1
|
McAlary L, Nan JR, Shyu C, Sher M, Plotkin SS, Cashman NR. Amyloidogenic regions in beta-strands II and III modulate the aggregation and toxicity of SOD1 in living cells. Open Biol 2024; 14:230418. [PMID: 38835240 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230418] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the protein superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) promote its misfolding and aggregation, ultimately causing familial forms of the debilitating neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Currently, over 220 (mostly missense) ALS-causing mutations in the SOD1 protein have been identified, indicating that common structural features are responsible for aggregation and toxicity. Using in silico tools, we predicted amyloidogenic regions in the ALS-associated SOD1-G85R mutant, finding seven regions throughout the structure. Introduction of proline residues into β-strands II (I18P) or III (I35P) reduced the aggregation propensity and toxicity of SOD1-G85R in cells, significantly more so than proline mutations in other amyloidogenic regions. The I18P and I35P mutations also reduced the capability of SOD1-G85R to template onto previously formed non-proline mutant SOD1 aggregates as measured by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Finally, we found that, while the I18P and I35P mutants are less structurally stable than SOD1-G85R, the proline mutants are less aggregation-prone during proteasome inhibition, and less toxic to cells overall. Our research highlights the importance of a previously underappreciated SOD1 amyloidogenic region in β-strand II (15QGIINF20) to the aggregation and toxicity of SOD1 in ALS mutants, and suggests that β-strands II and III may be good targets for the development of SOD1-associated ALS therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luke McAlary
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jeremy R Nan
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Clay Shyu
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mine Sher
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Steven S Plotkin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Genome Sciences and Technology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Neil R Cashman
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tsekrekou M, Giannakou M, Papanikolopoulou K, Skretas G. Protein aggregation and therapeutic strategies in SOD1- and TDP-43- linked ALS. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1383453. [PMID: 38855322 PMCID: PMC11157337 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1383453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with severe socio-economic impact. A hallmark of ALS pathology is the presence of aberrant cytoplasmic inclusions composed of misfolded and aggregated proteins, including both wild-type and mutant forms. This review highlights the critical role of misfolded protein species in ALS pathogenesis, particularly focusing on Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), and emphasizes the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies targeting these misfolded proteins directly. Despite significant advancements in understanding ALS mechanisms, the disease remains incurable, with current treatments offering limited clinical benefits. Through a comprehensive analysis, the review focuses on the direct modulation of the misfolded proteins and presents recent discoveries in small molecules and peptides that inhibit SOD1 and TDP-43 aggregation, underscoring their potential as effective treatments to modify disease progression and improve clinical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsekrekou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Giannakou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Papanikolopoulou
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
| | - Georgios Skretas
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
- Institute for Bio-innovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hashimoto K, Watanabe S, Akutsu M, Muraki N, Kamishina H, Furukawa Y, Yamanaka K. Intrinsic structural vulnerability in the hydrophobic core induces species-specific aggregation of canine SOD1 with degenerative myelopathy-linked E40K mutation. J Biol Chem 2023:104798. [PMID: 37156398 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104798] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM), a fatal neurodegenerative disease in dogs, shares clinical and genetic features with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a human motor neuron disease. Mutations in the SOD1 gene encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause canine DM and a subset of inherited human ALS. The most frequent DM causative mutation is homozygous E40K mutation which induces the aggregation of canine SOD1 but not of human SOD1. However, the mechanism through which canine E40K mutation induces species-specific aggregation of SOD1 remains unknown. By screening human/canine chimeric SOD1s, we identified that the humanized mutation of the 117th residue (M117L), encoded by exon 4, significantly reduced aggregation propensity of canine SOD1E40K. Conversely, introducing a mutation of leucine 117 to methionine, a residue homologous to canine, promoted E40K-dependent aggregation in human SOD1. M117L mutation improved protein stability and reduced cytotoxicity of canine SOD1E40K. Furthermore, crystal structural analysis of canine SOD1 proteins revealed that M117L increased the packing within the hydrophobic core of the β-barrel structure, contributing to the increased protein stability. Our findings indicate that the structural vulnerability derived intrinsically from Met 117 in the hydrophobic core of the β-barrel structure induces E40K-dependent species-specific aggregation in canine SOD1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kei Hashimoto
