor
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri
State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - Ethan Grier
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri
State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - Carissa Sutton
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri
State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - David Johnson
- Molecular
Graphics and Modeling Laboratory, University
of Kansas, 2034 Becker
Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66018, United States
| | - Prasad Dandawate
- Department
of Cancer Biology, The University of Kansas
Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, United States
| | - Rishi Patel
- Jordan
Valley Innovation Center, Missouri State
University, 542 N. Boonville
Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65806, United States
| | - Santimukul Santra
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri
State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
| | - Tuhina Banerjee
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Missouri
State University, 901 S. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897, United States
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2
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Yu KH, Huang MY, Lee YR, Lin YK, Chen HR, Lee CI. The Effect of Octapeptide Repeats on Prion Folding and Misfolding. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041800. [PMID: 33670336 PMCID: PMC7918816 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Misfolding of prion protein (PrP) into amyloid aggregates is the central feature of prion diseases. PrP has an amyloidogenic C-terminal domain with three α-helices and a flexible tail in the N-terminal domain in which multiple octapeptide repeats are present in most mammals. The role of the octapeptides in prion diseases has previously been underestimated because the octapeptides are not located in the amyloidogenic domain. Correlation between the number of octapeptide repeats and age of onset suggests the critical role of octapeptide repeats in prion diseases. In this study, we have investigated four PrP variants without any octapeptides and with 1, 5 and 8 octapeptide repeats. From the comparison of the protein structure and the thermal stability of these proteins, as well as the characterization of amyloids converted from these PrP variants, we found that octapeptide repeats affect both folding and misfolding of PrP creating amyloid fibrils with distinct structures. Deletion of octapeptides forms fewer twisted fibrils and weakens the cytotoxicity. Insertion of octapeptides enhances the formation of typical silk-like fibrils but it does not increase the cytotoxicity. There might be some threshold effect and increasing the number of peptides beyond a certain limit has no further effect on the cell viability, though the reasons are unclear at this stage. Overall, the results of this study elucidate the molecular mechanism of octapeptides at the onset of prion diseases.
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3
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Spagnolli G, Rigoli M, Novi Inverardi G, Codeseira YB, Biasini E, Requena JR. Modeling PrP Sc Generation Through Deformed Templating. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:590501. [PMID: 33123520 PMCID: PMC7573312 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.590501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Deformed templating is the process by which self-replicating protein conformations with a given cross-β folding pattern can seed formation of an alternative self-replicating state with different cross-β folding pattern. In particular, uninfectious but propagative PrP amyloid can transform into a bona fide infectious conformer, PrPSc through deformed templating. The process can take many rounds of replication (if taking place in vitro) or even several passages of the evolving PrP conformers through successive brains if in vivo, through experimental transmission. In all cases, deformed templating involves a forced conversion in which there is a mismatch between the template and the substrate and/or the templating environment, typically a recombinant PrP amyloid, adept at converting recombinant PrP under denaturing conditions (e.g., presence of chaotropic agents), encountering a glycosylated, GPI-anchored PrPC substrate under physiological conversion conditions. Deformed templating is characterized by emergence of intermediate conformers that exhibit biochemical characteristics that are intermediate between those of the initial PrP amyloid and the final PrPSc conformers. Here, we took advantage of the recent elucidation of the structure of a PrP amyloid by cryo-EM and the availability of a physically plausible atomistic model of PrPSc that we have recently proposed. Using modeling and Molecular Dynamics (MD) approaches, we built a complete molecular modelization of deformed templating, including an atomistic model of a glycosylated intermediate conformer and a modified model of PrPSc. Among other unanticipated outcomes, our results show that fully glycosylated PrP can be stacked in-register, and how 4-rung β-solenoid (4RβS) PrP architectures can share key structural motifs with parallel-in register intermolecular sheet (PIRIBS) PrP amyloids. Our results shed light on the mechanisms of prion replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Spagnolli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Marta Rigoli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Giovanni Novi Inverardi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Yaiza B Codeseira
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.,Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Jesús R Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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4
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Almendáriz-Palacios C, Gillespie ZE, Janzen M, Martinez V, Bridger JM, Harkness TAA, Mousseau DD, Eskiw CH. The Nuclear Lamina: Protein Accumulation and Disease. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E188. [PMID: 32630170 PMCID: PMC7400325 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8070188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular health is reliant on proteostasis-the maintenance of protein levels regulated through multiple pathways modulating protein synthesis, degradation and clearance. Loss of proteostasis results in serious disease and is associated with aging. One proteinaceous structure underlying the nuclear envelope-the nuclear lamina-coordinates essential processes including DNA repair, genome organization and epigenetic and transcriptional regulation. Loss of proteostasis within the nuclear lamina results in the accumulation of proteins, disrupting these essential functions, either via direct interactions of protein aggregates within the lamina or by altering systems that maintain lamina structure. Here we discuss the links between proteostasis and disease of the nuclear lamina, as well as how manipulating specific proteostatic pathways involved in protein clearance could improve cellular health and prevent/reverse disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Almendáriz-Palacios
- Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada; (C.A.-P.); (V.M.)
| | - Zoe E. Gillespie
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada; (Z.E.G.); (M.J.); (T.A.A.H.)
| | - Matthew Janzen
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada; (Z.E.G.); (M.J.); (T.A.A.H.)
| | - Valeria Martinez
- Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada; (C.A.-P.); (V.M.)
| | - Joanna M. Bridger
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, College of Health, Life and Medical Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK;
| | - Troy A. A. Harkness
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada; (Z.E.G.); (M.J.); (T.A.A.H.)
| | - Darrell D. Mousseau
- Cell Signalling Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5, Canada;
| | - Christopher H. Eskiw
- Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada; (C.A.-P.); (V.M.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada; (Z.E.G.); (M.J.); (T.A.A.H.)
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5
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Eraña H, Charco JM, Di Bari MA, Díaz-Domínguez CM, López-Moreno R, Vidal E, González-Miranda E, Pérez-Castro MA, García-Martínez S, Bravo S, Fernández-Borges N, Geijo M, D’Agostino C, Garrido J, Bian J, König A, Uluca-Yazgi B, Sabate R, Khaychuk V, Vanni I, Telling GC, Heise H, Nonno R, Requena JR, Castilla J. Development of a new largely scalable in vitro prion propagation method for the production of infectious recombinant prions for high resolution structural studies. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008117. [PMID: 31644574 PMCID: PMC6827918 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The resolution of the three-dimensional structure of infectious prions at the atomic level is pivotal to understand the pathobiology of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE), but has been long hindered due to certain particularities of these proteinaceous pathogens. Difficulties related to their purification from brain homogenates of disease-affected animals were resolved almost a decade ago by the development of in vitro recombinant prion propagation systems giving rise to highly infectious recombinant prions. However, lack of knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of the misfolding event and the complexity of systems such as the Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA), have limited generating the large amounts of homogeneous recombinant prion preparations required for high-resolution techniques such as solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssNMR) imaging. Herein, we present a novel recombinant prion propagation system based on PMCA that substitutes sonication with shaking thereby allowing the production of unprecedented amounts of multi-labeled, infectious recombinant prions. The use of specific cofactors, such as dextran sulfate, limit the structural heterogeneity of the in vitro propagated prions and makes possible, for the first time, the generation of infectious and likely homogeneous samples in sufficient quantities for studies with high-resolution structural techniques as demonstrated by the preliminary ssNMR spectrum presented here. Overall, we consider that this new method named Protein Misfolding Shaking Amplification (PMSA), opens new avenues to finally elucidate the three-dimensional structure of infectious prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasier Eraña
- CIC bioGUNE, Derio (Bizkaia), Spain
- ATLAS Molecular Pharma S. L. Derio (Bizkaia), Spain
| | | | - Michele A. Di Bari
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Enric Vidal
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), UAB-IRTA, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Susana Bravo
- Proteomics Lab, IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Mariví Geijo
- Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Derio (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Claudia D’Agostino
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Joseba Garrido
- Animal Health Department, NEIKER-Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Derio (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Jifeng Bian
- Prion Research Center (PRC), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Anna König
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6) and Jülich Center for Structural Biology (JuStruct), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Boran Uluca-Yazgi
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6) and Jülich Center for Structural Biology (JuStruct), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vadim Khaychuk
- Prion Research Center (PRC), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Ilaria Vanni
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Glenn C. Telling
- Prion Research Center (PRC), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Henrike Heise
- Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-6) and Jülich Center for Structural Biology (JuStruct), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Romolo Nonno
