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Ribes JM, Patel MP, Halim HA, Berretta A, Tooze SA, Klöhn PC. Prion protein conversion at two distinct cellular sites precedes fibrillisation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8354. [PMID: 38102121 PMCID: PMC10724300 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43961-1] [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: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The self-templating nature of prions plays a central role in prion pathogenesis and is associated with infectivity and transmissibility. Since propagation of proteopathic seeds has now been acknowledged a principal pathogenic process in many types of dementia, more insight into the molecular mechanism of prion replication is vital to delineate specific and common disease pathways. By employing highly discriminatory anti-PrP antibodies and conversion-tolerant PrP chimera, we here report that de novo PrP conversion and formation of fibril-like PrP aggregates are distinct in mechanistic and kinetic terms. De novo PrP conversion occurs within minutes after infection at two subcellular locations, while fibril-like PrP aggregates are formed exclusively at the plasma membrane, hours after infection. Phenotypically distinct pools of abnormal PrP at perinuclear sites and the plasma membrane show differences in N-terminal processing, aggregation state and fibril formation and are linked by exocytic transport via synaptic and large-dense core vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Ribes
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Mitali P Patel
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Hazim A Halim
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Antonio Berretta
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Sharon A Tooze
- Molecular Cell Biology of Autophagy Laboratory, the Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1BF, UK
| | - Peter-Christian Klöhn
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London, W1W 7FF, UK.
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2
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Shoup D, Priola SA. Full-length prion protein incorporated into prion aggregates is a marker for prion strain-specific destabilization of aggregate structure following cellular uptake. J Biochem 2023; 174:165-181. [PMID: 37099550 PMCID: PMC10506170 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of insoluble aggregates of infectious, partially protease-resistant prion protein (PrPD) generated via the misfolding of protease sensitive prion protein (PrPC) into the same infectious conformer, is a hallmark of prion diseases. Aggregated PrPD is taken up and degraded by cells, a process likely involving changes in aggregate structure that can be monitored by accessibility of the N-terminus of full-length PrPD to cellular proteases. We therefore tracked the protease sensitivity of full-length PrPD before and after cellular uptake for two murine prion strains, 22L and 87V. For both strains, PrPD aggregates were less stable following cellular uptake with increased accessibility of the N-terminus to cellular proteases across most aggregate sizes. However, a limited size range of aggregates was able to better protect the N-termini of full-length PrPD, with the N-terminus of 22L-derived PrPD more protected than that of 87V. Interestingly, changes in aggregate structure were associated with minimal changes to the protease-resistant core of PrPD. Our data show that cells destabilize the aggregate quaternary structure protecting PrPD from proteases in a strain-dependent manner, with structural changes exposing protease sensitive PrPD having little effect on the protease-resistant core, and thus conformation, of aggregated PrPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Shoup
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S. 4th Str, Hamilton, MT 59840 USA
| | - Suzette A Priola
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 S. 4th Str, Hamilton, MT 59840 USA
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Shoup D, Priola SA. Cell biology of prion strains in vivo and in vitro. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 392:269-283. [PMID: 35107622 PMCID: PMC11249200 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-021-03572-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The properties of infectious prions and the pathology of the diseases they cause are dependent upon the unique conformation of each prion strain. How the pathology of prion disease correlates with different strains and genetic backgrounds has been investigated via in vivo assays, but how interactions between specific prion strains and cell types contribute to the pathology of prion disease has been dissected more effectively using in vitro cell lines. Observations made through in vivo and in vitro assays have informed each other with regard to not only how genetic variation influences prion properties, but also how infectious prions are taken up by cells, modified by cellular processes and propagated, and the cellular components they rely on for persistent infection. These studies suggest that persistent cellular infection results from a balance between prion propagation and degradation. This balance may be shifted depending upon how different cell lines process infectious prions, potentially altering prion stability, and how fast they can be transported to the lysosome. Thus, in vitro studies have given us a deeper understanding of the interactions between different prions and cell types and how they may influence prion disease phenotypes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Shoup
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Suzette A Priola
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.
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Qi Z, Surewicz K, Surewicz WK, Jaroniec CP. Influence of the Dynamically Disordered N-Terminal Tail Domain on the Amyloid Core Structure of Human Y145Stop Prion Protein Fibrils. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:841790. [PMID: 35237664 PMCID: PMC8883029 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.841790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Y145Stop mutant of human prion protein (huPrP23-144) is associated with a familial prionopathy and provides a convenient in vitro model for investigating amyloid strains and cross-seeding barriers. huPrP23-144 fibrils feature a compact and relatively rigid parallel in-register β-sheet amyloid core spanning ∼30 C-terminal amino acid residues (∼112–141) and a large ∼90-residue dynamically disordered N-terminal tail domain. Here, we systematically evaluate the influence of this dynamic domain on the structure adopted by the huPrP23-144 amyloid core region, by investigating using magic-angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy a series of fibril samples formed by huPrP23-144 variants corresponding to deletions of large segments of the N-terminal tail. We find that deletion of the bulk of the N-terminal tail, up to residue 98, yields amyloid fibrils with native-like huPrP23-144 core structure. Interestingly, deletion of additional flexible residues in the stretch 99–106 located outside of the amyloid core yields shorter heterogenous fibrils with fingerprint NMR spectra that are clearly distinct from those for full-length huPrP23-144, suggestive of the onset of perturbations to the native structure and degree of molecular ordering for the core residues. For the deletion variant missing residues 99–106 we show that native huPrP23-144 core structure can be “restored” by seeding the fibril growth with preformed full-length huPrP23-144 fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Qi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Krystyna Surewicz
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Witold K. Surewicz
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Christopher P. Jaroniec
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Christopher P. Jaroniec,
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5
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Loh D, Reiter RJ. Melatonin: Regulation of Prion Protein Phase Separation in Cancer Multidrug Resistance. Molecules 2022; 27:705. [PMID: 35163973 PMCID: PMC8839844 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27030705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique ability to adapt and thrive in inhospitable, stressful tumor microenvironments (TME) also renders cancer cells resistant to traditional chemotherapeutic treatments and/or novel pharmaceuticals. Cancer cells exhibit extensive metabolic alterations involving hypoxia, accelerated glycolysis, oxidative stress, and increased extracellular ATP that may activate ancient, conserved prion adaptive response strategies that exacerbate multidrug resistance (MDR) by exploiting cellular stress to increase cancer metastatic potential and stemness, balance proliferation and differentiation, and amplify resistance to apoptosis. The regulation of prions in MDR is further complicated by important, putative physiological functions of ligand-binding and signal transduction. Melatonin is capable of both enhancing physiological functions and inhibiting oncogenic properties of prion proteins. Through regulation of phase separation of the prion N-terminal domain which targets and interacts with lipid rafts, melatonin may prevent conformational changes that can result in aggregation and/or conversion to pathological, infectious isoforms. As a cancer therapy adjuvant, melatonin could modulate TME oxidative stress levels and hypoxia, reverse pH gradient changes, reduce lipid peroxidation, and protect lipid raft compositions to suppress prion-mediated, non-Mendelian, heritable, but often reversible epigenetic adaptations that facilitate cancer heterogeneity, stemness, metastasis, and drug resistance. This review examines some of the mechanisms that may balance physiological and pathological effects of prions and prion-like proteins achieved through the synergistic use of melatonin to ameliorate MDR, which remains a challenge in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Loh
- Independent Researcher, Marble Falls, TX 78654, USA
| | - Russel J. Reiter
- Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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Czech A, Konarev PV, Goebel I, Svergun DI, Wills PR, Ignatova Z. Octa-repeat domain of the mammalian prion protein mRNA forms stable A-helical hairpin structure rather than G-quadruplexes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2465. [PMID: 30792490 PMCID: PMC6384910 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39213-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Misfolding and aggregation of prion protein (PrP) causes neurodegenerative diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and scrapie. Besides the consensus that spontaneous conversion of normal cellular PrPC into misfolded and aggregating PrPSc is the central event in prion disease, an alternative hypothesis suggests the generation of pathological PrPSc by rare translational frameshifting events in the octa-repeat domain of the PrP mRNA. Ribosomal frameshifting most commonly relies on a slippery site and an adjacent stable RNA structure to stall translating ribosome. Hence, it is crucial to unravel the secondary structure of the octa-repeat domain of PrP mRNA. Each of the five octa-repeats contains a motif (GGCGGUGGUGGCUGGG) which alone in vitro forms a G-quadruplex. Since the propensity of mRNA to form secondary structure depends on the sequence context, we set to determine the structure of the complete octa-repeat region. We assessed the structure of full-length octa-repeat domain of PrP mRNA using dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analysis by primer extension (SHAPE). Our data show that the PrP octa-repeat mRNA forms stable A-helical hairpins with no evidence of G-quadruplex structure even in the presence of G-quadruplex stabilizing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Czech
