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Camargo L, Gering I, Mastalipour M, Kraemer-Schulien V, Bujnicki T, Willbold D, Coronado MA, Eberle RJ. A Snake Venom Peptide and Its Derivatives Prevent Aβ 42 Aggregation and Eliminate Toxic Aβ 42 Aggregates In Vitro. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2600-2611. [PMID: 38957957 PMCID: PMC11258689 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00089] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Over a century has passed since Alois Alzheimer first described Alzheimer's disease (AD), and since then, researchers have made significant strides in understanding its pathology. One key feature of AD is the presence of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, which form amyloid plaques, and therefore, it is a primary target for treatment studies. Naturally occurring peptides have garnered attention for their potential pharmacological benefits, particularly in the central nervous system. In this study, nine peptide derivatives of Crotamine, a polypeptide from Crotalus durissus terrificus Rattlesnake venom, as well as one d-enantiomer, were evaluated for their ability to modulate Aβ42 aggregation through various assays such as ThT, QIAD, SPR, and sFIDA. All tested peptides were able to decrease Aβ42 aggregation and eliminate Aβ42 aggregates. Additionally, all of the peptides showed an affinity for Aβ42. This study is the first to describe the potential of crotamine derivative peptides against Aβ42 aggregation and to identify a promising d-peptide that could be used as an effective pharmacological tool against AD in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana
Cristina Camargo
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
- Faculty
of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Ian Gering
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
| | - Mohammadamin Mastalipour
- Faculty
of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Victoria Kraemer-Schulien
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
| | - Tuyen Bujnicki
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
- Faculty
of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Mônika A. Coronado
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
- Faculty
of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Raphael J. Eberle
- Institute
of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
- Faculty
of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
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2
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Wallace HM, Yang H, Tan S, Pan HS, Yang R, Xu J, Jo H, Condello C, Polizzi NF, DeGrado WF. De novo design of peptides that bind specific conformers of α-synuclein. Chem Sci 2024; 15:8414-8421. [PMID: 38846390 PMCID: PMC11151861 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06245g] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Insoluble amyloids rich in cross-β fibrils are observed in a number of neurodegenerative diseases. Depending on the clinicopathology, the amyloids can adopt distinct supramolecular assemblies, termed conformational strains. However, rapid methods to study amyloids in a conformationally specific manner are lacking. We introduce a novel computational method for de novo design of peptides that tile the surface of α-synuclein fibrils in a conformationally specific manner. Our method begins by identifying surfaces that are unique to the conformational strain of interest, which becomes a "target backbone" for the design of a peptide binder. Next, we interrogate structures in the PDB with high geometric complementarity to the target. Then, we identify secondary structural motifs that interact with this target backbone in a favorable, highly occurring geometry. This method produces monomeric helical motifs with a favorable geometry for interaction with the strands of the underlying amyloid. Each motif is then symmetrically replicated to form a monolayer that tiles the amyloid surface. Finally, amino acid sequences of the peptide binders are computed to provide a sequence with high geometric and physicochemical complementarity to the target amyloid. This method was applied to a conformational strain of α-synuclein fibrils, resulting in a peptide with high specificity for the target relative to other amyloids formed by α-synuclein, tau, or Aβ40. This designed peptide also markedly slowed the formation of α-synuclein amyloids. Overall, this method offers a new tool for examining conformational strains of amyloid proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey M Wallace
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Cardiovascular Research Institution, University of California San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Hyunjun Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Cardiovascular Research Institution, University of California San Francisco CA 94158 USA
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco CA 94143 USA
| | - Sophia Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Cardiovascular Research Institution, University of California San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Henry S Pan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Cardiovascular Research Institution, University of California San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Rose Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Cardiovascular Research Institution, University of California San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Junyi Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Cardiovascular Research Institution, University of California San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Hyunil Jo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Cardiovascular Research Institution, University of California San Francisco CA 94158 USA
| | - Carlo Condello
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco CA 94143 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco CA 94143 USA
| | - Nicholas F Polizzi
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School Boston MA 02215 USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School Boston MA 02215 USA
| | - William F DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The Cardiovascular Research Institution, University of California San Francisco CA 94158 USA