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Jesús R. Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Spain
| | - Joaquín Castilla
- CIC bioGUNE, Derio (Bizkaia), Spain
- IKERBasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao (Bizkaia), Spain
- * E-mail:
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6
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Abstract
Prion (PrPC) is an endogenous protein found mainly in the nervous system, and its misfolded isoform (PrPSc) is associated with a group of neurodegenerative disorders known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or simply prion diseases. The PrPSc isoform shows an intriguing ability to self-perpetuate, acting as template for PrPC misfolding and consequent aggregation. Aggregation in vitro and in vivo follows a fibrillation processes that is associated with neurodegeneration. Therefore, it is important to investigate and understand the molecular mechanisms involved in this process; such understanding also allows investigation of the action of possible candidate molecules to inhibit this process. Here, we highlight useful in vitro methodologies and analyses that were developed using PrP as a protein model but that, as other amyloid proteins also exhibit the same behavior, may be applied to understand other "prion-like" diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
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7
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Honda R. Role of the Disulfide Bond in Prion Protein Amyloid Formation: A Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analysis. Biophys J 2019; 114:885-892. [PMID: 29490248 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are associated with the structural conversion of prion protein (PrP) to a β-sheet-rich aggregate, PrPSc. Previous studies have indicated that a reduction of the disulfide bond linking C179 and C214 of PrP yields an amyloidlike β-rich aggregate in vitro. To gain mechanistic insights into the reduction-induced aggregation, here I characterized how disulfide bond reduction modulates the protein folding/misfolding landscape of PrP, by examining 1) the equilibrium stabilities of the native (N) and aggregated states relative to the unfolded (U) state, 2) the transition barrier separating the U and aggregated states, and 3) the final structure of amyloidlike misfolded aggregates. Kinetic and thermodynamic experiments revealed that disulfide bond reduction decreases the equilibrium stabilities of both the N and aggregated states by ∼3 kcal/mol, without changing either the amyloidlike aggregate structure, at least at the secondary structural level, or the transition barrier of aggregation. Therefore, disulfide bond reduction modulates the protein folding/misfolding landscape by entropically stabilizing disordered states, including the U and transition state of aggregation. This also indicates that the equilibrium stability of the N state, but not the transition barrier of aggregation, is the dominant factor determining the reduction-induced aggregation of PrP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Honda
- The United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan; Department of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
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8
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Honda R, Kuwata K. Evidence for a central role of PrP helix 2 in the nucleation of amyloid fibrils. FASEB J 2018; 32:3641-3652. [PMID: 29401635 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201701183rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid fibrils are filamentous protein aggregates associated with the pathogenesis of a wide variety of human diseases. The formation of such aggregates typically follows nucleation-dependent kinetics, wherein the assembly and structural conversion of amyloidogenic proteins into oligomeric aggregates (nuclei) is the rate-limiting step of the overall reaction. In this study, we sought to gain structural insights into the oligomeric nuclei of the human prion protein (PrP) by preparing a series of deletion mutants lacking 14-44 of the C-terminal 107 residues of PrP and examined the kinetics and thermodynamics of these mutants in amyloid formation. An analysis of the experimental data using the concepts of the Φ-value analysis indicated that the helix 2 region (residues 168-196) acquires an amyloid-like β-sheet during nucleation, whereas the other regions preserves a relatively disordered structure in the nuclei. This finding suggests that the helix 2 region serves as the nucleation site for the assembly of amyloid fibrils.-Honda, R., Kuwata, K. Evidence for a central role of PrP helix 2 in the nucleation of amyloid fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Honda
- Department of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.,United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kuwata
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.,Department of Gene and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
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9
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Charco JM, Eraña H, Venegas V, García-Martínez S, López-Moreno R, González-Miranda E, Pérez-Castro MÁ, Castilla J. Recombinant PrP and Its Contribution to Research on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies. Pathogens 2017; 6:E67. [PMID: 29240682 PMCID: PMC5750591 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens6040067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into the disease-associated isoform (PrPSc) and its accumulation as amyloid fibrils in the central nervous system is one of the central events in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Due to the proteinaceous nature of the causal agent the molecular mechanisms of misfolding, interspecies transmission, neurotoxicity and strain phenomenon remain mostly ill-defined or unknown. Significant advances were made using in vivo and in cellula models, but the limitations of these, primarily due to their inherent complexity and the small amounts of PrPSc that can be obtained, gave rise to the necessity of new model systems. The production of recombinant PrP using E. coli and subsequent induction of misfolding to the aberrant isoform using different techniques paved the way for the development of cell-free systems that complement the previous models. The generation of the first infectious recombinant prion proteins with identical properties of brain-derived PrPSc increased the value of cell-free systems for research on TSEs. The versatility and ease of implementation of these models have made them invaluable for the study of the molecular mechanisms of prion formation and propagation, and have enabled improvements in diagnosis, high-throughput screening of putative anti-prion compounds and the design of novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we provide an overview of the resultant advances in the prion field due to the development of recombinant PrP and its use in cell-free systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge M. Charco
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain; (J.M.C.); (H.E.); (V.V.); (S.G.-M.); (R.L.-M.); (E.G.-M.); (M.Á.P.-C.)
| | - Hasier Eraña
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain; (J.M.C.); (H.E.); (V.V.); (S.G.-M.); (R.L.-M.); (E.G.-M.); (M.Á.P.-C.)
| | - Vanessa Venegas
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain; (J.M.C.); (H.E.); (V.V.); (S.G.-M.); (R.L.-M.); (E.G.-M.); (M.Á.P.-C.)
| | - Sandra García-Martínez
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain; (J.M.C.); (H.E.); (V.V.); (S.G.-M.); (R.L.-M.); (E.G.-M.); (M.Á.P.-C.)
| | - Rafael López-Moreno
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain; (J.M.C.); (H.E.); (V.V.); (S.G.-M.); (R.L.-M.); (E.G.-M.); (M.Á.P.-C.)
| | - Ezequiel González-Miranda
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain; (J.M.C.); (H.E.); (V.V.); (S.G.-M.); (R.L.-M.); (E.G.-M.); (M.Á.P.-C.)
| | - Miguel Ángel Pérez-Castro
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain; (J.M.C.); (H.E.); (V.V.); (S.G.-M.); (R.L.-M.); (E.G.-M.); (M.Á.P.-C.)
| | - Joaquín Castilla
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 48160 Derio, Spain; (J.M.C.); (H.E.); (V.V.); (S.G.-M.); (R.L.-M.); (E.G.-M.); (M.Á.P.-C.)
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011 Bilbao, Spain
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10
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Elezgarai SR, Fernández-Borges N, Eraña H, Sevillano AM, Charco JM, Harrathi C, Saá P, Gil D, Kong Q, Requena JR, Andréoletti O, Castilla J. Generation of a new infectious recombinant prion: a model to understand Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9584. [PMID: 28851967 PMCID: PMC5575253 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09489-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that include Kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS), and fatal familial insomnia. GSS is a genetically determined TSE caused by a range of mutations within the prion protein (PrP) gene. Several animal models, based on the expression of PrPs carrying mutations analogous to human heritable prion diseases, support that mutations might predispose PrP to spontaneously misfold. An adapted Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification methodology based on the use of human recombinant PrP (recPMCA) generated different self-propagating misfolded proteins spontaneously. These were characterized biochemically and structurally, and the one partially sharing some of the GSS PrPSc molecular features was inoculated into different animal models showing high infectivity. This constitutes an infectious recombinant prion which could be an invaluable model for understanding GSS. Moreover, this study proves the possibility to generate recombinant versions of other human prion diseases that could provide a further understanding on the molecular features of these devastating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saioa R Elezgarai
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, 48160, Bizkaia, Spain
| | | | - Hasier Eraña
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, 48160, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Alejandro M Sevillano
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jorge M Charco
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, 48160, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Chafik Harrathi
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, 48160, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Paula Saá
- American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - David Gil
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, 48160, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Qingzhong Kong
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Jesús R Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Olivier Andréoletti
- Ecole Nationale du Veterinaire, Service de Pathologie du Bétail, Toulouse, 31076, France
| | - Joaquín Castilla
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, 48160, Bizkaia, Spain. .,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48011, Bizkaia, Spain.
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11
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Abstract
Misfolding and aggregation of prion protein are related to several neurodegenerative diseases in humans such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, fatal familial insomnia, and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease. A growing number of applications in the prion field including assays for detection of PrPSc and methods for production of PrPSc de novo require recombinant prion protein (PrP) of high purity and quality. Here, we report an experimental procedure for expression and purification of full-length mammalian prion protein. This protocol has been proved to yield PrP of extremely high purity that lacks PrP adducts, oxidative modifications, or truncation, which is typically generated as a result of spontaneous oxidation or degradation. We also describe methods for preparation of amyloid fibrils from recombinant PrP in vitro. Recombinant PrP fibrils can be used as a noninfectious synthetic surrogate of PrPSc for development of prion diagnostics including generation of PrPSc-specific antibody.