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Petr V Konarev
- A. V. Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography of Federal Scientific Research Centre "Crystallography and Photonics" of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
| | - Ingrid Goebel
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dmitri I Svergun
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter R Wills
- Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Zoya Ignatova
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Gao Z, Shi J, Cai L, Luo M, Wong BS, Dong X, Sy MS, Li C. Prion dimer is heterogenous and is modulated by multiple negative and positive motifs. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 509:570-576. [PMID: 30600179 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.12.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The conversion of the normal prion protein (PrP) into a scrapie prion (PrPSc) is incompletely understood. Theoretically, the smallest PrP aggregate is a dimer. Human PrP contains two cysteines at positions 179 (C179) and 214 (C214) enabling disulfide bonding. Here, we report that our recombinant human PrP (r-hPrP) preparations contain 0.2-0.8% dimer, which is linked by either one or two disulfide bonds, connected by C179-C179, C214-C214, or C179-C214. Furthermore, dimerization is regulated by multiple motifs. While residues 36-42 inhibit, residues 90-125, and 195-212 promote dimerization. Mutating individual residue between 36 and 42 enhances dimerization whereas mutating the positively charged residues within 95-115, or the negatively charged residues within 195-212 prevent dimerization. Although deletion of the entire octapeptide-repeat (5OR) region prevents dimerization, mutating the histidines within the 5OR enhances dimerization. In addition, we found that two out of three brain lysates from patients with inherited prion disease had more PrP dimers than controls. Thus, PrP dimerization may contribute to prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenxing Gao
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan, 430071, China; Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, 78 Heng Zhi Gang Road, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Jing Shi
- Xiangyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 172 Tan Xi Road, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
| | - Lili Cai
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Minhua Luo
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Boon-Seng Wong
- Health and Social Sciences Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
| | - Xiaoping Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Man-Sun Sy
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Cornell Road, Cleveland, USA
| | - Chaoyang Li
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan, 430071, China; Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, 78 Heng Zhi Gang Road, Guangzhou, 510095, China.
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8
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Latip W, Raja Abd Rahman RNZ, Leow ATC, Mohd Shariff F, Kamarudin NHA, Mohamad Ali MS. The Effect of N-Terminal Domain Removal towards the Biochemical and Structural Features of a Thermotolerant Lipase from an Antarctic Pseudomonas sp. Strain AMS3. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020560. [PMID: 29438291 PMCID: PMC5855782 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipase plays an important role in industrial and biotechnological applications. Lipases have been subject to modification at the N and C terminals, allowing better understanding of lipase stability and the discovery of novel properties. A thermotolerant lipase has been isolated from Antarctic Pseudomonas sp. The purified Antarctic AMS3 lipase (native) was found to be stable across a broad range of temperatures and pH levels. The lipase has a partial Glutathione-S-transferase type C (GST-C) domain at the N-terminal not found in other lipases. To understand the influence of N-terminal GST-C domain on the biochemical and structural features of the native lipase, the deletion of the GST-C domain was carried out. The truncated protein was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3). The molecular weight of truncated AMS3 lipase was approximately ~45 kDa. The number of truncated AMS3 lipase purification folds was higher than native lipase. Various mono and divalent metal ions increased the activity of the AMS3 lipase. The truncated AMS3 lipase demonstrated a similarly broad temperature range, with the pH profile exhibiting higher activity under alkaline conditions. The purified lipase showed a substrate preference for a long carbon chain substrate. In addition, the enzyme activity in organic solvents was enhanced, especially for toluene, Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), chloroform and xylene. Molecular simulation revealed that the truncated lipase had increased structural compactness and rigidity as compared to native lipase. Removal of the N terminal GST-C generally improved the lipase biochemical characteristics. This enzyme may be utilized for industrial purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahhida Latip
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Center, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Raja Noor Zaliha Raja Abd Rahman
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Adam Thean Chor Leow
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Center, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Fairolniza Mohd Shariff
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Nor Hafizah Ahmad Kamarudin
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Center, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Mohd Shukuri Mohamad Ali
- Enzyme and Microbial Technology Research Center, Department of Biochemistry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Villar-Piqué A, Schmitz M, Candelise N, Ventura S, Llorens F, Zerr I. Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Protein Aggregation Assays in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:7588-7605. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-0926-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Eigenbrod S, Frick P, Bertsch U, Mitteregger-Kretzschmar G, Mielke J, Maringer M, Piening N, Hepp A, Daude N, Windl O, Levin J, Giese A, Sakthivelu V, Tatzelt J, Kretzschmar H, Westaway D. Substitutions of PrP N-terminal histidine residues modulate scrapie disease pathogenesis and incubation time in transgenic mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188989. [PMID: 29220360 PMCID: PMC5722314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases have been linked to impaired copper homeostasis and copper induced-oxidative damage to the brain. Divalent metal ions, such as Cu2+ and Zn2+, bind to cellular prion protein (PrPC) at octapeptide repeat (OR) and non-OR sites within the N-terminal half of the protein but information on the impact of such binding on conversion to the misfolded isoform often derives from studies using either OR and non-OR peptides or bacterially-expressed recombinant PrP. Here we created new transgenic mouse lines expressing PrP with disrupted copper binding sites within all four histidine-containing OR's (sites 1-4, H60G, H68G, H76G, H84G, "TetraH>G" allele) or at site 5 (composed of residues His-95 and His-110; "H95G" allele) and monitored the formation of misfolded PrP in vivo. Novel transgenic mice expressing PrP(TetraH>G) at levels comparable to wild-type (wt) controls were susceptible to mouse-adapted scrapie strain RML but showed significantly prolonged incubation times. In contrast, amino acid replacement at residue 95 accelerated disease progression in corresponding PrP(H95G) mice. Neuropathological lesions in terminally ill transgenic mice were similar to scrapie-infected wt controls, but less severe. The pattern of PrPSc deposition, however, was not synaptic as seen in wt animals, but instead dense globular plaque-like accumulations of PrPSc in TgPrP(TetraH>G) mice and diffuse PrPSc deposition in (TgPrP(H95G) mice), were observed throughout all brain sections. We conclude that OR and site 5 histidine substitutions have divergent phenotypic impacts and that cis interactions between the OR region and the site 5 region modulate pathogenic outcomes by affecting the PrP globular domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Eigenbrod
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Petra Frick
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Uwe Bertsch
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Janina Mielke
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Marko Maringer
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Niklas Piening
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Hepp
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Nathalie Daude
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Otto Windl
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Levin
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Armin Giese
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Vignesh Sakthivelu
- Department of Metabolic Biochemistry/Neurobiochemistry, Adolf Butenandt Institute, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department of Metabolic Biochemistry/Neurobiochemistry, Adolf Butenandt Institute, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Kretzschmar
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - David Westaway
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Assessment of the PrPc Amino-Terminal Domain in Prion Species Barriers. J Virol 2016; 90:10752-10761. [PMID: 27654299 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01121-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle are prion diseases that are caused by the same protein-misfolding mechanism, but they appear to pose different risks to humans. We are interested in understanding the differences between the species barriers of CWD and BSE. We used real-time, quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) to model the central molecular event in prion disease, the templated misfolding of the normal prion protein, PrPc, to a pathogenic, amyloid isoform, scrapie prion protein, PrPSc We examined the role of the PrPc amino-terminal domain (N-terminal domain [NTD], amino acids [aa] 23 to 90) in cross-species conversion by comparing the conversion efficiency of various prion seeds in either full-length (aa 23 to 231) or truncated (aa 90 to 231) PrPc We demonstrate that the presence of white-tailed deer and bovine NTDs hindered seeded conversion of PrPc, but human and bank vole NTDs did the opposite. Additionally, full-length human and bank vole PrPcs were more likely to be converted to amyloid by CWD prions than were their truncated forms. A chimera with replacement of the human NTD by the bovine NTD resembled human PrPc The requirement for an NTD, but not for the specific human sequence, suggests that the NTD interacts with other regions of the human PrPc to increase promiscuity. These data contribute to the evidence that, in addition to primary sequence, prion species barriers are controlled by interactions of the substrate NTD with the rest of the substrate PrPc molecule. IMPORTANCE We demonstrate that the amino-terminal domain of the normal prion protein, PrPc, hinders seeded conversion of bovine and white-tailed deer PrPcs to the prion forms, but it facilitates conversion of the human and bank vole PrPcs to the prion forms. Additionally, we demonstrate that the amino-terminal domain of human and bank vole PrPcs requires interaction with the rest of the molecule to facilitate conversion by CWD prions. These data suggest that interactions of the amino-terminal domain with the rest of the PrPc molecule play an important role in the susceptibility of humans to CWD prions.