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco CA 94143 USA
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3
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Kumar N, Khatua P, Sinha SK. Can local heating and molecular crowders disintegrate amyloid aggregates? Chem Sci 2024; 15:6095-6105. [PMID: 38665536 PMCID: PMC11040654 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc00103f] [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: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The present study employs a blend of molecular dynamics simulations and a theoretical model to explore the potential disintegration mechanism of a matured Aβ octamer, aiming to offer a strategy to combat Alzheimer's disease. We investigate local heating and crowding effects on Aβ disintegration by selectively heating key Aβ segments and varying the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), respectively. Despite initiation of disruption, Aβ aggregates resist complete disintegration during local heating due to rapid thermal energy distribution to the surrounding water. Conversely, although SDS molecules effectively inhibit Aβ aggregation at higher concentration through micelle formation, they fail to completely disintegrate the aggregate due to the exceedingly high energy barrier. To address the sampling challenge posed by the formidable energy barrier, we have performed well-tempered metadynamics simulations. Simulations reveal a multi-step disintegration mechanism for the Aβ octamer, suggesting a probable sequence: octamer → pentamer/hexamer ⇌ tetramer → monomer, with a rate-determining step constituting 45 kJ mol-1 barrier during the octamer to pentamer/hexamer transition. Additionally, we have proposed a novel two-state mean-field model based on Ising spins that offers an insight into the kinetics of the Aβ growth process and external perturbation effects on disintegration. Thus, the current simulation study, coupled with the newly introduced mean-field model, offers an insight into the detailed mechanisms underlying the Aβ aggregation process, guiding potential strategies for effective disintegration of Aβ aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Theoretical and Computational Biophysical Chemistry Group, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar Rupnagar Punjab 140001 India +91-01881-232066
| | - Prabir Khatua
- Department of Chemistry, GITAM School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University) Bengaluru 562163 India
| | - Sudipta Kumar Sinha
- Department of Chemistry, Theoretical and Computational Biophysical Chemistry Group, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar Rupnagar Punjab 140001 India +91-01881-232066
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4
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Nam Y, Prajapati R, Kim S, Shin SJ, Cheong DY, Park YH, Park HH, Lim D, Yoon Y, Lee G, Jung HA, Park I, Kim DH, Choi JS, Moon M. Dual regulatory effects of neferine on amyloid-β and tau aggregation studied by in silico, in vitro, and lab-on-a-chip technology. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 172:116226. [PMID: 38301421 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of two critical pathogenic factors: amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau. Aβ and tau become neurotoxic aggregates via self-assembly, and these aggregates contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Therefore, there has been growing interest in therapeutic strategies that simultaneously target Aβ and tau aggregates. Although neferine has attracted attention as a suitable candidate agent for alleviating AD pathology, there has been no study investigating whether neferine affects the modulation of Aβ or tau aggregation/dissociation. Herein, we investigated the dual regulatory effects of neferine on Aβ and tau aggregation/dissociation. We predicted the binding characteristics of neferine to Aβ and tau using molecular docking simulations. Next, thioflavin T and atomic force microscope analyses were used to evaluate the effects of neferine on the aggregation or dissociation of Aβ42 and tau K18. We verified the effect of neferine on Aβ fibril degradation using a microfluidic device. In addition, molecular dynamics simulation was used to predict a conformational change in the Aβ42-neferine complex. Moreover, we examined the neuroprotective effect of neferine against neurotoxicity induced by Aβ and tau and their fibrils in HT22 cells. Finally, we foresaw the pharmacokinetic properties of neferine. These results demonstrated that neferine, which has attracted attention as a potential treatment for AD, can directly affect Aβ and tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunkwon Nam
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Ritu Prajapati
- Department of Food and Life Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Sujin Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Dementia Science, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Jung Shin
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Da Yeon Cheong
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 30019, South Korea; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong 30019, South Korea
| | - Yong Ho Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Ha Park
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Danyou Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoojeong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyudo Lee
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 30019, South Korea; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong 30019, South Korea
| | - Hyun Ah Jung
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Insu Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Konyang University, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong-Hyun Kim
- Departments of Pharmacology and Advanced Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae Sue Choi
- Department of Food and Life Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea.
| | - Minho Moon
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea; Research Institute for Dementia Science, Konyang University, 158, Gwanjeodong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35365, Republic of Korea.