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12
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Proteinase K and the structure of PrPSc: The good, the bad and the ugly. Virus Res 2015; 207:120-6. [PMID: 25816779 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2015.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Infectious proteins (prions) are, ironically, defined by their resistance to proteolytic digestion. A defining characteristic of the transmissible isoform of the prion protein (PrP(Sc)) is its partial resistance to proteinase K (PK) digestion. Diagnosis of prion disease typically relies upon immunodetection of PK-digested PrP(Sc) by Western blot, ELISA or immunohistochemical detection. PK digestion has also been used to detect differences in prion strains. Thus, PK has been a crucial tool to detect and, thereby, control the spread of prions. PK has also been used as a tool to probe the structure of PrP(Sc). Mass spectrometry and antibodies have been used to identify PK cleavage sites in PrP(Sc). These results have been used to identify the more accessible, flexible stretches connecting the β-strand components in PrP(Sc). These data, combined with physical constraints imposed by spectroscopic results, were used to propose a qualitative model for the structure of PrP(Sc). Assuming that PrP(Sc) is a four rung β-solenoid, we have threaded the PrP sequence to satisfy the PK proteolysis data and other experimental constraints.
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13
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Xiao X, Cali I, Yuan J, Cracco L, Curtiss P, Zeng L, Abouelsaad M, Gazgalis D, Wang GX, Kong Q, Fujioka H, Puoti G, Zou WQ. Synthetic Aβ peptides acquire prion-like properties in the brain. Oncotarget 2015; 6:642-50. [PMID: 25460507 PMCID: PMC4359245 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In transmission studies with Alzheimer's disease (AD) animal models, the formation of Aβ plaques is proposed to be initiated by seeding the inoculated amyloid β (Aβ) peptides in the brain. Like the misfolded scrapie prion protein (PrPSc) in prion diseases, Aβ in AD shows a certain degree of resistance to protease digestion while the biochemical basis for protease resistance of Aβ remains poorly understood. Using in vitro assays, histoblotting, and electron microscopy, we characterize the biochemical and morphological features of synthetic Aβ peptides and Aβ isolated from AD brain tissues. Consistent with previous observations, monomeric and oligomeric Aβ species extracted from AD brains are insoluble in detergent buffers and resistant to digestions with proteinase K (PK). Histoblotting of AD brain tissue sections exhibits an increased Aβ immunoreactivity after digestion with PK. In contrast, synthetic Aβ40 and Aβ42 are soluble in detergent buffers and fully digested by PK. Electron microscopy of Aβ40 and Aβ42 synthetic peptides shows that both species of Aβ form mature fibrils. Those generated from Aβ40 are longer but less numerous than those made of Aβ42. When spiked into human brain homogenates, both Aβ40 and Aβ42 acquire insolubility in detergent and resistance to PK. Our study favors the hypothesis that the human brain may contain cofactor(s) that confers the synthetic Aβ peptides PrPSc-like physicochemical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangzhu Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ignazio Cali
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Jue Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Laura Cracco
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Paul Curtiss
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Liang Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, The People's Republic of China
| | - Mai Abouelsaad
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Dimitris Gazgalis
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Gong-Xian Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, The People's Republic of China
| | - Qingzhong Kong
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Hisashi Fujioka
- Department of Pharmacology and EM Facility, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Gianfranco Puoti
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Wen-Quan Zou
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- National Center for Regenerative Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, The People's Republic of China
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14
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Hadži S, Ondračka A, Jerala R, Hafner‐Bratkovič I. Pathological mutations H187R and E196K facilitate subdomain separation and prion protein conversion by destabilization of the native structure. FASEB J 2014; 29:882-93. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.14-255646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- San Hadži
- Department of BiotechnologyNational Institute of ChemistryLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Andrej Ondračka
- Department of BiotechnologyNational Institute of ChemistryLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Roman Jerala
- Department of BiotechnologyNational Institute of ChemistryLjubljanaSlovenia
- EN‐FIST Centre of ExcellenceLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Iva Hafner‐Bratkovič
- Department of BiotechnologyNational Institute of ChemistryLjubljanaSlovenia
- EN‐FIST Centre of ExcellenceLjubljanaSlovenia
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15
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Klimova N, Makarava N, Baskakov IV. The diversity and relationship of prion protein self-replicating states. Virus Res 2014; 207:113-9. [PMID: 25312451 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
It has become evident that the prion protein (PrP) can form a diverse range of self-replicating structures in addition to bona fide PrP(Sc) or strain-specific PrP(Sc) variants. Some self-replicating states can be only produced in vitro, whereas others can be formed in vivo and in vitro. While transmissible, not all states that replicate in vivo are truly pathogenic. Some of them can replicate silently without causing symptoms or clinical diseases. In the current article we discuss the data on PK-digestion patterns of different self-replicating PrP states in connection with other structural data available to date and assess possible relationships between different self-replicating states. Even though different self-replicating PrP states appear to have significantly different global folding patterns, it seems that the C-terminal region exhibits a cross-β-sheet structure in all self-replicating states, as this region acquires the proteolytically most stable conformation. We also discuss the possibility of the transformation of self-replicating states and triggering of PrP(Sc) formation within the frame of the deformed templating model. The spread of silent self-replicating states is of a particular concern because they can lead to transmissible prion disease. Moreover, examples on how different replication requirements favor different states are discussed. This knowledge can help in designing conditions for selective amplification of a particular PrP state in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Klimova
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Ilia V Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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16
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Silva JL, Oliveira AC, Vieira TCRG, de Oliveira GAP, Suarez MC, Foguel D. High-Pressure Chemical Biology and Biotechnology. Chem Rev 2014; 114:7239-67. [DOI: 10.1021/cr400204z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jerson L. Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Instituto
Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem,
Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear Jiri
Jonas, and ‡Polo Xerém, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Andrea C. Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Instituto
Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem,
Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear Jiri
Jonas, and ‡Polo Xerém, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Tuane C. R. G. Vieira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Instituto
Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem,
Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear Jiri
Jonas, and ‡Polo Xerém, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Guilherme A. P. de Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Instituto
Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem,
Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear Jiri
Jonas, and ‡Polo Xerém, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Marisa C. Suarez
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Instituto
Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem,
Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear Jiri
Jonas, and ‡Polo Xerém, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Debora Foguel
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Instituto
Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem,
Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear Jiri
Jonas, and ‡Polo Xerém, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
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17
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Milto K, Michailova K, Smirnovas V. Elongation of mouse prion protein amyloid-like fibrils: effect of temperature and denaturant concentration. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94469. [PMID: 24747600 PMCID: PMC3991587 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion protein is known to have the ability to adopt a pathogenic conformation, which seems to be the basis for protein-only infectivity. The infectivity is based on self-replication of this pathogenic prion structure. One of possible mechanisms for such replication is the elongation of amyloid-like fibrils. We measured elongation kinetics and thermodynamics of mouse prion amyloid-like fibrils at different guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) concentrations. Our data show that both increases in temperature and GuHCl concentration help unfold monomeric protein and thus accelerate elongation. Once the monomers are unfolded, further increases in temperature raise the rate of elongation, whereas the addition of GuHCl decreases it. We demonstrated a possible way to determine different activation energies of amyloid-like fibril elongation by using folded and unfolded protein molecules. This approach separates thermodynamic data for fibril-assisted monomer unfolding and for refolding and formation of amyloid-like structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katazyna Milto
- Department of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design, Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Ksenija Michailova
- Department of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design, Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Department of Biothermodynamics and Drug Design, Vilnius University Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius, Lithuania
- * E-mail:
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18
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Taguchi Y, Schätzl HM. Identifying critical sites of PrP(c)-PrP(Sc) interaction in prion-infected cells by dominant-negative inhibition. Prion 2013; 7:452-6. [PMID: 24401595 PMCID: PMC4201612 DOI: 10.4161/pri.27500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A direct physical interaction of the prion protein isoforms is a key element in prion conversion. Which sites interact first and which parts of PrPc are converted subsequently is presently not known in detail. We hypothesized that structural changes induced by PrPSc interaction occur in more than one interface and subsequently propagate within the PrPC substrate, like epicenters of structural changes. To identify potential interfaces we created a series of systematically-designed mutant PrPs and tested them in prion-infected cells for dominant-negative inhibition (DNI) effects. This showed that mutant PrPs with deletions in the region between first and second α-helix are involved in PrP-PrP interaction and conversion of PrPC into PrPSc. Although some PrPs did not reach the plasma membrane, they had access to the locales of prion conversion and PrPSc recycling using autophagy pathways. Using other series of mutant PrPs we already have identified additional sites which constitute potential interaction interfaces. Our approach has the potential to characterize PrP-PrP interaction sites in the context of prion-infected cells. Besides providing further insights into the molecular mechanisms of prion conversion, this data may help to further elucidate how prion strain diversity is maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzuru Taguchi
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Calgary; Calgary, AB Canada
| | - Hermann M Schätzl
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Calgary; Calgary, AB Canada; Departments of Molecular Biology and of Veterinary Sciences; University of Wyoming; Laramie, Wyoming, USA
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19
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Baillod P, Garrec J, Tavernelli I, Rothlisberger U. Prion versus Doppel Protein Misfolding: New Insights from Replica-Exchange Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Biochemistry 2013; 52:8518-26. [DOI: 10.1021/bi400884e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Baillod
- Laboratory
of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julian Garrec
- Laboratory
of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- CNRS,
UMR 7565 Structure et Réactivité des Systèmes
Moléculaires Complexes, Nancy Université, Nancy, France
| | - Ivano Tavernelli
- Laboratory
of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ursula Rothlisberger
- Laboratory
of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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20
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Lin SJ, Yu KH, Wu JR, Lee CF, Jheng CP, Chen HR, Lee CI. Liberation of GPI-anchored prion from phospholipids accelerates amyloidogenic conversion. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:17943-57. [PMID: 24005859 PMCID: PMC3794761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms140917943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2013] [Revised: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are a rare group of fatal neurodegenerative illnesses in humans and animals caused by misfolding of prion protein (PrP). Prion protein is a cell-surface glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoprotein expressed mostly in the central and peripheral nervous system, and this membrane-bound protein can be cleaved from the cell membranes by phosphoinositide phospholipase C. Numerous studies have investigated GPI-free recombinant PrP, but the role of GPI on misfolding of PrP is not well known. In this study, we synthesized a GPI analog that was covalently linking to a PrP S230C mutant, resulting in S230C-GPI. The structural changes in S230C-GPI upon binding to lipid vesicles composed of mixtures of the zwitterionic lipid (POPC) and the anionic lipid (POPG) were analyzed by circular dichroism spectroscopy, and the amyloid aggregation of S230C-GPI in the liberation from phospholipid vesicles was monitored by proteinase K-digestion assay. Our results indicate that S230C-GPI in the liberation of lipid vesicles has high tendency to misfold into amyloid fibrils, while the membrane-bound S230C-GPI proteins are highly stable and rarely convert into amyloid forms. In addition, the role of cholesterol in S230C-GPI was studied. The effect of GPI, cholesterol and phospholipid vesicles on misfolding of PrP is further discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen-Jie Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan; E-Mails: (S.-J.L.); (K.-H.Y.); (C.-P.J.); (H.-R.C.)