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Seiji Watanabe
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
| | - Masato Akutsu
- Department of Chemistry, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Norifumi Muraki
- Department of Chemistry, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kamishina
- Life Science Research Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan; Kyoto AR Advanced Veterinary Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Koji Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan; Center for One Medicine Innovative Translational Research (COMIT), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gianferrari G, Martinelli I, Simonini C, Zucchi E, Fini N, Carra S, Moglia C, Mandrioli J. Case report: p.Glu134del SOD1 mutation in two apparently unrelated ALS patients with mirrored phenotype. Front Neurol 2023; 13:1052341. [PMID: 36686515 PMCID: PMC9846158 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1052341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
With upcoming personalized approaches based on genetics, it is important to report new mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) genes in order to understand their pathogenicity and possible patient responses to specific therapies. SOD1 mutations are the second most frequent genetic cause of ALS in European populations. Here, we describe two seemingly unrelated Italian patients with ALS carrying the same SOD1 heterozygous c.400_402 deletion (p.Glu134del). Both patients had spinal onset in their lower limbs, progressive muscular weakness with respiratory involvement, and sparing bulbar function. In addition to the clinical picture, we discuss the possible pathogenic role of this unfamiliar SOD1 mutation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Gianferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Martinelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy,Clinical and Experimental PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy,*Correspondence: Ilaria Martinelli ✉
| | - Cecilia Simonini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Zucchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy,Neurosciences PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Nicola Fini
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Serena Carra
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Moglia
- S.C Neurology 1U, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza Torino, Torino, Italy,“Rita Levi Montalcini” Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy,Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sarkar A, Gasic AG, Cheung MS, Morrison G. Effects of Protein Crowders and Charge on the Folding of Superoxide Dismutase 1 Variants: A Computational Study. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:4458-4471. [PMID: 35686856 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associated with the misfolding and aggregation of the metalloenzyme protein superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) via mutations that destabilize the monomer-dimer interface. In a cellular environment, crowding and electrostatic screening play essential roles in the folding and aggregation of the SOD1 monomers. Despite numerous studies on the effects of mutations on SOD1 folding, a clear understanding of the interplay between crowding, folding, and aggregation in vivo remains lacking. Using a structure-based minimal model for molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the role of self-crowding and charge on the folding stability of SOD1 and the G41D mutant where experimentalists were intrigued by an alteration of the folding mechanism by a single point mutation from glycine to charged aspartic acid. We show that unfolded SOD1 configurations are significantly affected by charge and crowding, a finding that would be extremely costly to achieve with all-atom simulations, while the native state is not significantly altered. The mutation at residue 41 alters the interactions between proteins in the unfolded states instead of those within a protein. This paper suggests electrostatics may play an important role in the folding pathway of SOD1 and modifying the charge via mutation and ion concentration may change the dominant interactions between proteins, with potential impacts for aggregation of the mutants. This work provides a plausible reason for the alteration of the unfolded states to address why the mutant G41D causes the changes to the folding mechanism of SOD1 that have intrigued experimentalists.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atrayee Sarkar
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Andrei G Gasic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Margaret S Cheung
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Seattle Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
| | - Greg Morrison
- Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Baziyar P, Seyedalipour B, Hosseinkhani S. Zinc binding loop mutations of hSOD1 promote amyloid fibrils under physiological conditions: Implications for initiation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biochimie 2022; 199:170-181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
7
|