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5
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An J, Kim K, Lim HJ, Kim HY, Shin J, Park I, Cho I, Kim HY, Kim S, McLean C, Choi KY, Kim Y, Lee KH, Kim JS. Early onset diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease patients via amyloid-β oligomers-sensing probe in cerebrospinal fluid. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1004. [PMID: 38307843 PMCID: PMC10837422 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44818-x] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers are implicated in the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Herein, quinoline-derived half-curcumin-dioxaborine (Q-OB) fluorescent probe was designed for detecting Aβ oligomers by finely tailoring the hydrophobicity of the biannulate donor motifs in donor-π-acceptor structure. Q-OB shows a great sensing potency in dynamically monitoring oligomerization of Aβ during amyloid fibrillogenesis in vitro. In addition, we applied this strategy to fluorometrically analyze Aβ self-assembly kinetics in the cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) of AD patients. The fluorescence intensity of Q-OB in AD patients' CSF revealed a marked change of log (I/I0) value of 0.34 ± 0.13 (cognitive normal), 0.15 ± 0.12 (mild cognitive impairment), and 0.14 ± 0.10 (AD dementia), guiding to distinguish a state of AD continuum for early diagnosis of AD. These studies demonstrate the potential of our approach can expand the currently available preclinical diagnostic platform for the early stages of AD, aiding in the disruption of pathological progression and the development of appropriate treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jusung An
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Kyeonghwan Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
| | - Ho Jae Lim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju, 61452, Korea
| | - Hye Yun Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
| | - Jinwoo Shin
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - InWook Park
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
| | - Illhwan Cho
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
| | - Hyeong Yun Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
| | - Sunghoon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
- Medicinal Bioconvergence Research Center, Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Biomedical Research, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
- College of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Interdisciplinary Biomedical Center, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea
| | - Catriona McLean
- Department of Pathology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
| | - Kyu Yeong Choi
- Gwangju Alzheimer's & Related Dementia Cohort Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju, 61452, Korea
| | - YoungSoo Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea.
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Korea.
| | - Kun Ho Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Chosun University, Gwangju, 61452, Korea.
- Gwangju Alzheimer's & Related Dementia Cohort Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju, 61452, Korea.
- Department of Neural Development and Disease, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, 41062, Korea.
| | - Jong Seung Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea.
- TheranoChem Incorporation, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02856, Korea.
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6
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Louros N, Schymkowitz J, Rousseau F. Mechanisms and pathology of protein misfolding and aggregation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:912-933. [PMID: 37684425 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00647-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Despite advances in machine learning-based protein structure prediction, we are still far from fully understanding how proteins fold into their native conformation. The conventional notion that polypeptides fold spontaneously to their biologically active states has gradually been replaced by our understanding that cellular protein folding often requires context-dependent guidance from molecular chaperones in order to avoid misfolding. Misfolded proteins can aggregate into larger structures, such as amyloid fibrils, which perpetuate the misfolding process, creating a self-reinforcing cascade. A surge in amyloid fibril structures has deepened our comprehension of how a single polypeptide sequence can exhibit multiple amyloid conformations, known as polymorphism. The assembly of these polymorphs is not a random process but is influenced by the specific conditions and tissues in which they originate. This observation suggests that, similar to the folding of native proteins, the kinetics of pathological amyloid assembly are modulated by interactions specific to cells and tissues. Here, we review the current understanding of how intrinsic protein conformational propensities are modulated by physiological and pathological interactions in the cell to shape protein misfolding and aggregation pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Louros
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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7
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Fernández Ramírez MDC, Afrin S, Saelices L. Conformational inhibitors of protein aggregation. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 83:102700. [PMID: 37717490 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102700] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Amyloidoses are fatal conditions associated with the aggregation of proteins into amyloid fibrils that deposit systemically and/or locally. Possibly because the causal mechanism of protein aggregation and deposition is not fully understood, this group of diseases remains uncurable. Advances in structural biology, such as the use of nuclear magnetic resonance and cryo-electron microscopy, have enabled the study of the structures and the conformational nature of the proteins whose aggregation is associated with the underlying pathogenesis of amyloidosis. As a result, the last years of research have translated into the development of directed therapeutic strategies that target the specific conformations of precursors, fibrils, and intermediary species. Current efforts include the use of small molecules, peptides, and antibodies. This review summarizes the recent progress in developing strategies that target specific protein conformations for the treatment of amyloidoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Del Carmen Fernández Ramírez
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA. https://twitter.com/FernandezR_MC