| | - Kun-Hua Yu
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan; E-Mails: (S.-J.L.); (K.-H.Y.); (C.-P.J.); (H.-R.C.)
| | - Jhih-Ru Wu
- Department of Chemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan; E-Mails: (J.-R.W.); (C.-F.L.)
| | - Chin-Fa Lee
- Department of Chemistry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan; E-Mails: (J.-R.W.); (C.-F.L.)
| | - Cheng-Ping Jheng
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan; E-Mails: (S.-J.L.); (K.-H.Y.); (C.-P.J.); (H.-R.C.)
| | - Hau-Ren Chen
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan; E-Mails: (S.-J.L.); (K.-H.Y.); (C.-P.J.); (H.-R.C.)
| | - Cheng-I Lee
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Cheng University, Min-Hsiung, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan; E-Mails: (S.-J.L.); (K.-H.Y.); (C.-P.J.); (H.-R.C.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +886-5-272-0411 (ext. 66511); Fax: +886-5-272-2871
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21
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Timmes AG, Moore RA, Fischer ER, Priola SA. Recombinant prion protein refolded with lipid and RNA has the biochemical hallmarks of a prion but lacks in vivo infectivity. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71081. [PMID: 23936256 PMCID: PMC3728029 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
During prion infection, the normal, protease-sensitive conformation of prion protein (PrPC) is converted via seeded polymerization to an abnormal, infectious conformation with greatly increased protease-resistance (PrPSc). In vitro, protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) uses PrPSc in prion-infected brain homogenates as an initiating seed to convert PrPC and trigger the self-propagation of PrPSc over many cycles of amplification. While PMCA reactions produce high levels of protease-resistant PrP, the infectious titer is often lower than that of brain-derived PrPSc. More recently, PMCA techniques using bacterially derived recombinant PrP (rPrP) in the presence of lipid and RNA but in the absence of any starting PrPSc seed have been used to generate infectious prions that cause disease in wild-type mice with relatively short incubation times. These data suggest that lipid and/or RNA act as cofactors to facilitate the de novo formation of high levels of prion infectivity. Using rPrP purified by two different techniques, we generated a self-propagating protease-resistant rPrP molecule that, regardless of the amount of RNA and lipid used, had a molecular mass, protease resistance and insolubility similar to that of PrPSc. However, we were unable to detect prion infectivity in any of our reactions using either cell-culture or animal bioassays. These results demonstrate that the ability to self-propagate into a protease-resistant insoluble conformer is not unique to infectious PrP molecules. They suggest that the presence of RNA and lipid cofactors may facilitate the spontaneous refolding of PrP into an infectious form while also allowing the de novo formation of self-propagating, but non-infectious, rPrP-res.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G. Timmes
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Roger A. Moore
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth R. Fischer
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Research Technologies Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Suzette A. Priola
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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22
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Chatterjee B, Lee CY, Lin C, Chen EHL, Huang CL, Yang CC, Chen RPY. Amyloid core formed of full-length recombinant mouse prion protein involves sequence 127-143 but not sequence 107-126. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67967. [PMID: 23844138 PMCID: PMC3700907 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The principal event underlying the development of prion disease is the conversion of soluble cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into its disease-causing isoform, PrP(Sc). This conversion is associated with a marked change in secondary structure from predominantly α-helical to a high β-sheet content, ultimately leading to the formation of aggregates consisting of ordered fibrillar assemblies referred to as amyloid. In vitro, recombinant prion proteins and short prion peptides from various species have been shown to form amyloid under various conditions and it has been proposed that, theoretically, any protein and peptide could form amyloid under appropriate conditions. To identify the peptide segment involved in the amyloid core formed from recombinant full-length mouse prion protein mPrP(23-230), we carried out seed-induced amyloid formation from recombinant prion protein in the presence of seeds generated from the short prion peptides mPrP(107-143), mPrP(107-126), and mPrP(127-143). Our results showed that the amyloid fibrils formed from mPrP(107-143) and mPrP(127-143), but not those formed from mPrP(107-126), were able to seed the amyloidogenesis of mPrP(23-230), showing that the segment residing in sequence 127-143 was used to form the amyloid core in the fibrillization of mPrP(23-230).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chung-Yu Lee
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen Lin
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Eric H.-L. Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Li Huang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chih Yang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Rita P.-Y. Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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23
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Zweckstetter M. Conserved amyloid core structure of stop mutants of the human prion protein. Prion 2013; 7:193-7. [PMID: 23406905 DOI: 10.4161/pri.23956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are associated with misfolding of the natively α-helical prion protein into isoforms that are rich in cross β-structure. However, both the mechanism by which pathological conformations are produced and their structural properties remain unclear. Using a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, computation, hydroxyl radical probing combined with mass-spectrometry and site-directed mutagenesis, we showed that prion stop mutants that accumulate in amyloidogenic plaque-forming aggregates fold into a β-helix. The polymorphic residue 129 is located in the hydrophobic core of the β-helix in line with a critical role of the 129 region in the packing of protein chains into prion particles. Together with electron microscopy our data support a trimeric left-handed β-helix model in which the trimer interface is formed by residues L125, Y128 and L130. Different prion types or strains might be related to different aggregate structures or filament assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Zweckstetter
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.