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Dalal V, Arya S, Mukhopadhyay S. Confined Water in Amyloid-Competent Oligomers of the Prion Protein. Chemphyschem 2016; 17:2804-7. [PMID: 27253720 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201600440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Conformational switching of the prion protein into the abnormal form involves the formation of (obligatory) molten-oligomers that mature into ordered amyloid fibrils. The role of water in directing the course of amyloid formation remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the mobility of the water molecules within the on-pathway oligomers is highly retarded. The water relaxation time within the oligomers was estimated to be ≈1 ns which is about three orders of magnitude slower than the bulk water and resembles the characteristics of (trapped) nano-confined water. We propose that the coalescence of these obligatory oligomers containing trapped water is entropically favored because of the release of ordered water molecules in the bulk milieu and results in the sequestration of favorable inter-chain amyloid contacts via nucleated conformational conversion. The dynamic role of water in protein aggregation will have much broader implications in a variety of protein misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijit Dalal
- Centre for Protein Science Design and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences and, Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India
| | - Shruti Arya
- Centre for Protein Science Design and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences and, Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India
| | - Samrat Mukhopadhyay
- Centre for Protein Science Design and Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences and, Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, Punjab, 140306, India.
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Conformational Switching and Nanoscale Assembly of Human Prion Protein into Polymorphic Amyloids via Structurally Labile Oligomers. Biochemistry 2015; 54:7505-13. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b01110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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14
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Didonna A, Venturini AC, Hartman K, Vranac T, Čurin Šerbec V, Legname G. Characterization of four new monoclonal antibodies against the distal N-terminal region of PrP(c). PeerJ 2015; 3:e811. [PMID: 25802800 PMCID: PMC4369333 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and animals. They are characterized by the accumulation in the central nervous system of a pathological form of the host-encoded prion protein (PrPC). The prion protein is a membrane glycoprotein that consists of two domains: a globular, structured C-terminus and an unstructured N-terminus. The N-terminal part of the protein is involved in different functions in both health and disease. In the present work we discuss the production and biochemical characterization of a panel of four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the distal N-terminus of PrPC using a well-established methodology based on the immunization of Prnp0/0 mice. Additionally, we show their ability to block prion (PrPSc) replication at nanomolar concentrations in a cell culture model of prion infection. These mAbs represent a promising tool for prion diagnostics and for studying the physiological role of the N-terminal domain of PrPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Didonna
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Anja Colja Venturini
- Department for Production of Diagnostic Reagents and Research, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katrina Hartman
- Department for Production of Diagnostic Reagents and Research, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tanja Vranac
- Department for Production of Diagnostic Reagents and Research, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vladka Čurin Šerbec
- Department for Production of Diagnostic Reagents and Research, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,ELETTRA-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A, Trieste, Italy
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15
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Rouget R, Sharma G, LeBlanc AC. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 phosphorylation of familial prion protein mutants exacerbates conversion into amyloid structure. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:5759-71. [PMID: 25572400 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.630699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Familial prion protein (PrP) mutants undergo conversion from soluble and protease-sensitive to insoluble and partially protease-resistant proteins. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) phosphorylation of wild type PrP (pPrP) at serine 43 induces a conversion of PrP into aggregates and fibrils. Here, we investigated whether familial PrP mutants are predisposed to Cdk5 phosphorylation and whether phosphorylation of familial PrP mutants increases conversion. PrP mutants representing three major familial PrP diseases and different PrP structural domains were studied. We developed a novel in vitro kinase reaction coupled with Thioflavin T binding to amyloid structure assay to monitor phosphorylation-dependent amyloid conversion. Although non-phosphorylated full-length wild type or PrP mutants did not convert into amyloid, Cdk5 phosphorylation rapidly converted these into Thioflavin T-positive structures following first order kinetics. Dephosphorylation partially reversed conversion. Phosphorylation-dependent conversion of PrP from α-helical structures into β-sheet structures was confirmed by circular dichroism. Relative to wild type pPrP, most PrP mutants showed increased rate constants of conversion. In contrast, non-phosphorylated truncated PrP Y145X (where X represents a stop codon) and Q160X mutants converted spontaneously into Thioflavin T-positive fibrils after a lag phase of over 20 h, indicating nucleation-dependent polymerization. Phosphorylation reduced the lag phase by over 50% and thus accelerated the formation of the nucleating event. Consistently, phosphorylated Y145X and phosphorylated Q160X exacerbated conversion in a homologous seeding reaction, whereas WT pPrP could not seed WT PrP. These results demonstrate an influence of both the N terminus and the C terminus of PrP on conversion. We conclude that post-translational modifications of the flexible N terminus of PrP can cause or exacerbate PrP mutant conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Rouget
- From the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3T 1E2, Canada and
| | - Gyanesh Sharma
- From the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3T 1E2, Canada and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, Québec H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Andréa C LeBlanc
- From the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3T 1E2, Canada and Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, Québec H3A 2B4, Canada
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16
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Isopi E, Legname G. Pin1 and neurodegeneration: a new player for prion disorders? AIMS MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2015. [DOI: 10.3934/molsci.2015.3.311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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17
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Sabareesan AT, Udgaonkar JB. Amyloid Fibril Formation by the Chain B Subunit of Monellin Occurs by a Nucleation-Dependent Polymerization Mechanism. Biochemistry 2014; 53:1206-17. [DOI: 10.1021/bi401467p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. T. Sabareesan
- National Centre for Biological
Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Jayant B. Udgaonkar
- National Centre for Biological
Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore 560065, India
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18
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Zhao C, Wang X, He L, Zhu D, Wang B, Du W. Influence of gold–bipyridyl derivants on aggregation and disaggregation of the prion neuropeptide PrP106–126. Metallomics 2014; 6:2117-25. [DOI: 10.1039/c4mt00219a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Gold–bipyridyl derivants affect aggregation and disaggregation of a prion neuropeptide PrP106–126.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Zhao
- Department of Chemistry
- Renmin University of China
- Beijing, China
| | - Xuesong Wang
- Department of Chemistry
- Renmin University of China
- Beijing, China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Chemistry
- Renmin University of China
- Beijing, China
| | - Dengsen Zhu
- Department of Chemistry
- Renmin University of China
- Beijing, China
| | - Baohuai Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering
- Peking University
- Beijing, China
| | - Weihong Du
- Department of Chemistry
- Renmin University of China
- Beijing, China
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19
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Swayampakula M, Baral PK, Aguzzi A, Kav NNV, James MNG. The crystal structure of an octapeptide repeat of the prion protein in complex with a Fab fragment of the POM2 antibody. Protein Sci 2013; 22:893-903. [PMID: 23629842 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are progressive, infectious neurodegenerative disorders caused primarily by the misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) into an insoluble, protease-resistant, aggregated isoform termed PrP(sc). In native conditions, PrP(c) has a structured C-terminal domain and a highly flexible N-terminal domain. A part of this N-terminal domain consists of 4-5 repeats of an unusual glycine-rich, eight amino acids long peptide known as the octapeptide repeat (OR) domain. In this article, we successfully report the first crystal structure of an OR of PrP(c) bound to the Fab fragment of the POM2 antibody. The structure was solved at a resolution of 2.3 Å by molecular replacement. Although several studies have previously predicted a β-turn-like structure of the unbound ORs, our structure shows an extended conformation of the OR when bound to a molecule of the POM2 Fab indicating that the bound Fab disrupts any putative native β turn conformation of the ORs. Encouraging results from several recent studies have shown that administering small molecule ligands or antibodies targeting the OR domain of PrP result in arresting the progress of peripheral prion infections both in ex vivo and in in vivo models. This makes the structural study of the interactions of POM2 Fab with the OR domain very important as it would help us to design smaller and tighter binding OR ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mridula Swayampakula