| | - Shumaila Afrin
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA. https://twitter.com/Shumyla44
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biophysics, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
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8
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Wallace HM, Yang H, Tan S, Pan HS, Yang R, Xu J, Jo H, Condello C, Polizzi NF, DeGrado WF. De novo Design of Peptides that Bind Specific Conformers of α-Synuclein. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.567090. [PMID: 38014268 PMCID: PMC10680688 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.567090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Insoluble amyloids rich in cross-β fibrils are observed in a number of neurodegenerative diseases. Depending on the clinicopathology, the amyloids can adopt distinct supramolecular assemblies, termed conformational strains. However, rapid methods to study amyloid in a conformationally specific manner are lacking. We introduce a novel computational method for de novo design of peptides that tile the surface of α-synuclein fibrils in a conformationally specific manner. Our method begins by identifying surfaces that are unique to the conformational strain of interest, which becomes a "target backbone" for the design of a peptide binder. Next, we interrogate structures in the PDB database with high geometric complementarity to the target. Then, we identify secondary structural motifs that interact with this target backbone in a favorable, highly occurring geometry. This method produces monomeric helical motifs with a favorable geometry for interaction with the strands of the underlying amyloid. Each motif is then symmetrically replicated to form a monolayer that tiles the amyloid surface. Finally, amino acid sequences of the peptide binders are computed to provide a sequence with high geometric and physicochemical complementarity to the target amyloid. This method was applied to a conformational strain of α-synuclein fibrils, resulting in a peptide with high specificity for the target relative to other amyloids formed by α-synuclein, tau, or Aβ40. This designed peptide also markedly slowed the formation of α-synuclein amyloids. Overall, this method offers a new tool for examining conformational strains of amyloid proteins.
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9
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Zambrano P, Jemiola-Rzeminska M, Muñoz-Torrero D, Suwalsky M, Strzalka K. A rhein-huprine hybrid protects erythrocyte membrane integrity against Alzheimer's disease related Aβ(1-42) peptide. Biophys Chem 2023; 300:107061. [PMID: 37307659 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease remains largely unknown, and currently there is no complete cure for the disease. New synthetic approaches have been developed to create multi-target agents, such as RHE-HUP, a rhein-huprine hybrid which can modulate several biological targets that are relevant to the development of the disease. While RHE-HUP has shown in vitro and in vivo beneficial effects, the molecular mechanisms by which it exerts its protective effect on cell membranes have not been fully clarified. To better understand RHE-HUP interactions with cell membranes, we used synthetic membrane models and natural models of human membranes. For this purpose, human erythrocytes and molecular model of its membrane built-up of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE) were used. The latter correspond to classes of phospholipids present in the outer and inner monolayers of the human erythrocyte membrane, respectively. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results indicated that RHE-HUP was able to interact mainly with DMPC. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that RHE-HUP modified the normal biconcave shape of erythrocytes inducing the formation of echinocytes. Moreover, the protective effect of RHE-HUP against the disruptive effect of Aβ(1-42) on the studied membrane models was tested. X-ray diffraction experiments showed that RHE-HUP induced a recovery in the ordering of DMPC multilayers after the disruptive effect of Aβ(1-42), confirming the protective role of the hybrid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Zambrano
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Malgorzata Jemiola-Rzeminska
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland; Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mario Suwalsky
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Kazimierz Strzalka
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland; Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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10
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Wang C, Shao S, Li N, Zhang Z, Zhang H, Liu B. Advances in Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Aβ Therapy Based on Peptide. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13110. [PMID: 37685916 PMCID: PMC10487952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713110] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) urgently needs innovative treatments due to the increasing aging population and lack of effective drugs and therapies. The amyloid fibrosis of AD-associated β-amyloid (Aβ) that could induce a series of cascades, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, is a critical factor in the progression of AD. Recently, peptide-based therapies for AD are expected to be great potential strategies for the high specificity to the targets, low toxicity, fast blood clearance, rapid cell and tissue permeability, and superior biochemical characteristics. Specifically, various chiral amino acids or peptide-modified interfaces draw much attention as effective manners to inhibit Aβ fibrillation. On the other hand, peptide-based inhibitors could be obtained through affinity screening such as phage display or by rational design based on the core sequence of Aβ fibrosis or by computer aided drug design based on the structure of Aβ. These peptide-based therapies can inhibit Aβ fibrillation and reduce cytotoxicity induced by Aβ aggregation and some have been shown to relieve cognition in AD model mice and reduce Aβ plaques in mice brains. This review summarizes the design method and characteristics of peptide inhibitors and their effect on the amyloid fibrosis of Aβ. We further describe some analysis methods for evaluating the inhibitory effect and point out the challenges in these areas, and possible directions for the design of AD drugs based on peptides, which lay the foundation for the development of new effective drugs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunli Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116024, China; (C.W.); (S.S.); (N.L.); (Z.Z.); (H.Z.)