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24
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Baillod P, Garrec J, Colombo MC, Tavernelli I, Rothlisberger U. Enhanced Sampling Molecular Dynamics Identifies PrPSc Structures Harboring a C-Terminal β-Core. Biochemistry 2012; 51:9891-9. [DOI: 10.1021/bi301091x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Baillod
- Laboratory
of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julian Garrec
- Laboratory
of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maria-Carola Colombo
- Laboratory
of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ivano Tavernelli
- Laboratory
of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ursula Rothlisberger
- Laboratory
of Computational Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Vázquez-Fernández E, Alonso J, Pastrana MA, Ramos A, Stitz L, Vidal E, Dynin I, Petsch B, Silva CJ, Requena JR. Structural organization of mammalian prions as probed by limited proteolysis. PLoS One 2012. [PMID: 23185550 PMCID: PMC3502352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Elucidation of the structure of PrPSc continues to be one major challenge in prion research. The mechanism of propagation of these infectious agents will not be understood until their structure is solved. Given that high resolution techniques such as NMR or X-ray crystallography cannot be used, a number of lower resolution analytical approaches have been attempted. Thus, limited proteolysis has been successfully used to pinpoint flexible regions within prion multimers (PrPSc). However, the presence of covalently attached sugar antennae and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) moieties makes mass spectrometry-based analysis impractical. In order to surmount these difficulties we analyzed PrPSc from transgenic mice expressing prion protein (PrP) lacking the GPI membrane anchor. Such animals produce prions that are devoid of the GPI anchor and sugar antennae, and, thereby, permit the detection and location of flexible, proteinase K (PK) susceptible regions by Western blot and mass spectrometry-based analysis. GPI-less PrPSc samples were digested with PK. PK-resistant peptides were identified, and found to correspond to molecules cleaved at positions 81, 85, 89, 116, 118, 133, 134, 141, 152, 153, 162, 169 and 179. The first 10 peptides (to position 153), match very well with PK cleavage sites we previously identified in wild type PrPSc. These results reinforce the hypothesis that the structure of PrPSc consists of a series of highly PK-resistant β-sheet strands connected by short flexible PK-sensitive loops and turns. A sizeable C-terminal stretch of PrPSc is highly resistant to PK and therefore perhaps also contains β-sheet secondary structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Vázquez-Fernández
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- * E-mail: (EVF); (JRR)
| | - Jana Alonso
- Proteomics Unit, IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Pastrana
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Adriana Ramos
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Lothar Stitz
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich Loeffler Institut, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Enric Vidal
- Priocat Laboratory, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), UAB-IRTA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irina Dynin
- Western Regional Research Center, USDA, Albany, California, United States of America
| | - Benjamin Petsch
- Institute of Immunology, Friedrich Loeffler Institut, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christopher J. Silva
- Western Regional Research Center, USDA, Albany, California, United States of America
| | - Jesús R. Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- * E-mail: (EVF); (JRR)
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26
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Torrent J, Lange R. High pressure, a tool to switch between soluble and fibrillar prion protein structures. Commun Integr Biol 2012; 5:30-3. [PMID: 22482006 DOI: 10.4161/cib.17969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The native soluble as well as different aggregated states of recombinant prion proteins are highly sensitive to high pressure. On the one hand, its application to the native α-helical protein induces reversibly a metastable structure that relaxes to amyloid fibrils after prolonged incubation. On the other hand, its application to synthetic prion amyloid fibrils leads to partial disaggregation into native monomers as well as to proto-filaments that have lost several amyloid features. In addition, heat-induced β-sheet prion protein aggregates are dissolved and revert into α-helical monomers by applying high pressure. This profound pressure sensitivity of prion protein structure is explained by large volume differences of the different structural states. Hence, pressure appears as a suitable thermodynamic parameter for exploring the highly complex conformational landscape of prion protein. Its further analysis should help identifying prion protein structural states that are on the pathogenic pathway.
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27
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Sang JC, Lee CY, Luh FY, Huang YW, Chiang YW, Chen RPY. Slow spontaneous α-to-β structural conversion in a non-denaturing neutral condition reveals the intrinsically disordered property of the disulfide-reduced recombinant mouse prion protein. Prion 2012; 6:489-97. [PMID: 22987112 PMCID: PMC3510854 DOI: 10.4161/pri.22217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In prion diseases, the normal prion protein is transformed by an unknown mechanism from a mainly α-helical structure to a β-sheet-rich, disease-related isomer. In this study, we surprisingly found that a slow, spontaneous α-to-coil-to-β transition could be monitored by circular dichroism spectroscopy in one full-length mouse recombinant prion mutant protein, denoted S132C/N181C, in which the endogenous cysteines C179 and C214 were replaced by Ala and S132 and N181 were replaced by Cys, during incubation in a non-denaturing neutral buffer. No denaturant was required to destabilize the native state for the conversion. The product after this structural conversion is toxic β-oligomers with high fluorescence intensity when binding with thioflavin T. Site-directed spin-labeling ESR data suggested that the structural conversion involves the unfolding of helix 2. After examining more protein mutants, it was found that the spontaneous structural conversion is due to the disulfide-deletion (C to A mutations). The recombinant wild-type mouse prion protein could also be transformed into β-oligomers and amyloid fibrils simply by dissolving and incubating the protein in 0.5 mM NaOAc (pH 7) and 1 mM DTT at 25°C with no need of adding any denaturant to destabilize the prion protein. Our findings indicate the important role of disulfide bond reduction on the structural conversion of the recombinant prion protein, and highlight the special “intrinsically disordered” conformational character of the recombinant prion protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Sang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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28
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Abstract
The transmissible agent of prion disease consists of prion protein (PrP) in β-sheet-rich state (PrP(Sc)) that can replicate its conformation according to a template-assisted mechanism. This mechanism postulates that the folding pattern of a newly recruited polypeptide accurately reproduces that of the PrP(Sc) template. Here, three conformationally distinct amyloid states were prepared in vitro using Syrian hamster recombinant PrP (rPrP) in the absence of cellular cofactors. Surprisingly, no signs of prion infection were found in Syrian hamsters inoculated with rPrP fibrils that resembled PrP(Sc), whereas an alternative amyloid state, with a folding pattern different from that of PrP(Sc), induced a pathogenic process that led to transmissible prion disease. An atypical proteinase K-resistant, transmissible PrP form that resembled the structure of the amyloid seeds was observed during a clinically silent stage before authentic PrP(Sc) emerged. The dynamics between the two forms suggest that atypical proteinase K-resistant PrP (PrPres) gave rise to PrP(Sc). While no PrP(Sc) was found in preparations of fibrils using protein misfolding cyclic amplification with beads (PMCAb), rPrP fibrils gave rise to atypical PrPres in modified PMCAb, suggesting that atypical PrPres was the first product of PrP(C) misfolding triggered by fibrils. The current work demonstrates that a new mechanism responsible for prion diseases different from the PrP(Sc)-templated or spontaneous conversion of PrP(C) into PrP(Sc) exists. This study provides compelling evidence that noninfectious amyloids with a structure different from that of PrP(Sc) could lead to transmissible prion disease. This work has numerous implications for understanding the etiology of prion and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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29
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Role of prion protein aggregation in neurotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2012; 13:8648-8669. [PMID: 22942726 PMCID: PMC3430257 DOI: 10.3390/ijms13078648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Revised: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson, Alzheimer’s, Huntington, and prion diseases, the deposition of aggregated misfolded proteins is believed to be responsible for the neurotoxicity that characterizes these diseases. Prion protein (PrP), the protein responsible of prion diseases, has been deeply studied for the peculiar feature of its misfolded oligomers that are able to propagate within affected brains, inducing the conversion of the natively folded PrP into the pathological conformation. In this review, we summarize the available experimental evidence concerning the relationship between aggregation status of misfolded PrP and neuronal death in the course of prion diseases. In particular, we describe the main findings resulting from the use of different synthetic (mainly PrP106-126) and recombinant PrP-derived peptides, as far as mechanisms of aggregation and amyloid formation, and how these different spatial conformations can affect neuronal death. In particular, most data support the involvement of non-fibrillar oligomers rather than actual amyloid fibers as the determinant of neuronal death.
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30
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Abstract
This chapter focuses on the structural conversion of natural and recombinant prion proteins in vitro. They key event in prion diseases is the conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into its disease causing isoform PrP(Sc). This conversion is represented by a conformational change from an β-helical dominated isoform into the mostly β-sheeted PrP(Sc). Represented is an overview of in vitro conversion systems that result in β-structured recombinant prion proteins including the current achievements in the generation of synthetic mammalian prions as proof of the protein-only hypothesis. In addition to the conversion of recombinant PrP the chapter features a summary of the protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) technique which has gained enormous popularity in prion research. Given is a general overview about the technique itself and the broad spectrum of utilization as detection method for prions. The spontaneous generation of prions by the protein misfolding amplification (PMCA) are also discussed.