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H7, Canada
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20
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Schreck JS, Yuan JM. A Kinetic Study of Amyloid Formation: Fibril Growth and Length Distributions. J Phys Chem B 2013; 117:6574-83. [DOI: 10.1021/jp401586p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John S. Schreck
- Department
of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Jian-Min Yuan
- Department
of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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21
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Chakroun N, Fornili A, Prigent S, Kleinjung J, Dreiss CA, Rezaei H, Fraternali F. Decrypting Prion Protein Conversion into a β-Rich Conformer by Molecular Dynamics. J Chem Theory Comput 2013; 9:2455-2465. [PMID: 23700393 PMCID: PMC3656828 DOI: 10.1021/ct301118j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the formation of β-rich oligomers and the accumulation of amyloid fibrillar deposits in the central nervous system. Understanding the conversion of the cellular prion protein into its β-rich polymeric conformers is fundamental to tackling the early stages of the development of prion diseases. In this paper, we have identified unfolding and refolding steps critical to the conversion into a β-rich conformer for different constructs of the ovine prion protein by molecular dynamics simulations. By combining our results with in vitro experiments, we show that the folded C-terminus of the ovine prion protein is able to recurrently undergo a drastic conformational change by displacement of the H1 helix, uncovering of the H2H3 domain, and formation of persistent β-sheets between H2 and H3 residues. The observed β-sheets refold toward the C-terminus exposing what we call a "bending region" comprising residues 204-214. This is strikingly coincident with the region harboring mutations determining the fate of the prion oligomerization process. The β-rich intermediate is used here for the construction of a putative model for the assembly into an oligomeric aggregate. The results presented here confirm the importance of the H2H3 domain for prion oligomer formation and therefore its potential use as molecular target in the design of novel prion inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesrine Chakroun
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom ; Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
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22
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Ramachandran G, Udgaonkar JB. Evidence for the Existence of a Secondary Pathway for Fibril Growth during the Aggregation of Tau. J Mol Biol 2012; 421:296-314. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2012.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2011] [Revised: 01/02/2012] [Accepted: 01/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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23
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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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24
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Cho KR, Huang Y, Yu S, Yin S, Plomp M, Qiu SR, Lakshminarayanan R, Moradian-Oldak J, Sy MS, De Yoreo JJ. A multistage pathway for human prion protein aggregation in vitro: from multimeric seeds to β-oligomers and nonfibrillar structures. J Am Chem Soc 2011; 133:8586-93. [PMID: 21534611 PMCID: PMC4505822 DOI: 10.1021/ja1117446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant protein aggregation causes numerous neurological diseases including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), but the aggregation mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we report AFM results on the formation pathways of β-oligomers and nonfibrillar aggregates from wild-type full-length recombinant human prion protein (WT) and an insertion mutant (10OR) with five additional octapeptide repeats linked to familial CJD. Upon partial denaturing, seeds consisting of 3-4 monomers quickly appeared. Oligomers of ~11-22 monomers then formed through direct interaction of seeds, rather than by subsequent monomer attachment. All larger aggregates formed through association of these β-oligomers. Although both WT and 10OR exhibited identical aggregation mechanisms, the latter oligomerized faster due to lower solubility and, hence, thermodynamic stability. This novel aggregation pathway has implications for prion diseases as well as others caused by protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang R. Cho
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Shuiliang Yu
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Shaoman Yin
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Marco Plomp
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - S. Roger Qiu
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Rajamani Lakshminarayanan
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
| | - Janet Moradian-Oldak
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
| | - Man-Sun Sy
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - James J. De Yoreo
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, United States
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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25
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Sun Z, Diaz Z, Fang X, Hart MP, Chesi A, Shorter J, Gitler AD. Molecular determinants and genetic modifiers of aggregation and toxicity for the ALS disease protein FUS/TLS. PLoS Biol 2011; 9:e1000614. [PMID: 21541367 PMCID: PMC3082519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 357] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2010] [Accepted: 03/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 and FUS are RNA-binding proteins that form cytoplasmic inclusions in some forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Moreover, mutations in TDP-43 and FUS are linked to ALS and FTLD. However, it is unknown whether TDP-43 and FUS aggregate and cause toxicity by similar mechanisms. Here, we exploit a yeast model and purified FUS to elucidate mechanisms of FUS aggregation and toxicity. Like TDP-43, FUS must aggregate in the cytoplasm and bind RNA to confer toxicity in yeast. These cytoplasmic FUS aggregates partition to stress granule compartments just as they do in ALS patients. Importantly, in isolation, FUS spontaneously forms pore-like oligomers and filamentous structures reminiscent of FUS inclusions in ALS patients. FUS aggregation and toxicity requires a prion-like domain, but unlike TDP-43, additional determinants within a RGG domain are critical for FUS aggregation and toxicity. In further distinction to TDP-43, ALS-linked FUS mutations do not promote aggregation. Finally, genome-wide screens uncovered stress granule assembly and RNA metabolism genes that modify FUS toxicity but not TDP-43 toxicity. Our findings suggest that TDP-43 and FUS, though similar RNA-binding proteins, aggregate and confer disease phenotypes via distinct mechanisms. These differences will likely have important therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Sun
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
| | - Zamia Diaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
| | - Xiaodong Fang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
| | - Michael P. Hart
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
| | - Alessandra Chesi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
| | - Aaron D. Gitler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, The University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of
America
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26
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Cruite JT, Abalos GC, Bellon A, Solforosi L. Histidines in the octapeptide repeat of PrPC react with PrPSc at an acidic pH. Biochemistry 2011; 50:1618-23. [PMID: 21268659 DOI: 10.1021/bi1017683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cellular PrP is actively cycled between the cell surface and the endosomal pathway. The exact site and mechanism of conversion from PrP(C) to PrP(Sc) remain unknown. We have previously used recombinant antibodies containing grafts of PrP sequence to identify three regions of PrP(C) (aa23-27, 98-110, and 136-158) that react with PrP(Sc) at neutral pH. To determine if any regions of PrP(C) react with PrP(Sc) at an acidic pH similar to that of an endosomal compartment, we tested our panel of grafted antibodies for the ability to precipitate PrP(Sc) in a range of pH conditions. At pH near or lower than 6, PrP-grafted antibodies representing the octapeptide repeat react strongly with PrP(Sc) but not PrP(C). Modified grafts in which the histidines of the octarepeat were replaced with alanines did not react with PrP(Sc). PrP(Sc) precipitated by the octapeptide at pH 5.7 was able to seed conversion of normal PrP to PrP(Sc) in vitro. However, modified PrP containing histidine to alanine substitutions within the octapeptide repeats was still converted to PrP(Sc) in N2a cells. These results suggest that once PrP has entered the endosomal pathway, the acidic environment facilitates the binding of PrP(Sc) to the octarepeat of PrP(C) by the change in charge of the histidines within the octarepeat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin T Cruite
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States.