| | - Shuai Shao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116024, China; (C.W.); (S.S.); (N.L.); (Z.Z.); (H.Z.)
- Liaoning Key Lab of Integrated Circuit and Biomedical Electronic System, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Na Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116024, China; (C.W.); (S.S.); (N.L.); (Z.Z.); (H.Z.)
- Liaoning Key Lab of Integrated Circuit and Biomedical Electronic System, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhengyao Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116024, China; (C.W.); (S.S.); (N.L.); (Z.Z.); (H.Z.)
- School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
| | - Hangyu Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116024, China; (C.W.); (S.S.); (N.L.); (Z.Z.); (H.Z.)
- Liaoning Key Lab of Integrated Circuit and Biomedical Electronic System, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Bo Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116024, China; (C.W.); (S.S.); (N.L.); (Z.Z.); (H.Z.)
- Liaoning Key Lab of Integrated Circuit and Biomedical Electronic System, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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11
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Quan M, Cao S, Wang Q, Wang S, Jia J. Genetic Phenotypes of Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms and Potential Therapy. PHENOMICS (CHAM, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 3:333-349. [PMID: 37589021 PMCID: PMC10425323 DOI: 10.1007/s43657-023-00098-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Years of intensive research has brought us extensive knowledge on the genetic and molecular factors involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition to the mutations in the three main causative genes of familial AD (FAD) including presenilins and amyloid precursor protein genes, studies have identified several genes as the most plausible genes for the onset and progression of FAD, such as triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2, sortilin-related receptor 1, and adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter subfamily A member 7. The apolipoprotein E ε4 allele is reported to be the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic AD (SAD), and it also plays an important role in FAD. Here, we reviewed recent developments in genetic and molecular studies that contributed to the understanding of the genetic phenotypes of FAD and compared them with SAD. We further reviewed the advancements in AD gene therapy and discussed the future perspectives based on the genetic phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meina Quan
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
- National Medical Center for Neurological Disorders and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053 China
| | - Shuman Cao
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
| | - Qi Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
- National Medical Center for Neurological Disorders and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053 China
| | - Shiyuan Wang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
| | - Jianping Jia
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
- National Medical Center for Neurological Disorders and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Beijing, 100053 China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Beijing, 100053 China
- Clinical Center for Neurodegenerative Disease and Memory Impairment, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
- Center of Alzheimer’s Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053 China
- Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100053 China
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12
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Indig RY, Landau M. Designed inhibitors to reduce amyloid virulence and cytotoxicity and combat neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 75:102318. [PMID: 37196450 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The review highlights the role of amyloids in various diseases and the challenges associated with targeting human amyloids in therapeutic development. However, due to the better understanding of microbial amyloids' role as virulence factors, there is a growing interest in repurposing and designing anti-amyloid compounds for antivirulence therapy. The identification of amyloid inhibitors has not only significant clinical implications but also provides valuable insights into the structure and function of amyloids. The review showcases small molecules and peptides that specifically target amyloids in both humans and microbes, reducing cytotoxicity and biofilm formation, respectively. The review emphasizes the importance of further research on amyloid structures, mechanisms, and interactions across all life forms to yield new drug targets and improve the design of selective treatments. Overall, the review highlights the potential for amyloid inhibitors in therapeutic development for both human diseases and microbial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinat Yona Indig
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Meytal Landau
- Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel; Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) and Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany; Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Hamburg, Germany.