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31
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Abstract
Misfolding and aggregation of prion protein (PrP) is related to several neurodegenerative diseases in humans such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, fatal familial insomnia, and Gerstmann-Straussler-Sheinker disease. Certain applications in prion area require recombinant PrP of high purity and quality. Here, we report an experimental procedure for expression and purification of full-length mammalian PrP. This protocol has been proved to yield PrP of extremely high purity that lacks PrP adducts, which are normally generated as a result of spontaneous oxidation or degradation. We also describe methods for the preparation of amyloid fibrils from recombinant PrP in vitro. Recombinant PrP fibrils can be used as a noninfectious synthetic surrogate of PrP(Sc) for development of prion diagnostics including the generation of PrP(Sc)-specific antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
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32
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Makarava N, Kovacs GG, Savtchenko R, Alexeeva I, Budka H, Rohwer RG, Baskakov IV. Genesis of mammalian prions: from non-infectious amyloid fibrils to a transmissible prion disease. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1002419. [PMID: 22144901 PMCID: PMC3228811 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2011] [Accepted: 10/20/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The transmissible agent of prion disease consists of a prion protein in its abnormal, β-sheet rich state (PrPSc), which is capable of replicating itself according to the template-assisted mechanism. This mechanism postulates that the folding pattern of a newly recruited polypeptide chain accurately reproduces that of a PrPSc template. Here we report that authentic PrPSc and transmissible prion disease can be generated de novo in wild type animals by recombinant PrP (rPrP) amyloid fibrils, which are structurally different from PrPSc and lack any detectable PrPSc particles. When induced by rPrP fibrils, a long silent stage that involved two serial passages preceded development of the clinical disease. Once emerged, the prion disease was characterized by unique clinical, neuropathological, and biochemical features. The long silent stage to the disease was accompanied by significant transformation in neuropathological properties and biochemical features of the proteinase K-resistant PrP material (PrPres) before authentic PrPSc evolved. The current work illustrates that transmissible prion diseases can be induced by PrP structures different from that of authentic PrPSc and suggests that a new mechanism different from the classical templating exists. This new mechanism designated as “deformed templating” postulates that a change in the PrP folding pattern from the one present in rPrP fibrils to an alternative specific for PrPSc can occur. The current work provides important new insight into the mechanisms underlying genesis of the transmissible protein states and has numerous implications for understanding the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases. The transmissible agent of prion disease consists of a prion protein in its abnormal conformation (PrPSc), which replicates itself according to the template-assisted mechanism. This mechanism postulates that the folding pattern of a newly recruited polypeptide chain accurately reproduces that of a PrPSc. The current study reports that infectious prions and transmissible prion disease can be triggered in wild type animals by amyloid fibrils produced from recombinant prion prtotein, which are structurally different from PrPSc and lacks any detectable PrPSc particles. This work introduces a new hypothesis that transmissible prion diseases can be induced by prion protein structures different from that of authentic PrPSc and suggests that a new mechanism for triggering PrPSc formation different from the classical templating exists. The current work provides important new insight into the mechanisms underlying genesis and evolution of the transmissible states of the prion protein and has numerous implications for understanding the etiology of prion and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gabor G. Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Savtchenko
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Irina Alexeeva
- Medical Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Herbert Budka
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert G. Rohwer
- Medical Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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33
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Rigter A, Priem J, Langeveld JPM, Bossers A. Prion protein self-interaction in prion disease therapy approaches. Vet Q 2011; 31:115-28. [PMID: 22029882 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2011.604976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases are unique disorders that are not caused by infectious micro-organisms (bacteria or fungi), viruses or parasites, but rather seem to be the result of an infectious protein. TSEs are comprised of fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting both human and animals. Prion diseases cause sponge-like degeneration of neuronal tissue and include (among others) Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease in humans, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and scrapie in sheep. TSEs are characterized by the formation and accumulation of transmissible (infectious) disease-associated protease-resistant prion protein (PrP(Sc)), mainly in tissues of the central nervous system. The exact molecular processes behind the conversion of PrP(C) into PrP(Sc) are not clearly understood. Correlations between prion protein polymorphisms and disease have been found, however in what way these polymorphisms influence the conversion processes remains an enigma; is stabilization or destabilization of the prion protein the basis for a higher conversion propensity? Apart from the disease-associated polymorphisms of the prion protein, the molecular processes underlying conversion are not understood. There are some notions as to which regions of the prion protein are involved in refolding of PrP(C) into PrP(Sc) and where the most drastic structural changes take place. Direct interactions between PrP(C) molecules and/or PrP(Sc) are likely at the basis of conversion, however which specific amino acid domains are involved and to what extent these domains contribute to conversion resistance/sensitivity of the prion protein or the species barrier is still unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Rigter
- Department of Infection Biology, Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
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34
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Liao TY, Lee LYL, Chen RPY. Leu138 in bovine prion peptide fibrils is involved in seeding discrimination related to codon 129 M/V polymorphism in the prion peptide seeding experiment. FEBS J 2011; 278:4351-61. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08353.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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35
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Apostol MI, Surewicz WK. Structural underpinnings of prion protein conversion. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:le7; author reply Ie8. [PMID: 21602283 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.l110.213926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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36
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Tycko R, Savtchenko R, Ostapchenko VG, Makarava N, Baskakov IV. The α-helical C-terminal domain of full-length recombinant PrP converts to an in-register parallel β-sheet structure in PrP fibrils: evidence from solid state nuclear magnetic resonance. Biochemistry 2011; 49:9488-97. [PMID: 20925423 DOI: 10.1021/bi1013134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We report the results of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on amyloid fibrils formed by the full-length prion protein PrP (residues 23−231, Syrian hamster sequence). Measurements of intermolecular 13C−13C dipole−dipole couplings in selectively carbonyl-labeled samples indicate that β-sheets in these fibrils have an in-register parallel structure, as previously observed in amyloid fibrils associated with Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes and in yeast prion fibrils. Two-dimensional 13C−13C and 15N−13C solid state NMR spectra of a uniformly 15N- and 13C-labeled sample indicate that a relatively small fraction of the full sequence, localized to the C-terminal end, forms the structurally ordered, immobilized core. Although unique site-specific assignments of the solid state NMR signals cannot be obtained from these spectra, analysis with a Monte Carlo/simulated annealing algorithm suggests that the core is comprised primarily of residues in the 173−224 range. These results are consistent with earlier electron paramagnetic resonance studies of fibrils formed by residues 90−231 of the human PrP sequence, formed under somewhat different conditions [Cobb, N. J., Sonnichsen, F. D., McHaourab, H., and Surewicz, W. K. (2007) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104, 18946−18951], suggesting that an in-register parallel β-sheet structure formed by the C-terminal end may be a general feature of PrP fibrils prepared in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Tycko
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0520, USA.
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37
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El Moustaine D, Perrier V, Van Ba IAT, Meersman F, Ostapchenko VG, Baskakov IV, Lange R, Torrent J. Amyloid features and neuronal toxicity of mature prion fibrils are highly sensitive to high pressure. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:13448-59. [PMID: 21357423 PMCID: PMC3075691 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.192872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2010] [Revised: 02/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion proteins (PrP) can aggregate into toxic and possibly infectious amyloid fibrils. This particular macrostructure confers on them an extreme and still unexplained stability. To provide mechanistic insights into this self-assembly process, we used high pressure as a thermodynamic tool for perturbing the structure of mature amyloid fibrils that were prepared from recombinant full-length mouse PrP. Application of high pressure led to irreversible loss of several specific amyloid features, such as thioflavin T and 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate binding, alteration of the characteristic proteinase K digestion pattern, and a significant decrease in the β-sheet structure and cytotoxicity of amyloid fibrils. Partial disaggregation of the mature fibrils into monomeric soluble PrP was observed. The remaining amyloid fibrils underwent a change in secondary structure that led to morphologically different fibrils composed of a reduced number of proto-filaments. The kinetics of these reactions was studied by recording the pressure-induced dissociation of thioflavin T from the amyloid fibrils. Analysis of the pressure and temperature dependence of the relaxation rates revealed partly unstructured and hydrated kinetic transition states and highlighted the importance of collapsing and hydrating inter- and intramolecular cavities to overcome the high free energy barrier that stabilizes amyloid fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Driss El Moustaine
- From the University of Montpellier 2 and
- INSERM, U710, Montpellier F-34095, France
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris F-75007, France
| | - Veronique Perrier
- From the University of Montpellier 2 and
- INSERM, U710, Montpellier F-34095, France
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris F-75007, France
| | - Isabelle Acquatella-Tran Van Ba
- From the University of Montpellier 2 and
- INSERM, U710, Montpellier F-34095, France
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris F-75007, France
| | - Filip Meersman
- the Department of Chemistry, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven B-3001, Belgium, and
| | - Valeriy G. Ostapchenko
- the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Reinhard Lange
- From the University of Montpellier 2 and
- INSERM, U710, Montpellier F-34095, France
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris F-75007, France
| | - Joan Torrent
- From the University of Montpellier 2 and
- INSERM, U710, Montpellier F-34095, France
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris F-75007, France
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38