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27
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Critical nucleus size for disease-related polyglutamine aggregation is repeat-length dependent. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2011; 18:328-36. [PMID: 21317897 PMCID: PMC3075957 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2010] [Accepted: 11/24/2010] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Since polyglutamine (polyQ) aggregate formation has been implicated as playing an important role in expanded CAG repeat diseases, it is important to understand the biophysics underlying the initiation of aggregation. Previously we showed that relatively long polyQ peptides aggregate by nucleated growth polymerization and a monomeric critical nucleus. We show here that, over a short repeat length range from Q26 to Q23, the size of the critical nucleus for aggregation increases from monomeric to dimeric to tetrameric. This variation in nucleus size suggests a common duplex anti-parallel β-sheet framework for the nucleus, and further supports the feasibility of an organized monomeric aggregation nucleus for longer polyQ repeat peptides. The data also suggest that a change in aggregation nucleus size may play a role in the pathogenicity of polyQ expansion in this series of familial neurodegenerative diseases.
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28
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Vieira TCRG, Reynaldo DP, Gomes MPB, Almeida MS, Cordeiro Y, Silva JL. Heparin Binding by Murine Recombinant Prion Protein Leads to Transient Aggregation and Formation of RNA-Resistant Species. J Am Chem Soc 2010; 133:334-44. [DOI: 10.1021/ja106725p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tuane C. R. G. Vieira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 21491-902
| | - Daniel P. Reynaldo
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 21491-902
| | - Mariana P. B. Gomes
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 21491-902
| | - Marcius S. Almeida
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 21491-902
| | - Yraima Cordeiro
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 21491-902
| | - Jerson L. Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 21491-902
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29
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Yam AY, Gao CM, Wang X, Wu P, Peretz D. The octarepeat region of the prion protein is conformationally altered in PrP(Sc). PLoS One 2010; 5:e9316. [PMID: 20195363 PMCID: PMC2827544 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2009] [Accepted: 02/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders characterized by misfolding and aggregation of the normal prion protein PrPC. Little is known about the details of the structural rearrangement of physiological PrPC into a still-elusive disease-associated conformation termed PrPSc. Increasing evidence suggests that the amino-terminal octapeptide sequences of PrP (huPrP, residues 59–89), though not essential, play a role in modulating prion replication and disease presentation. Methodology/Principal Findings Here, we report that trypsin digestion of PrPSc from variant and sporadic human CJD results in a disease-specific trypsin-resistant PrPSc fragment including amino acids ∼49–231, thus preserving important epitopes such as the octapeptide domain for biochemical examination. Our immunodetection analyses reveal that several epitopes buried in this region of PrPSc are exposed in PrPC. Conclusions/Significance We conclude that the octapeptide region undergoes a previously unrecognized conformational transition in the formation of PrPSc. This phenomenon may be relevant to the mechanism by which the amino terminus of PrPC participates in PrPSc conversion, and may also be exploited for diagnostic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Y Yam
- Research & Development, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Inc., Emeryville, California, United States of America.
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30
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Rigter A, Priem J, Timmers-Parohi D, Langeveld JPM, van Zijderveld FG, Bossers A. Prion protein self-peptides modulate prion interactions and conversion. BMC BIOCHEMISTRY 2009; 10:29. [PMID: 19943977 PMCID: PMC2789745 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2091-10-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2009] [Accepted: 11/30/2009] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Molecular mechanisms underlying prion agent replication, converting host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrPC) into the scrapie associated isoform (PrPSc), are poorly understood. Selective self-interaction between PrP molecules forms a basis underlying the observed differences of the PrPC into PrPSc conversion process (agent replication). The importance of previously peptide-scanning mapped ovine PrP self-interaction domains on this conversion was investigated by studying the ability of six of these ovine PrP based peptides to modulate two processes; PrP self-interaction and conversion. Results Three peptides (octarepeat, binding domain 2 -and C-terminal) were capable of inhibiting self-interaction of PrP in a solid-phase PrP peptide array. Three peptides (N-terminal, binding domain 2, and amyloidogenic motif) modulated prion conversion when added before or after initiation of the prion protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) reaction using brain homogenates. The C-terminal peptides (core region and C-terminal) only affected conversion (increased PrPres formation) when added before mixing PrPC and PrPSc, whereas the octarepeat peptide only affected conversion when added after this mixing. Conclusion This study identified the putative PrP core binding domain that facilitates the PrPC-PrPSc interaction (not conversion), corroborating evidence that the region of PrP containing this domain is important in the species-barrier and/or scrapie susceptibility. The octarepeats can be involved in PrPC-PrPSc stabilization, whereas the N-terminal glycosaminoglycan binding motif and the amyloidogenic motif indirectly affected conversion. Binding domain 2 and the C-terminal domain are directly implicated in PrPC self-interaction during the conversion process and may prove to be prime targets in new therapeutic strategy development, potentially retaining PrPC function. These results emphasize the importance of probable PrPC-PrPC and required PrPC-PrPSc interactions during PrP conversion. All interactions are probably part of the complex process in which polymorphisms and species barriers affect TSE transmission and susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Rigter
- Department of Bacteriology and TSEs, Central Veterinary Institute (CVI) of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, 8200 AB, the Netherlands.
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Site-specific modification of Alzheimer's peptides by cholesterol oxidation products enhances aggregation energetics and neurotoxicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:18563-8. [PMID: 19841277 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0804758106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) and tau aggregates, possibly linked to age-associated deficiencies in protein homeostasis, appear to cause Alzheimer's disease. Schiff-base formation between Abeta and the aldehyde-bearing cholesterol oxidation product 3-beta-hydroxy-5-oxo-5,6-secocholestan-6-al is known to increase Abeta amyloidogenicity. Here, we synthesized Abeta variants site-specifically modified with the cholesterol aldehyde at Asp-1, Lys-16, or Lys-28, rather than studying mixtures. These distinct modifications have a similar effect on the thermodynamic propensity for aggregation, enabling aggregation at low concentrations. In contrast, the modification site differentially influences the aggregation kinetics; Lys-16-modified Abeta formed amorphous aggregates fastest and at the lowest concentration (within 2 h at a concentration of 20 nM), followed by the Lys-28 and Asp-1 conjugates. Also, the aggregates resulting from Abeta Lys-16 cholesterol aldehyde conjugation were more toxic to primary rat cortical neurons than treatment with unmodified Abeta under identical conditions and at the same concentration. Our results show that Abeta modification by cholesterol derivatives, especially at Lys-16, renders it kinetically and thermodynamically competent to form neurotoxic aggregates at concentrations approaching the physiologic concentration of Abeta.