McAlary L, Shephard VK, Wright GSA, Yerbury JJ. A copper chaperone-mimetic polytherapy for SOD1-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101612. [PMID: 35065969 PMCID: PMC8885447 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease in which motor neurons progressively and rapidly degenerate, eventually leading to death. The first protein found to contain ALS-associated mutations was copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), which is conformationally stable when it contains its metal ligands and has formed its native intramolecular disulfide. Mutations in SOD1 reduce protein folding stability via disruption of metal binding and/or disulfide formation, resulting in misfolding, aggregation, and ultimately cellular toxicity. A great deal of effort has focused on preventing the misfolding and aggregation of SOD1 as a potential therapy for ALS; however, the results have been mixed. Here, we utilize a small-molecule polytherapy of diacetylbis(N(4)-methylthiosemicarbazonato)copper(II) (CuATSM) and ebselen to mimic the metal delivery and disulfide bond promoting activity of the cellular chaperone of SOD1, the “copper chaperone for SOD1.” Using microscopy with automated image analysis, we find that polytherapy using CuATSM and ebselen is highly effective and acts in synergy to reduce inclusion formation in a cell model of SOD1 aggregation for multiple ALS-associated mutants. Polytherapy reduces mutant SOD1-associated cell death, as measured by live-cell microscopy. Measuring dismutase activity via zymography and immunoblotting for disulfide formation showed that polytherapy promoted more effective maturation of transfected SOD1 variants beyond either compound alone. Our data suggest that a polytherapy of CuATSM and ebselen may merit more study as an effective method of treating SOD1-associated ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L McAlary
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
| | - V K Shephard
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - G S A Wright
- Department of Biochemistry & Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J J Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia; Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wahiduzzaman, Kumar V, Anjum F, Shafie A, Elasbali AM, Islam A, Ahmad F, Hassan MI. Delineating the Aggregation-Prone Hotspot Regions (Peptides) in the Human Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase 1. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:33985-33994. [PMID: 34926946 PMCID: PMC8675042 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, incurable neurodegenerative disease described by progressive degeneration of motor neurons. The most common familial form of ALS (fALS) has been associated with mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene. Mutation-induced misfolding and aggregation of SOD1 is often found in ALS patients. In this work, we probe the aggregation properties of peptides derived from the SOD1. To examine the source of SOD1 aggregation, we have employed a computational algorithm to identify four peptides from the SOD1 protein sequence that aggregates into a fibril. Aided by computational algorithms, we identified four peptides likely involved in SOD1 fibrillization. These four aggregation-prone peptides were 14VQGIINFE21, 30KVWGSIKGL38, 101DSVISLS107, and 147GVIGIAQ153. In addition, the formation of fibril propensities from the identified peptides was investigated through different biophysical techniques. The atomic structures of two fibril-forming peptides from the C-terminal SOD1 showed that the steric zippers formed by 101DSVISLS107 and 147GVIGIAQ153 vary in their arrangement. We also discovered that fALS mutations in the peptide 147GVIGIAQ153 increased the fibril-forming propensity and altered the steric zipper's packing. Thus, our results suggested that the C-terminal peptides of SOD1 have a central role in amyloid formation and might be involved in forming the structural core of SOD1 aggregation observed in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wahiduzzaman
- Centre
for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Amity
Institute of Neuropsychology & Neurosciences, Amity University, Noida, UP 201303, India
| | - Farah Anjum
- Department
of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaa Shafie
- Department
of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelbaset Mohamed Elasbali
- Clinical
Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences-Qurayyat, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asimul Islam
- Centre
for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Faizan Ahmad
- Centre
for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Md. Imtaiyaz Hassan
- Centre
for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Computer analysis of the relation between hydrogen bond stability in SOD1 mutants and the survival time of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. J Mol Graph Model 2021; 110:108026. [PMID: 34653813 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2021.108026] [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: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Mutations in the SOD1 protein can lead to the death of motor neurons, which, in turn, causes an incurable disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). At the same time, the mechanism of the onset and development of this disease is not fully understood and is often contradictory. METHODS Accelerated Molecular Dynamics as implemented in the OpenMM library, principal component analysis, regression analysis, random forest method. RESULTS The stability of hydrogen bonds in 72 mutants of the SOD1 protein was calculated. Principal component analysis was carried out. Based on ten principal components acting as predictors, a multiple linear regression model was constructed. An analysis of the correlation of these ten principal components with the initial values of the stability of hydrogen bonds made it possible to characterize the contribution of known structurally and functionally important sites in the SOD1 to the scatter of ALS patients' survival time. CONCLUSION Such an analysis made it possible to put forward hypotheses about the relationship between the stabilizing and destabilizing effects of mutations in different structurally and functionally important regions of SOD1 with the patients's survival time.