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Hafner-Bratkovic I, Bester R, Pristovsek P, Gaedtke L, Veranic P, Gaspersic J, Mancek-Keber M, Avbelj M, Polymenidou M, Julius C, Aguzzi A, Vorberg I, Jerala R. Globular domain of the prion protein needs to be unlocked by domain swapping to support prion protein conversion. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:12149-56. [PMID: 21324909 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.213926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal transmissible neurodegenerative diseases affecting many mammalian species. The normal prion protein (PrP) converts into a pathological aggregated form, PrPSc, which is enriched in the β-sheet structure. Although the high resolution structure of the normal PrP was determined, the structure of the converted form of PrP remains inaccessible to high resolution techniques. To map the PrP conversion process we introduced disulfide bridges into different positions within the globular domain of PrP, tethering selected secondary structure elements. The majority of tethered PrP mutants exhibited increased thermodynamic stability, nevertheless, they converted efficiently. Only the disulfides that tether subdomain B1-H1-B2 to subdomain H2-H3 prevented PrP conversion in vitro and in prion-infected cell cultures. Reduction of disulfides recovered the ability of these mutants to convert, demonstrating that the separation of subdomains is an essential step in conversion. Formation of disulfide-linked proteinase K-resistant dimers in fibrils composed of a pair of single cysteine mutants supports the model based on domain-swapped dimers as the building blocks of prion fibrils. In contrast to previously proposed structural models of PrPSc suggesting conversion of large secondary structural segments, we provide evidence for the conservation of secondary structural elements of the globular domain upon PrP conversion. Previous studies already showed that dimerization is the rate-limiting step in PrP conversion. We show that separation and swapping of subdomains of the globular domain is necessary for conversion. Therefore, we propose that the domain-swapped dimer of PrP precedes amyloid formation and represents a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Hafner-Bratkovic
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Bjorndahl TC, Zhou GP, Liu X, Perez-Pineiro R, Semenchenko V, Saleem F, Acharya S, Bujold A, Sobsey CA, Wishart DS. Detailed biophysical characterization of the acid-induced PrP(c) to PrP(β) conversion process. Biochemistry 2011; 50:1162-73. [PMID: 21189021 DOI: 10.1021/bi101435c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Prions are believed to spontaneously convert from a native, monomeric highly helical form (called PrP(c)) to a largely β-sheet-rich, multimeric and insoluble aggregate (called PrP(sc)). Because of its large size and insolubility, biophysical characterization of PrP(sc) has been difficult, and there are several contradictory or incomplete models of the PrP(sc) structure. A β-sheet-rich, soluble intermediate, called PrP(β), exhibits many of the same features as PrP(sc) and can be generated using a combination of low pH and/or mild denaturing conditions. Studies of the PrP(c) to PrP(β) conversion process and of PrP(β) folding intermediates may provide insights into the structure of PrP(sc). Using a truncated, recombinant version of Syrian hamster PrP(β) (shPrP(90-232)), we used NMR spectroscopy, in combination with other biophysical techniques (circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and proteinase K digestion), to characterize the pH-driven PrP(c) to PrP(β) conversion process in detail. Our results show that below pH 2.8 the protein oligomerizes and conversion to the β-rich structure is initiated. At pH 1.7 and above, the oligomeric protein can recover its native monomeric state through dialysis to pH 5.2. However, when conversion is completed at pH 1.0, the large oligomer "locks down" irreversibly into a stable, β-rich form. At pH values above 3.0, the protein is amenable to NMR investigation. Chemical shift perturbations, NOE, amide line width, and T(2) measurements implicate the putative "amylome motif" region, "NNQNNF" as the region most involved in the initial helix-to-β conversion phase. We also found that acid-induced PrP(β) oligomers could be converted to fibrils without the use of chaotropic denaturants. The latter finding represents one of the first examples wherein physiologically accessible conditions (i.e., only low pH) were used to achieve PrP conversion and fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trent C Bjorndahl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E8
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40
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Prion protein and its conformational conversion: a structural perspective. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2011; 305:135-67. [PMID: 21630136 DOI: 10.1007/128_2011_165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The key molecular event in the pathogenesis of prion diseases is the conformational conversion of a cellular prion protein, PrP(C), into a misfolded form, PrP(Sc). In contrast to PrP(C) that is monomeric and α-helical, PrP(Sc) is oligomeric in nature and rich in β-sheet structure. According to the "protein-only" model, PrP(Sc) itself represents the infectious prion agent responsible for transmissibility of prion disorders. While this model is supported by rapidly growing experimental data, detailed mechanistic and structural aspects of prion protein conversion remain enigmatic. In this chapter we describe recent advances in understanding biophysical and biochemical aspects of prion diseases, with a special focus on structural underpinnings of prion protein conversion, the structural basis of prion strains, and generation of prion infectivity in vitro from bacterially-expressed recombinant PrP.
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41
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Gill AC, Agarwal S, Pinheiro TJT, Graham JF. Structural requirements for efficient prion protein conversion: cofactors may promote a conversion-competent structure for PrP(C). Prion 2010; 4:235-42. [PMID: 20864807 DOI: 10.4161/pri.4.4.13394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand why cross-species infection of prion disease often results in inefficient transmission and reduced protein conversion, most research has focused on defining the effect of variations in PrP primary structures, including sequence compatibility of substrate and seed. By contrast, little research has been aimed at investigating structural differences between different variants of PrP(C) and secondary structural requirements for efficient conversion. This is despite a clear role for molecular chaperones in formation of prions in non-mammalian systems, indicating the importance of secondary/tertiary structure during the conversion process. Recent data from our laboratory on the cellular location of disease-specific prion cofactors supports the critical role of specific secondary structural motifs and the stability of these motifs in determining the efficiency of disease-specific prion protein conversion. In this paper we summarize our recent results and build on the hypothesis previously suggested by Wuthrich and colleagues, that stability of certain regions of the prion protein is crucial for protein conversion to abnormal isoforms in vivo. It is suggested that one role for molecular cofactors in the conversion process is to stabilize PrP(C) structure in a form that is amenable for conversion to PrP(Sc).
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Gill
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Edinburgh, UK.
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42
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Distinct stability states of disease-associated human prion protein identified by conformation-dependent immunoassay. J Virol 2010; 84:12030-8. [PMID: 20844046 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01057-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenotypic and strain-related properties of human prion diseases are, according to the prion hypothesis, proposed to reside in the physicochemical properties of the conformationally altered, disease-associated isoform of the prion protein (PrP(Sc)), which accumulates in the brains of patients suffering from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and related conditions, such as Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease. Molecular strain typing of human prion diseases has focused extensively on differences in the fragment size and glycosylation site occupancy of the protease-resistant prion protein (PrP(res)) in conjunction with the presence of mutations and polymorphisms in the prion protein gene (PRNP). Here we report the results of employing an alternative strategy that specifically addresses the conformational stability of PrP(Sc) and that has been used previously to characterize animal prion strains transmitted to rodents. The results show that there are at least two distinct conformation stability states in human prion diseases, neither of which appears to correlate fully with the PrP(res) type, as judged by fragment size or glycosylation, the PRNP codon 129 status, or the presence or absence of mutations in PRNP. These results suggest that conformational stability represents a further dimension to a complete description of potentially phenotype-related properties of PrP(Sc) in human prion diseases.
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43
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Damo SM, Phillips AH, Young AL, Li S, Woods VL, Wemmer DE. Probing the conformation of a prion protein fibril with hydrogen exchange. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:32303-11. [PMID: 20679344 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.114504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A fragment of the prion protein, PrP(89-143, P101L), bearing a mutation implicated in familial prion disease, forms fibrils that have been shown to induce prion disease when injected intracerebrally into transgenic mice expressing full-length PrP containing the P101L mutation. In this study, we utilize amide hydrogen exchange measurements to probe the organization of the peptide in its fibrillar form. We determined the extent of hydrogen exchange first by tandem proteolysis, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry (HXMS) and then by exchange-quenched NMR. Although single amide resolution is afforded by NMR measurements, HXMS is well suited to the study of natural prions because it does not require labeling with NMR active isotopes. Thus, natural prions obtained from infected animals can be compared with model systems such as PrP(89-143, P101L) studied here. In our study, we find two segments of sequence that display a high level of protection from exchange, residues 102-109 and 117-136. In addition, there is a region that displays exchange behavior consistent with the presence of a conformationally heterogeneous turn. We discuss our data with respect to several structural models proposed for infectious PrP aggregates and highlight HXMS as one of the few techniques well suited to studying natural prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Damo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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44
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Adrover M, Pauwels K, Prigent S, de Chiara C, Xu Z, Chapuis C, Pastore A, Rezaei H. Prion fibrillization is mediated by a native structural element that comprises helices H2 and H3. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:21004-12. [PMID: 20375014 PMCID: PMC2898372 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.111815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2010] [Revised: 03/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation and misfolding of the prion protein (PrP) are thought to be the cause of a family of lethal neurodegenerative diseases affecting humans and other animals. Although the structures of PrP from several species have been solved, still little is known about the mechanisms that lead to the misfolded species. Here, we show that the region of PrP comprising the hairpin formed by the helices H2 and H3 is a stable independently folded unit able to retain its secondary and tertiary structure also in the absence of the rest of the sequence. We also prove that the isolated H2H3 is highly fibrillogenic and forms amyloid fibers morphologically similar to those obtained for the full-length protein. Fibrillization of H2H3 but not of full-length PrP is concomitant with formation of aggregates. These observations suggest a "banana-peeling" mechanism for misfolding of PrP in which H2H3 is the aggregation seed that needs to be first exposed to promote conversion from a helical to a beta-rich structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Adrover
- From the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom
- the Departament de Química, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca E-07122, Spain
| | - Kris Pauwels
- From the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Prigent
- the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas F-78352, France, and
| | - Cesira de Chiara