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Pietropaolo A, Muccioli L, Zannoni C, Rizzarelli E. Conformational Preferences of the Full Chicken Prion Protein in Solution and Its Differences with Respect to Mammals. Chemphyschem 2009; 10:1500-10. [DOI: 10.1002/cphc.200900078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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33
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Zhong L, Xie J. Investigation of the Effect of Glycosylation on Human Prion Protein by Molecular Dynamics. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2009; 26:525-33. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2009.10507268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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34
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Palladino P, Ronga L, Benedetti E, Rossi F, Ragone R. Peptide Fragment Approach to Prion Misfolding: The Alpha-2 Domain. Int J Pept Res Ther 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-009-9171-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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35
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Copper(II) complexes with an avian prion N-terminal region and their potential SOD-like activity. J Inorg Biochem 2008; 103:195-204. [PMID: 19019452 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2008.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2008] [Revised: 10/03/2008] [Accepted: 10/06/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV-Vis, CD and EPR) studies were carried out on copper(II) complexes with chicken prion protein N-terminal fragments, Ac-(PHNPGY)(4)-NH(2), and the mutated residue, Ac-(PHNPGF)(4)-NH(2), to assess the role of tyrosine in the copper coordination. Both thermodynamic and spectroscopic results indicate that chicken prion fragments are not able to bind more than two copper ions and only with the involvement of side chain tyrosine groups. The prevailing complex shows one copper ion bound to four imidazole nitrogen atoms in the 1:1 metal to ligand ratio systems. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of copper(II) complexes with the avian peptides and mammal analogue, Ac-(PHGGGWGQ)(4)-NH(2), was also investigated by means of Pulse radiolysis. The copper(II) complexes with avian peptides do not display SOD-like activity, while very low activity has been detected for the copper(II) complexes with mammalian tetraoctarepeat.
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36
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Saunders SE, Bartelt-Hunt SL, Bartz JC. Prions in the environment: occurrence, fate and mitigation. Prion 2008; 2:162-9. [PMID: 19242120 PMCID: PMC2658766 DOI: 10.4161/pri.2.4.7951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2008] [Accepted: 01/26/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrapie and CWD are horizontally transmissible, and the environment likely serves as a stable reservoir of infectious prions, facilitating a sustained incidence of CWD in free-ranging cervid populations and complicating efforts to eliminate disease in captive herds. Prions will enter the environment through mortalities and/or shedding from live hosts. Unfortunately, a sensitive detection method to identify prion contamination in environmental samples has not yet been developed. An environmentally-relevant prion model must be used in experimental studies. Changes in PrP(Sc) structure upon environmental exposure may be as significant as changes in PrP(Sc) quantity, since the structure can directly affect infectivity and disease pathology. Prions strongly bind to soil and remain infectious. Conformational changes upon adsorption, competitive sorption and potential for desorption and transport all warrant further investigation. Mitigation of contaminated carcasses or soil might be accomplished with enzyme treatments or composting in lieu of incineration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E Saunders
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Peter Kiewit Institute, Omaha, Nebraska 68182-0178, USA
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37
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Jain S, Udgaonkar JB. Evidence for Stepwise Formation of Amyloid Fibrils by the Mouse Prion Protein. J Mol Biol 2008; 382:1228-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2008.07.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2008] [Revised: 06/28/2008] [Accepted: 07/21/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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38
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Systematic analysis of nucleation-dependent polymerization reveals new insights into the mechanism of amyloid self-assembly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:8926-31. [PMID: 18579777 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0711664105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembly of misfolded proteins into ordered fibrillar aggregates known as amyloid results in numerous human diseases. Despite an increasing number of proteins and peptide fragments being recognised as amyloidogenic, how these amyloid aggregates assemble remains unclear. In particular, the identity of the nucleating species, an ephemeral entity that defines the rate of fibril formation, remains a key outstanding question. Here, we propose a new strategy for analyzing the self-assembly of amyloid fibrils involving global analysis of a large number of reaction progress curves and the subsequent systematic testing and ranking of a large number of possible assembly mechanisms. Using this approach, we have characterized the mechanism of the nucleation-dependent formation of beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) amyloid fibrils. We show, by defining nucleation in the context of both structural and thermodynamic aspects, that a model involving a structural nucleus size approximately the size of a hexamer is consistent with the relatively small concentration dependence of the rate of fibril formation, contrary to expectations based on simpler theories of nucleated assembly. We also demonstrate that fibril fragmentation is the dominant secondary process that produces higher apparent cooperatively in fibril formation than predicted by nucleated assembly theories alone. The model developed is able to explain and predict the behavior of beta(2)m fibril formation and provides a rationale for explaining generic properties observed in other amyloid systems, such as fibril growth acceleration and pathway shifts under agitation.
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Pietropaolo A, Muccioli L, Zannoni C, La Mendola D, Maccarrone G, Pappalardo G, Rizzarelli E. Unveiling the role of histidine and tyrosine residues on the conformation of the avian prion hexarepeat domain. J Phys Chem B 2008; 112:5182-8. [PMID: 18386869 DOI: 10.1021/jp710702q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The prion protein (PrPC) is a glycoprotein that in mammals, differently from avians, can lead to prion diseases, by misfolding into a beta-sheet-rich pathogenic isoform (PrPSc). Mammal and avian proteins show different N-terminal tandem repeats: PHGGGWGQ and PHNPGY, both containing histidine, whereas tyrosine is included only in the primary sequence of the avian protein. Here, by means of potentiometric, circular dichroism (CD), and molecular dynamics (MD) studies at different pH values, we have investigated the conformation of the avian tetrahexarepeat (PHNPGY)4 (TetraHexaPY) with both N- and C-termini blocked by acetylation and amidation, respectively. We have found, also with the help of a recently proposed protein chirality indicator (Pietropaolo, A.; Muccioli, L.; Berardi, R.; Zannoni, C. Proteins 2008, 70, 667-677), a conformational dependence on the protonation states of histidine and tyrosine residues: the turn formation is pH driven, and at physiological pH a pivotal role is played by the tyrosine OH groups which give rise to a very compact bent structure of backbone upon forming a hydrogen-bond network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Pietropaolo
- Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica e Inorganica and INSTM, Università di Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
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Normal cellular prion protein with a methionine at position 129 has a more exposed helix 1 and is more prone to aggregate. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 368:875-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.01.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2008] [Accepted: 01/30/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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41
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Pappu RV, Wang X, Vitalis A, Crick SL. A polymer physics perspective on driving forces and mechanisms for protein aggregation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2008; 469:132-41. [PMID: 17931593 PMCID: PMC2211569 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2007.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2007] [Revised: 08/22/2007] [Accepted: 08/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a commonly occurring problem in biology. Cells have evolved stress-response mechanisms to cope with problems posed by protein aggregation. Yet, these quality control mechanisms are overwhelmed by chronic aggregation-related stress and the resultant consequences of aggregation become toxic to cells. As a result, a variety of systemic and neurodegenerative diseases are associated with various aspects of protein aggregation and rational approaches to either inhibit aggregation or manipulate the pathways to aggregation might lead to an alleviation of disease phenotypes. To develop such approaches, one needs a rigorous and quantitative understanding of protein aggregation. Much work has been done in this area. However, several unanswered questions linger, and these pertain primarily to the actual mechanism of aggregation as well as to the types of inter-molecular associations and intramolecular fluctuations realized at low protein concentrations. It has been suggested that the concepts underlying protein aggregation are similar to those used to describe the aggregation of synthetic polymers. Following this suggestion, the relevant concepts of polymer aggregation are introduced. The focus is on explaining the driving forces for polymer aggregation and how these driving forces vary with chain length and solution conditions. It is widely accepted that protein aggregation is a nucleation-dependent process. This view is based mainly on the presence of long times for the accumulation of aggregates and the elimination of these lag times with "seeds". In this sense, protein aggregation is viewed as being analogous to the aggregation of colloidal particles. The theories for polymer aggregation reviewed in this work suggest an alternative mechanism for the origin of long lag times in protein aggregation. The proposed mechanism derives from the recognition that polymers have unique dynamics that distinguish them from other aggregation-prone systems such as colloidal particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit V Pappu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Computational Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1097, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