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13
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Yuan N, Ye L, Sun Y, Wu H, Xiao Z, Fu W, Chen Z, Pei Y, Min Y, Wang D. Molecular Integrative Analysis of the Inhibitory Effects of Dipeptides on Amyloid β Peptide 1-42 Polymerization. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087673. [PMID: 37108834 PMCID: PMC10141046 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The major pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the aggregation of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) in the brain. Inhibition of Aβ42 aggregation may prevent the advancement of AD. This study employed molecular dynamics, molecular docking, electron microscopy, circular dichroism, staining of aggregated Aβ with ThT, cell viability, and flow cytometry for the detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis. Aβ42 polymerizes into fibrils due to hydrophobic interactions to minimize free energy, adopting a β-strand structure and forming three hydrophobic areas. Eight dipeptides were screened by molecular docking from a structural database of 20 L-α-amino acids, and the docking was validated by molecular dynamics (MD) analysis of binding stability and interaction potential energy. Among the dipeptides, arginine dipeptide (RR) inhibited Aβ42 aggregation the most. The ThT assay and EM revealed that RR reduced Aβ42 aggregation, whereas the circular dichroism spectroscopy analysis showed a 62.8% decrease in β-sheet conformation and a 39.3% increase in random coiling of Aβ42 in the presence of RR. RR also significantly reduced the toxicity of Aβ42 secreted by SH-SY5Y cells, including cell death, ROS production, and apoptosis. The formation of three hydrophobic regions and polymerization of Aβ42 reduced the Gibbs free energy, and RR was the most effective dipeptide at interfering with polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Yuan
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Lianmeng Ye
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Zhengpan Xiao
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Wanmeng Fu
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Zuqian Chen
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yechun Pei
- One Health Cooperative Innovation Center, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
- Department of Biosciences, School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yi Min
- Department of Biosciences, School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Dayong Wang
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceuticals and Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
- One Health Cooperative Innovation Center, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of the Ministry of China, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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14
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Feng L, Sharma A, Wang Z, Muresanu DF, Tian ZR, Lafuente JV, Buzoianu AD, Nozari A, Wiklund L, Sharma HS. Co-administration of Nanowired DL-3-n-Butylphthalide (DL-NBP) Together with Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Monoclonal Antibodies to Alpha Synuclein and TDP-43 (TAR DNA-Binding Protein 43) Enhance Superior Neuroprotection in Parkinson's Disease Following Concussive Head Injury. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 32:97-138. [PMID: 37480460 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32997-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
dl-3-n-butylphthalide (dl-NBP) is one of the potent antioxidant compounds that induces profound neuroprotection in stroke and traumatic brain injury. Our previous studies show that dl-NBP reduces brain pathology in Parkinson's disease (PD) following its nanowired delivery together with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exacerbated by concussive head injury (CHI). CHI alone elevates alpha synuclein (ASNC) in brain or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) associated with elevated TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43). TDP-43 protein is also responsible for the pathologies of PD. Thus, it is likely that exacerbation of brain pathology in PD following brain injury may be thwarted using nanowired delivery of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to ASNC and/or TDP-43. In this review, the co-administration of dl-NBP with MSCs and mAb to ASNC and/or TDP-43 using nanowired delivery in PD and CHI-induced brain pathology is discussed based on our own investigations. Our observations show that co-administration of TiO2 nanowired dl-NBP with MSCs and mAb to ASNC with TDP-43 induced superior neuroprotection in CHI induced exacerbation of brain pathology in PD, not reported earlier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianyuan Feng
- Department of Neurology, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Zhongshan Road (West), Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Aruna Sharma
- International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Zhenguo Wang
- Shijiazhuang Pharma Group NBP Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Dafin F Muresanu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Z Ryan Tian
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - José Vicente Lafuente
- LaNCE, Department of Neuroscience, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Anca D Buzoianu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ala Nozari
- Anesthesiology & Intensive Care, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lars Wiklund
- International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hari Shanker Sharma
- International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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15