Collapse
|
10
|
Kimura S, Kamatari YO, Kuwahara Y, Hara H, Yamato O, Maeda S, Kamishina H, Honda R. Canine SOD1 harboring E40K or T18S mutations promotes protein aggregation without reducing the global structural stability. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9512. [PMID: 32742795 PMCID: PMC7368427 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease associated with aggregation of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) protein. More than 160 mutations in human SOD1 have been identified in familial ALS and extensively characterized in previous studies. Here, we investigated the effects of T18S and E40K mutations on protein aggregation of canine SOD1. These two mutations are exclusively found in canine degenerative myelopathy (an ALS-like neurodegenerative disease in dogs), whose phenotype is unknown at the level of protein folding. Interestingly, the T18S and E40K mutations did not alter far-UV CD spectrum, enzymatic activity, or global structural stability of canine SOD1. However, thioflavin-T assay and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that these mutations promote formation of fibrous aggregates, in particular in the Cu2+/Zn2+-unbound state. These evidence suggested that the T18S and E40K mutations promote protein aggregation through a unique mechanism, possibly involving destabilization of the local structure, reduction of net negative charge, or production of disulfide-linked oligomers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shintaro Kimura
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | | | - Yukina Kuwahara
- Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hideaki Hara
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Osamu Yamato
- Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Sadatoshi Maeda
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kamishina
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.,Center for Highly Advanced Integration of Nano and Life Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Ryo Honda
- The United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Crown A, McAlary L, Fagerli E, Brown H, Yerbury JJ, Galaleldeen A, Cashman NR, Borchelt DR, Ayers JI. Tryptophan residue 32 in human Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase modulates prion-like propagation and strain selection. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227655. [PMID: 31999698 PMCID: PMC6991973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cause the protein to aggregate via a prion-like process in which soluble molecules are recruited to aggregates by conformational templating. These misfolded SOD1 proteins can propagate aggregation-inducing conformations across cellular membranes. Prior studies demonstrated that mutation of a Trp (W) residue at position 32 to Ser (S) suppresses the propagation of misfolded conformations between cells, whereas other studies have shown that mutation of Trp 32 to Phe (F), or Cys 111 to Ser, can act in cis to attenuate aggregation of mutant SOD1. By expressing mutant SOD1 fused with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), we compared the relative ability of these mutations to modulate the formation of inclusions by ALS-mutant SOD1 (G93A and G85R). Only mutation of Trp 32 to Ser persistently reduced the formation of the amorphous inclusions that form in these cells, consistent with the idea that a Ser at position 32 inhibits templated propagation of aggregation prone conformations. To further test this idea, we produced aggregated fibrils of recombinant SOD1-W32S in vitro and injected them into the spinal cords of newborn mice expressing G85R-SOD1: YFP. The injected mice developed an earlier onset paralysis with a frequency similar to mice injected with WT SOD1 fibrils, generating a strain of misfolded SOD1 that produced highly fibrillar inclusion pathology. These findings suggest that the effect of Trp 32 in modulating the propagation of misfolded SOD1 conformations may be dependent upon the “strain” of the conformer that is propagating.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Crown
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, SantaFe HealthCare Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Luke McAlary
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry & Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, School of Chemistry & Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eric Fagerli
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, SantaFe HealthCare Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Hilda Brown
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, SantaFe HealthCare Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Justin J. Yerbury
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry & Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, School of Chemistry & Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ahmad Galaleldeen
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Neil R. Cashman
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David R. Borchelt
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, SantaFe HealthCare Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jacob I. Ayers
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, SantaFe HealthCare Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Draper ACE, Wilson Z, Maile C, Faccenda D, Campanella M, Piercy RJ. Species-specific consequences of an E40K missense mutation in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). FASEB J 2019; 34:458-473. [PMID: 31914665 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901455r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
A glutamic acid to lysine (E40K) residue substitution in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is associated with canine degenerative myelopathy: the only naturally occurring large animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The E40 residue is highly conserved across mammals, except the horse, which naturally carries the (dog mutant) K40 residue. Here we hypothesized that in vitro expression of mutant dog SOD1 would recapitulate features of human ALS (ie, SOD1 protein aggregation, reduced cell viability, perturbations in mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential, reduced ATP production, and increased superoxide ion levels); further, we hypothesized that an equivalent equine SOD1 variant would share similar perturbations in vitro, thereby explain horses' susceptibility to certain neurodegenerative diseases. As in human ALS, expression of mutant dog SOD1 was associated with statistically significant increased aggregate formation, raised superoxide levels (ROS), and altered mitochondrial morphology (increased branching (form factor)), when compared to wild-type dog SOD1-expressing cells. Similar deficits were not detected in cells expressing the equivalent horse SOD1 variant. Our data helps explain the ALS-associated cellular phenotype of dogs expressing the mutant SOD1 protein and reveals that species-specific sequence conservation does not necessarily predict pathogenicity. The work improves understanding of the etiopathogenesis of canine degenerative myelopathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra C E Draper
- Comparative Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Zoe Wilson
- Comparative Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Charlotte Maile
- Comparative Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Danilo Faccenda
- Mitochondrial Cell Biology and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| | - Michelangelo Campanella
- Mitochondrial Cell Biology and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK.,University College London Consortium for Mitochondrial Research, University College London, University of London, London, UK
| | - Richard J Piercy
- Comparative Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|