- From the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom
| | - Zhou Xu
- the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas F-78352, France, and
- the Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique, Fontenay-aux-Roses F-92265, France
| | - Céline Chapuis
- the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas F-78352, France, and
| | - Annalisa Pastore
- From the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom
- the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas F-78352, France, and
| | - Human Rezaei
- the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas F-78352, France, and
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45
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Ostapchenko VG, Sawaya MR, Makarava N, Savtchenko R, Nilsson KPR, Eisenberg D, Baskakov IV. Two amyloid States of the prion protein display significantly different folding patterns. J Mol Biol 2010; 400:908-21. [PMID: 20553730 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2010.05.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2010] [Revised: 04/27/2010] [Accepted: 05/21/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
It has been well established that a single amino acid sequence can give rise to several conformationally distinct amyloid states. The extent to which amyloid structures formed within the same sequence are different, however, remains unclear. To address this question, we studied two amyloid states (referred to as R- and S-fibrils) produced in vitro from highly purified full-length recombinant prion protein. Several biophysical techniques including X-ray diffraction, CD, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), hydrogen-deuterium exchange, proteinase K digestion, and binding of a conformation-sensitive fluorescence dye revealed that R- and S-fibrils have substantially different secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures. While both states displayed a 4. 8-A meridional X-ray diffraction typical for amyloid cross-beta-spines, they showed markedly different equatorial profiles, suggesting different folding pattern of beta-strands. The experiments on hydrogen-deuterium exchange monitored by FTIR revealed that only small fractions of amide protons were protected in R- or S-fibrils, an argument for the dynamic nature of their cross-beta-structure. Despite this fact, both amyloid states were found to be very stable conformationally as judged from temperature-induced denaturation monitored by FTIR and the conformation-sensitive dye. Upon heating to 80 degrees C, only local unfolding was revealed, while individual state-specific cross-beta features were preserved. The current studies demonstrated that the two amyloid states formed by the same amino acid sequence exhibited significantly different folding patterns that presumably reflect two different architectures of cross-beta-structure. Both S- and R-fibrils, however, shared high conformational stability, arguing that the energy landscape for protein folding and aggregation can contain several deep free-energy minima.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriy G Ostapchenko
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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46
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Kirby L, Agarwal S, Graham JF, Goldmann W, Gill AC. Inverse correlation of thermal lability and conversion efficiency for five prion protein polymorphic variants. Biochemistry 2010; 49:1448-59. [PMID: 20085368 DOI: 10.1021/bi901855z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are associated with the accumulation of deposits of an abnormal form, PrP(Sc), of the host-encoded prion protein, PrP(C). Amino acid substitutions in PrP(C) have long been known to affect TSE disease outcome. In extreme cases in humans, various mutations appear to cause disease. In animals, polymorphisms are associated with variations in disease susceptibility and, in sheep, several polymorphisms have been identified that are known to affect susceptibility of carriers to disease. The mechanisms of polymorphism-mediated modulation of disease susceptibility remain elusive, and we have been studying the effect of various amino acid substitutions at PrP codon 164 (mouse numbering), in the beta2-alpha2 loop region of the prion protein, to attempt to decipher how polymorphisms may affect disease susceptibility. Combined in vitro approaches suggest that there exists a correlation between the ability of protein variants to convert to abnormal isoforms in seeded conversion assays versus the thermal stability of the protein variants, as judged by both thermal denaturation and an unseeded in vitro oligomerization assay. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations to give an indication of backbone conformational changes as a result of amino acid changes and found that alteration of a single residue in PrP can result in local changes in structure that may affect global conformation and stability. Our results are consistent with modulation of disease susceptibility through differential protein stability leading to enhanced generic misfolding of TSE resistance-associated protein variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Kirby
- Neuropathogenesis Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The Alexander Robertson Building, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
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47
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Abstract
Prion diseases, also known as the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and animals. These diseases are intimately associated with conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein, PrP(C), into an oligomeric beta-sheet-rich form, PrP(Sc). A growing number of observations support the once heretical hypothesis that transmission of TSE diseases does not require nucleic acids and that PrP(Sc) alone can act as an infectious agent. The view that misfolded proteins can be infectious is also supported by recent findings regarding prion phenomena in yeast and other fungi. One of the most intriguing facets of prions is their ability to form different strains, leading to distinct phenotypes of TSE diseases. Within the context of the "protein-only" model, prion strains are believed to be encoded in distinct conformations of misfolded prion protein aggregates. In this review, we describe recent advances in biochemical aspects of prion research, with a special focus on the mechanism of conversion of prion protein to the pathogenic form(s), the emerging structural knowledge of fungal and mammalian prions, and our rapidly growing understanding of the molecular basis of prion strains and their relation to barriers of interspecies transmissibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan J Cobb
- Department of Physiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
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48
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Nicot S, Baron TGM. Strain-specific proteolytic processing of the prion protein in prion diseases of ruminants transmitted in ovine transgenic mice. J Gen Virol 2009; 91:570-4. [PMID: 19828761 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.014464-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebral prion protein (PrP) isolated in the absence of proteinase K digestion, from ruminants prion sources transmitted to ovine transgenic mice, was studied by Western blot analysis. A C2 PrP fragment, showing strain-specific cleavages, similar to those observed after proteinase K or thermolysin digestion, accumulated in the brain. 'CH1641-like' scrapie was characterized by the unique accumulation of a more C-terminally cleaved PrP fragment (CTF14). A similar, protease-resistant, PrP product was observed after proteinase K or thermolysin digestion. Whereas classical BSE appeared highly resistant to thermolysin digestion, CH1641 and 'CH1641-like' natural isolates did not show any remarkable feature regarding resistance to thermolysin. Thus, the molecular strain-specific features in the brain of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy infected mice essentially reflect the PrP proteolytic processing occurring in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Nicot
- Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments - Lyon, Unité ATNC, Lyon, France
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49
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Zhou Z, Fan JB, Zhu HL, Shewmaker F, Yan X, Chen X, Chen J, Xiao GF, Guo L, Liang Y. Crowded cell-like environment accelerates the nucleation step of amyloidogenic protein misfolding. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:30148-58. [PMID: 19748895 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.002832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand the role of a crowded physiological environment in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, we report the following. 1) The formation of fibrous aggregates of the human Tau fragment Tau-(244-441), when hyperphosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, is dramatically facilitated by the addition of crowding agents. 2) Fibril formation of nonphosphorylated Tau-(244-441) is only promoted moderately by macromolecular crowding. 3) Macromolecular crowding dramatically accelerates amyloid formation by human prion protein. A sigmoidal equation has been used to fit these kinetic data, including published data of human alpha-synuclein, yielding lag times and apparent rate constants for the growth of fibrils for these amyloidogenic proteins. These biochemical data indicate that crowded cell-like environments significantly accelerate the nucleation step of fibril formation of human Tau fragment/human prion protein/human alpha-synuclein (a significant decrease in the lag time). These results can in principle be predicted based on some known data concerning protein concentration effects on fibril formation both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, macromolecular crowding causes human prion protein to form short fibrils and nonfibrillar particles with lower conformational stability and higher protease resistance activity, compared with those formed in dilute solutions. Our data demonstrate that a crowded physiological environment could play an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases by accelerating amyloidogenic protein misfolding and inducing human prion fibril fragmentation, which is considered to be an essential step in prion replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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50
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Smirnovas V, Kim JI, Lu X, Atarashi R, Caughey B, Surewicz WK. Distinct structures of scrapie prion protein (PrPSc)-seeded versus spontaneous recombinant prion protein fibrils revealed by hydrogen/deuterium exchange. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:24233-41. [PMID: 19596861 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.036558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The detailed structures of prion disease-associated, partially protease-resistant forms of prion protein (e.g. PrP(Sc)) are largely unknown. PrP(Sc) appears to propagate itself by autocatalyzing the conformational conversion and oligomerization of normal prion protein (PrP(C)). One manifestation of PrP(Sc) templating activity is its ability, in protein misfolding cyclic amplification reactions, to seed the conversion of recombinant prion protein (rPrP) into aggregates that more closely resemble PrP(Sc) than spontaneously nucleated rPrP amyloids in terms of proteolytic fragmentation and infrared spectra. The absence of posttranslational modifications makes these rPrP aggregates more amenable to detailed structural analyses than bona fide PrP(Sc). Here, we compare the structures of PrP(Sc)-seeded and spontaneously nucleated aggregates of hamster rPrP by using H/D exchange coupled with mass spectrometry. In spontaneously formed fibrils, very slow H/D exchange in region approximately 163-223 represents a systematically H-bonded cross-beta amyloid core structure. PrP(Sc)-seeded aggregates have a subpopulation of molecules in which this core region extends N-terminally as far as to residue approximately 145, and there is a significant degree of order within residues approximately 117-133. The formation of tightly H-bonded structures by these more N-terminal residues may account partially for the generation of longer protease-resistant regions in the PrP(Sc)-seeded rPrP aggregates; however, part of the added protease resistance is dependent on the presence of SDS during proteolysis, emphasizing the multifactorial influences on proteolytic fragmentation patterns. These results demonstrate that PrP(Sc) has a distinct templating activity that induces ordered, systematically H-bonded structure in regions that are dynamic and poorly defined in spontaneously formed aggregates of rPrP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vytautas Smirnovas
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
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