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Ngwa DN, Agrawal A. Structurally Altered, Not Wild-Type, Pentameric C-Reactive Protein Inhibits Formation of Amyloid-β Fibrils. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1180-1188. [PMID: 35977795 PMCID: PMC9492646 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The structure of wild-type pentameric C-reactive protein (CRP) is stabilized by two calcium ions that are required for the binding of CRP to its ligand phosphocholine. CRP in its structurally altered pentameric conformations also binds to proteins that are denatured and aggregated by immobilization on microtiter plates; however, the identity of the ligand on immobilized proteins remains unknown. We tested the hypotheses that immobilization of proteins generated an amyloid-like structure and that amyloid-like structure was the ligand for structurally altered pentameric CRP. We found that the Abs to amyloid-β peptide 1-42 (Aβ) reacted with immobilized proteins, indicating that some immobilized proteins express an Aβ epitope. Accordingly, four different CRP mutants capable of binding to immobilized proteins were constructed, and their binding to fluid-phase Aβ was determined. All CRP mutants bound to fluid-phase Aβ, suggesting that Aβ is a ligand for structurally altered pentameric CRP. In addition, the interaction between CRP mutants and Aβ prevented the formation of Aβ fibrils. The growth of Aβ fibrils was also halted when CRP mutants were added to growing fibrils. Biochemical analyses of CRP mutants revealed altered topology of the Ca2+-binding site, suggesting a role of this region of CRP in binding to Aβ. Combined with previous reports that structurally altered pentameric CRP is generated in vivo, we conclude that CRP is a dual pattern recognition molecule and an antiamyloidogenic protein. These findings have implications for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases caused by amyloidosis and for the diseases caused by the deposition of otherwise fluid-phase proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald N Ngwa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
| | - Alok Agrawal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
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16
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Benhamou Goldfajn N, Tang H, Ding F. Substoichiometric Inhibition of Insulin against IAPP Aggregation Is Attenuated by the Incompletely Processed N-Terminus of proIAPP. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:2006-2016. [PMID: 35704461 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Substoichiometric aggregation inhibition of human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), the hallmark of type 2 diabetes impacting millions of people, is crucial for developing clinic therapies, yet it remains challenging given that many candidate inhibitors require high doses. Intriguingly, insulin, the key regulatory polypeptide on blood glucose levels that are cosynthesized, costored, and cosecreted with IAPP by pancreatic β cells, has been identified as a potent inhibitor that can suppress IAPP amyloid aggregation at substoichiometric concentrations. Here, we computationally investigated the molecular mechanisms of the substoichiometric inhibition of insulin against the aggregation of IAPP and the incompletely processed IAPP (proIAPP) using discrete molecular dynamics simulations. Our results suggest that the amyloid aggregations of both IAPP and proIAPP might be disrupted by insulin through its binding with the shared amyloidogenic core sequences. However, the N-terminus of proIAPP competed with the amyloidogenic core sequences for the insulin interactions, resulting in attenuated inhibition by insulin. Moreover, insulin preferred to bind the elongation surfaces of IAPP seeds with fibril-like structure, with a stronger affinity than that of IAPP monomers. The capping of elongation surfaces by a small amount of insulin sterically prohibited the seed growth via monomer addition, achieving the substoichiometric inhibition. Together, our computational results provided molecular insights for the substoichiometric inhibition of insulin against IAPP aggregation, also the weakened effect on proIAPP. The uncovered substoichiometric inhibition by capping the elongation of amyloid seeds or fibrils may guide the rational designs of new potent inhibitors effective at low doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadav Benhamou Goldfajn
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States.,University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Huayuan Tang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634, United States
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17
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Suresh S, Begum RF, Singh S A, V C. Anthocyanin as a therapeutic in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review of preclinical evidences. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 76:101595. [PMID: 35217244 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this systematic review is to ponder the possible mechanism of action of anthocyanin in Alzheimer's disease (AD), to prompt the development of anthocyanin-based dietary supplementation or therapeutic intervention for AD and to explore the natural sources of anthocyanins. METHODS Electronic bibliographic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Proquest, DOAJ, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for preclinical studies probing the efficacy of anthocyanin on AD. The search strategy included no time limit, but was restricted to English. The review protocol is registered on PROSPERO, registration no. CRD42021272972. The systematic review followed the PICO approach for inclusion of reports. All the reports were appraised for risk of bias using the SYRCLE's RoB tool. RESULTS Bibliographic details of the article, animal strain/weight/age, induction model, anthocyanin source, type of anthocyanin, dose, route of administration, duration, and the outcome measures were extracted from 12 retrieved reports explicitly. The implication of food-based anthocyanin in acute and long-term cognition and Aβ mediated neurodegeneration appears alluring. Majority of the studies comprehended in this review had moderate methodological quality. DISCUSSION Efficacy of anthocyanin in alleviating oxidative stress, reactive astrogliosis, cholinergic dysfunction, apoptosis, synaptotoxicity, neuroinflammation, tau hyperphosphorylation, dysregulated membrane potential, neuronal extracellular calcium, dysfunctional amyloidogenic pathway, and cognitive deficits in various rodent models of AD is manifested compositely in 12 studies.