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42
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The stability and aggregation of ovine prion protein associated with classical and atypical scrapie correlates with the ease of unwinding of helix-2. Biochem J 2007; 409:367-75. [DOI: 10.1042/bj20071122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Susceptibility to scrapie disease in sheep, the archetypal prion disease, correlates with polymorphisms within the ovine PrP (prion-related protein) gene. The VRQ (Val136Arg154Gln171) and AL141RQ (Ala136Leu141Arg154Gln171) allelic variants are associated with classical scrapie, whereas the ARR (Ala136Arg154Arg171), AF141RQ (Ala136Phe141Arg154Gln171) and AHQ (Ala136His154Gln171) allelic variants are associated with atypical scrapie. Recent studies have suggested that there are differences in the stability of PrPSc (abnormal disease-specific conformation of PrP) associated with these different forms of scrapie. To address which structural features of ovine PrP may contribute to this difference, in the present study we have investigated the conformational stability and susceptibility to aggregation of allelic variants of ovine PrP associated with classical or atypical scrapie. We find that the melting temperature of ovine recombinant VRQ and AL141RQ PrP is higher than that of AF141RQ, AHQ and ARR. In addition, monoclonal-antibody studies show that the region around helix-1 of VRQ and AL141RQ is less accessible compared with other ovine PrP allelic variants. Furthermore, the extent of both the structural change to copper-ion-treatment and denaturant-induced aggregation was reduced in PrP associated with atypical scrapie compared with PrP associated with classical scrapie. Through the use of molecular dynamics simulations we have found that these biochemical and biophysical properties of ovine PrP correlate with the ease of unwinding of helix-2 and a concurrent conformational change of the helix-2–helix-3 loop. These results reveal significant differences in the overall stability and potential for aggregation of different allelic variants of ovine PrP and consequently have implications for the differences in stability of PrPSc associated with classical and atypical scrapie.
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Erlich P, Cesbron JY, Lemaire-Vieille C, Curt A, Andrieu JP, Schoehn G, Jamin M, Gagnon J. PrP N-terminal domain triggers PrP(Sc)-like aggregation of Dpl. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 365:478-83. [PMID: 17997980 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.10.202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2007] [Accepted: 10/31/2007] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal neurodegenerative disorders thought to be transmitted by self-perpetuating conformational conversion of a neuronal membrane glycoprotein (PrP(C), for "cellular prion protein") into an abnormal state (PrP(Sc), for "scrapie prion protein"). Doppel (Dpl) is a protein that shares significant biochemical and structural homology with PrP(C). In contrast to its homologue PrP(C), Dpl is unable to participate in prion disease progression or to achieve an abnormal PrP(Sc)-like state. We have constructed a chimeric mouse protein, composed of the N-terminal domain of PrP(C) (residues 23-125) and the C-terminal part of Dpl (residues 58-157). This chimeric protein displays PrP-like biochemical and structural features; when incubated in presence of NaCl, the alpha-helical monomer forms soluble beta-sheet-rich oligomers which acquire partial resistance to pepsin proteolysis in vitro, as do PrP oligomers. Moreover, the presence of aggregates akin to protofibrils is observed in soluble oligomeric species by electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Erlich
- Laboratoire Adaptation et Pathogénie des Micro-organismes, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 170, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
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Powers ET, Powers DL. Mechanisms of protein fibril formation: nucleated polymerization with competing off-pathway aggregation. Biophys J 2007; 94:379-91. [PMID: 17890392 PMCID: PMC2157252 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.107.117168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of protein fibrils, and in particular amyloid fibrils, underlies many human diseases. Understanding fibril formation mechanisms is important for understanding disease pathology, but fibril formation kinetics can be complicated, making the relationship between experimental observables and specific mechanisms unclear. Here we examine one often-proposed fibril formation mechanism, nucleated polymerization with off-pathway aggregation. We use the characteristics of this mechanism to derive three tests that can be performed on experimental data to identify it. We also find that this mechanism has an especially striking feature: although increasing protein concentrations generally cause simple nucleated polymerizations to reach completion faster, they cause nucleated polymerizations with off-pathway aggregation to reach completion more slowly when the protein concentration becomes too high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan T Powers
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.
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45
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Sohma Y, Kiso Y. "Click peptides"--chemical biology-oriented synthesis of Alzheimer's disease-related amyloid beta peptide (abeta) analogues based on the "O-acyl isopeptide method". Chembiochem 2007; 7:1549-57. [PMID: 16915597 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.200600112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
A clear understanding of the pathological mechanism of amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) 1-42, a currently unexplained process, would be of great significance for the discovery of novel drug targets for Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy. To date, though, the elucidation of these Abeta1-42 dynamic events has been a difficult issue because of uncontrolled polymerization, which also poses a significant obstacle in establishing experimental systems with which to clarify the pathological function of Abeta1-42. We have recently developed chemical biology-oriented pH- or phototriggered "click peptide" isoform precursors of Abeta1-42, based on the "O-acyl isopeptide method", in which a native amide bond at a hydroxyamino acid residue, such as Ser, is isomerized to an ester bond, the target peptide subsequently being generated by an O-N intramolecular acyl migration reaction. These click peptide precursors did not exhibit any self-assembling character under physiological conditions, thanks to the presence of the one single ester bond, and were able to undergo migration to give the target Abeta1-42 in a quick and easy, one-way (so-called "click")conversion reaction. The use of click peptides could be a useful strategy to investigate the biological functions of Abeta1-42 in AD through inducible activation of Abeta1-42 self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youhei Sohma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry Center for Frontier Research in Medicinal Science 21st Century COE Program, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan
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46
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Yin S, Pham N, Yu S, Li C, Wong P, Chang B, Kang SC, Biasini E, Tien P, Harris DA, Sy MS. Human prion proteins with pathogenic mutations share common conformational changes resulting in enhanced binding to glycosaminoglycans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007; 104:7546-51. [PMID: 17456603 PMCID: PMC1863438 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0610827104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutation in the prion gene PRNP accounts for 10-15% of human prion diseases. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which mutant prion proteins (PrPs) cause disease. Here we investigated the effects of 10 different pathogenic mutations on the conformation and ligand-binding activity of recombinant human PrP (rPrP). We found that mutant rPrPs react more strongly with N terminus-specific antibodies, indicative of a more exposed N terminus. The N terminus of PrP contains a glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-binding motif. Binding of GAG is important in prion disease. Accordingly, all mutant rPrPs bind more GAG, and GAG promotes the aggregation of mutant rPrPs more efficiently than wild-type recombinant normal cellular PrP (rPrP(C)). Furthermore, point mutations in PRNP also cause conformational changes in the region between residues 109 and 136, resulting in the exposure of a second, normally buried, GAG-binding motif. Importantly, brain-derived PrP from transgenic mice, which express a pathogenic mutant with nine extra octapeptide repeats, also binds more strongly to GAG than wild-type PrP(C). Thus, several rPrPs with distinct pathogenic mutations have common conformational changes, which enhance binding to GAG. These changes may contribute to the pathogenesis of inherited prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoman Yin
