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Grønbæk-Thygesen M, Hartmann-Petersen R. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of aspartoacylase and its role in Canavan disease. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:45. [PMID: 38582917 PMCID: PMC10998430 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01224-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Canavan disease is an autosomal recessive and lethal neurological disorder, characterized by the spongy degeneration of the white matter in the brain. The disease is caused by a deficiency of the cytosolic aspartoacylase (ASPA) enzyme, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), an abundant brain metabolite, into aspartate and acetate. On the physiological level, the mechanism of pathogenicity remains somewhat obscure, with multiple, not mutually exclusive, suggested hypotheses. At the molecular level, recent studies have shown that most disease linked ASPA gene variants lead to a structural destabilization and subsequent proteasomal degradation of the ASPA protein variants, and accordingly Canavan disease should in general be considered a protein misfolding disorder. Here, we comprehensively summarize the molecular and cell biology of ASPA, with a particular focus on disease-linked gene variants and the pathophysiology of Canavan disease. We highlight the importance of high-throughput technologies and computational prediction tools for making genotype-phenotype predictions as we await the results of ongoing trials with gene therapy for Canavan disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Grønbæk-Thygesen
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200N, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Rasmus Hartmann-Petersen
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200N, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Becker I, Wang-Eckhardt L, Eckhardt M. NAAG synthetase deficiency has only low influence on pathogenesis in a Canavan disease mouse model. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:230-243. [PMID: 38011891 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Canavan disease (CD) is a leukodystrophy caused by mutations in the N-acetylaspartate (NAA) hydrolase aspartoacylase (ASPA). Inability to degrade NAA and its accumulation in the brain results in spongiform myelin degeneration. NAA is mainly synthesized by neurons, where it is also a precursor of the neuropeptide N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG). Hydrolysis of this peptide by glutamate carboxypeptidases is an additional source of extracellular NAA besides the instant neuronal release of NAA. This study examines to what extent NAA released from NAAG contributes to NAA accumulation and pathogenesis in the brain of Aspanur7/nur7 mutant mice, an established model of CD. Towards this aim, Aspanur7/nur7 mice with additional deficiencies in NAAG synthetase genes Rimklb and/or Rimkla were generated. Loss of myelin in Aspanur7/nur7 mice was not significantly affected by Rimkla and Rimklb deficiency and there was also no obvious change in the extent of brain vacuolation. Astrogliosis was slightly reduced in the forebrain of Rimkla and Rimklb double deficient Aspanur7/nur7 mice. However, only minor improvements at the behavioral level were found. The brain NAA accumulation in CD mice was, however, not significantly reduced in the absence of NAAG synthesis. In summary, there was only a weak tendency towards reduced pathogenic symptoms in Aspanur7/nur7 mice deficient in NAAG synthesis. Therefore, we conclude that NAAG metabolism has little influence on NAA accumulation in Aspanur7/nur7 mice and development of pathological symptoms in CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne Becker
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lihua Wang-Eckhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Matthias Eckhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Chiaramonte N, Angeli A, Sgambellone S, Bonardi A, Nocentini A, Bartolucci G, Braconi L, Dei S, Lucarini L, Teodori E, Gratteri P, Wünsch B, Supuran CT, Romanelli MN. 2-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine derivatives as potent human carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Synthesis, enzyme inhibition, computational studies and antiglaucoma activity. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 228:114026. [PMID: 34920169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.114026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Targeting Carbonic Anhydrases (CAs) represents a strategy to treat several diseases, from glaucoma to cancer. To widen the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of our series of piperazines endowed with potent human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) inhibition, a new series of chiral piperazines carrying a (2-hydroxyethyl) group was prepared. The Zn-binding function, the 4-sulfamoylbenzoyl moiety, was connected to one piperazine N-atom, while the other nitrogen was decorated with alkyl substituents. In analogy to the approach used for the synthesis of the previously reported series, the preparation of the new compounds started with (R)- and (S)-aspartic acid. A partial racemization occurred during the synthesis. In order to overcome this problem, other chemical strategies were investigated. The inhibitory activity of the new polar derivatives against four hCAs isoforms I, II, IV and IX using a stopped flow CO2 hydrase assay was determined. Some compounds showed potency in the nanomolar range and a preference for inhibiting hCA IX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Chiaramonte
- University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Andrea Angeli
- University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Silvia Sgambellone
- University of Florence, Department NEUROFARBA, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50100, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bonardi
- University of Florence, Department NEUROFARBA - Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences; Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Cheminformatics & QSAR, University of Firenze, via Ugo Schiff 6, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Alessio Nocentini
- University of Florence, Department NEUROFARBA - Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences; Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Cheminformatics & QSAR, University of Firenze, via Ugo Schiff 6, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Gianluca Bartolucci
- University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Laura Braconi
- University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Silvia Dei
- University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Laura Lucarini
- University of Florence, Department NEUROFARBA, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50100, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Teodori
- University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Paola Gratteri
- University of Florence, Department NEUROFARBA - Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences; Laboratory of Molecular Modeling Cheminformatics & QSAR, University of Firenze, via Ugo Schiff 6, I-50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Bernhard Wünsch
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Westphalian Wilhelms University Münster, Corrensstraße 48, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Maria Novella Romanelli
- University of Florence, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child's Health (NEUROFARBA), Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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Polyakov IV, Kniga AE, Grigorenko BL, Nemukhin AV. Structure of the Brain N-Acetylaspartate Biosynthetic Enzyme NAT8L Revealed by Computer Modeling. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:2296-2302. [PMID: 32639720 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the results of computational modeling of a three-dimensional all-atom structure of the membrane-associated protein encoded by the NAT8L gene, aspartate N-acetyltransferase, which is essential for brain synthesis of N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA). The lack of experimentally derived three-dimensional structures of NAT8L poses one of the obstacles in studies of the mechanism of NAA formation and understanding the precise role of NAA in neurological disorders. We apply a computational protocol employing the contact map prediction, ab initio folding, homology modeling, and refinement to obtain a structure of NAT8L with the aspartate and acetyl coenzyme A cofactors in the protein molecule. To verify the computational protocol, we check its predictive power by reproducing the crystal structure of a related N-acetyltransferase domain, specifically, that from the bacterial N-acetylglutamate synthase. We show that the constructed NAT8L model correlates with structural features of the protein revealed in rare experimental studies. The obtained structure of the enzyme active site with the trapped reactants suggests a mechanism of the acetyl transfer upon NAA formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor V. Polyakov
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russian Federation
| | - Artem E. Kniga
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Bella L. Grigorenko
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russian Federation
| | - Alexander V. Nemukhin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334, Russian Federation
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