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Nancy Pham
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic Research Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Shuiliang Yu
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Chaoyang Li
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Poki Wong
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Binggong Chang
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Shin-Chung Kang
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110; and
| | - Po Tien
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10080, China
| | - David A. Harris
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110; and
| | - Man-Sun Sy
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
- To whom correspondence should be addressed at:
School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Room 5131, Wolstein Research Building, 2103 Cornell Road, Cleveland, OH 44106-7288. E-mail:
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Yu S, Yin S, Li C, Wong P, Chang B, Xiao F, Kang SC, Yan H, Xiao G, Tien P, Sy MS. Aggregation of prion protein with insertion mutations is proportional to the number of inserts. Biochem J 2007; 403:343-51. [PMID: 17187581 PMCID: PMC1874237 DOI: 10.1042/bj20061592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Mutation in the prion gene, PRNP, accounts for approx. 10-15% of human prion diseases. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which a mutant prion protein (PrP) causes disease. We compared the biochemical properties of a wild-type human prion protein, rPrP(C) (recombinant wild-type PrP), which has five octapeptide-repeats, with two recombinant human prion proteins with insertion mutations, one with three more octapeptide repeats, rPrP(8OR), and the other with five more octapeptide repeats, rPrP(10OR). We found that the insertion mutant proteins are more prone to aggregate, and the degree and kinetics of aggregation are proportional to the number of inserts. The octapeptide-repeat and alpha-helix 1 regions are important in aggregate formation, because aggregation is inhibited with monoclonal antibodies that are specific for epitopes in these regions. We also showed that a small amount of mutant protein could enhance the formation of mixed aggregates that are composed of mutant protein and wild-type rPrP(C). Accordingly, rPrP(10OR) is also more efficient in promoting the aggregation of rPrP(C) than rPrP(8OR). These findings provide a biochemical explanation for the clinical observations that the severity of the disease in patients with insertion mutations is proportional to the number of inserts, and thus have implications for the pathogenesis of inherited human prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuiliang Yu
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120, U.S.A
| | - Shaoman Yin
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120, U.S.A
| | - Chaoyang Li
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120, U.S.A
| | - Poki Wong
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120, U.S.A
| | - Binggong Chang
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120, U.S.A
| | - Fan Xiao
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120, U.S.A
| | - Shin-Chung Kang
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120, U.S.A
| | - Huimin Yan
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120, U.S.A
- †Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Gengfu Xiao
- †Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Po Tien
- †Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, People's Republic of China
- ‡Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100080, People's Republic of China
| | - Man-Sun Sy
- *Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44120, U.S.A
- To whom correspondence should be addressed (email )
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Lennon CW, Cox HD, Hennelly SP, Chelmo SJ, McGuirl MA. Probing structural differences in prion protein isoforms by tyrosine nitration. Biochemistry 2007; 46:4850-60. [PMID: 17397138 PMCID: PMC2562509 DOI: 10.1021/bi0617254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Two conformational isomers of recombinant hamster prion protein (residues 90-232) have been probed by reaction with two tyrosine nitration reagents, peroxynitrite and tetranitromethane. Two conserved tyrosine residues (tyrosines 149 and 150) are not labeled by either reagent in the normal cellular form of the prion protein. These residues become reactive after the protein has been converted to the beta-oligomeric isoform, which is used as a model of the fibrillar form that causes disease. After conversion, a decrease in reactivity is noted for two other conserved residues, tyrosine 225 and tyrosine 226, whereas little to no effect was observed for other tyrosines. Thus, tyrosine nitration has identified two specific regions of the normal prion protein isoform that undergo a change in chemical environment upon conversion to a structure that is enriched in beta-sheet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W. Lennon
- Division of Biological Sciences and the Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics Program, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812 USA
| | | | - Scott P. Hennelly
- Division of Biological Sciences and the Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics Program, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812 USA
| | | | - Michele A. McGuirl
- Division of Biological Sciences and the Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics Program, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812 USA
- Corresponding author information: Michele A. McGuirl, Clapp Building 204, Division of Biological Sciences, 32 Campus Drive The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, , (406) 243-4404 phone, (406) 243-4304 fax
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Ellisdon AM, Pearce MC, Bottomley SP. Mechanisms of ataxin-3 misfolding and fibril formation: kinetic analysis of a disease-associated polyglutamine protein. J Mol Biol 2007; 368:595-605. [PMID: 17362987 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2007.02.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2007] [Revised: 02/13/2007] [Accepted: 02/14/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The polyglutamine diseases are a family of nine proteins where intracellular protein misfolding and amyloid-like fibril formation are intrinsically coupled to disease. Previously, we identified a complex two-step mechanism of fibril formation of pathologically expanded ataxin-3, the causative protein of spinocerebellar ataxia type-3 (Machado-Joseph disease). Strikingly, ataxin-3 lacking a polyglutamine tract also formed fibrils, although this occurred only via a single-step that was homologous to the first step of expanded ataxin-3 fibril formation. Here, we present the first kinetic analysis of a disease-associated polyglutamine repeat protein. We show that ataxin-3 forms amyloid-like fibrils by a nucleation-dependent polymerization mechanism. We kinetically model the nucleating event in ataxin-3 fibrillogenesis to the formation of a monomeric thermodynamic nucleus. Fibril elongation then proceeds by a mechanism of monomer addition. The presence of an expanded polyglutamine tract leads subsequently to rapid inter-fibril association and formation of large, highly stable amyloid-like fibrils. These results enhance our general understanding of polyglutamine fibrillogenesis and highlights the role of non-poly(Q) domains in modulating the kinetics of misfolding in this family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Ellisdon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, PO Box 13D Monash University, 3800, Australia
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Owen JP, Maddison BC, Whitelam GC, Gough KC. Use of thermolysin in the diagnosis of prion diseases. Mol Biotechnol 2007; 35:161-70. [PMID: 17435282 DOI: 10.1007/bf02686111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/1999] [Revised: 11/30/1999] [Accepted: 11/30/1999] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The molecular diagnosis of prion diseases almost always involves the use of a protease to distinguish PrPC from PrPSc and invariably the protease of choice is proteinase K. Here, we have applied the protease thermolysin to the diagnosis of animal prion diseases. This thermostable protease cleaves at the hydrophobic residues Leu, Ile, Phe, Val, Ala, and Met, residues that are absent from the protease accessible aminoterminal region of PrPSc. Therefore, although thermolysin readily digests PrPC into small protein fragments, full-length PrPSc is resistant to such proteolysis. This contrasts with proteinase K digestion where an aminoterminally truncated PrPSc species is produced, PrP27-30. Thermolysin was used in the diagnosis of ovine scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy and produced comparable assay sensitivity to assays using proteinase K digestion. Furthermore, we demonstrated the concentration of thermolysin-resistant PrPSc using immobilized metal-affinity chromatography. The use of thermolysin to reveal a full-length PrPSc has application for the development of novel immunodiagnostics by exploiting the wide range of commercially available immunoreagents and metal affinity matrices that bind the amino-terminal region of PrP. In addition, thermolysin provides a complementary tool to proteinase K to allow the study of the contribution of the amino-terminal domain of PrPSc to disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P Owen
- ADAS UK, Department of Biology, Adrian Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
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