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18
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Guo M, Zhu F, Qiu W, Qiao G, Law BYK, Yu L, Wu J, Tang Y, Yu C, Qin D, Zhou X, Wu A. High-throughput screening for amyloid-β binding natural small-molecules based on the combinational use of biolayer interferometry and UHPLC−DAD-Q/TOF-MS/MS. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:1723-1739. [PMID: 35847494 PMCID: PMC9279722 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Discovery of drugs rapidly and effectively is an important aspect for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, a novel high-throughput screening (HTS) method aims at screening the small-molecules with amyloid-β (Aβ) binding affinity from natural medicines, based on the combinational use of biolayer interferometry (BLI) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detector and quadrupole/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC−DAD-Q/TOF-MS/MS) has been firstly developed. Briefly, the components in natural medicines disassociated from biotinylated Aβ were collected to analyze their potential Aβ binding affinity by UHPLC−DAD-Q/TOF-MS/MS. Here, baicalein was confirmed to exhibit the highest binding affinity with Aβ in Scutellaria baicalensis. Moreover, polyporenic acid C (PPAC), dehydrotumulosic acid (DTA), and tumulosic acid (TA) in Kai-Xin-San (KXS) were also identified as potent Aβ inhibitors. Further bioactivity validations indicated that these compounds could inhibit Aβ fibrillation, improve the viability in Aβ-induced PC-12 cells, and decrease the Aβ content and improve the behavioral ability in Caenorhabditis elegans. The molecular docking results confirmed that PPAC, DTA, and TA possessed good binding properties with Aβ. Collectively, the present study has provided a novel and effective HTS method for the identification of natural inhibitors on Aβ fibrillation, which may accelerate the process on anti-AD drugs discovery and development.
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19
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Louros N, Ramakers M, Michiels E, Konstantoulea K, Morelli C, Garcia T, Moonen N, D'Haeyer S, Goossens V, Thal DR, Audenaert D, Rousseau F, Schymkowitz J. Mapping the sequence specificity of heterotypic amyloid interactions enables the identification of aggregation modifiers. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1351. [PMID: 35292653 PMCID: PMC8924238 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28955-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterotypic amyloid interactions between related protein sequences have been observed in functional and disease amyloids. While sequence homology seems to favour heterotypic amyloid interactions, we have no systematic understanding of the structural rules determining such interactions nor whether they inhibit or facilitate amyloid assembly. Using structure-based thermodynamic calculations and extensive experimental validation, we performed a comprehensive exploration of the defining role of sequence promiscuity in amyloid interactions. Using tau as a model system we demonstrate that proteins with local sequence homology to tau amyloid nucleating regions can modify fibril nucleation, morphology, assembly and spreading of aggregates in cultured cells. Depending on the type of mutation such interactions inhibit or promote aggregation in a manner that can be predicted from structure. We find that these heterotypic amyloid interactions can result in the subcellular mis-localisation of these proteins. Moreover, equilibrium studies indicate that the critical concentration of aggregation is altered by heterotypic interactions. Our findings suggest a structural mechanism by which the proteomic background can modulate the aggregation propensity of amyloidogenic proteins and we discuss how such sequence-specific proteostatic perturbations could contribute to the selective cellular susceptibility of amyloid disease progression. In this work, Louros et al. uncover a rule book for interactions of amyloids with other proteins. This grammar was shown to promote cellular spreading of tau aggregates in cells, but can also be harvested to develop structure-based aggregation blockers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Louros
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Meine Ramakers
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emiel Michiels
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katerina Konstantoulea
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chiara Morelli
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Teresa Garcia
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nele Moonen
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sam D'Haeyer
- VIB Screening Core, Ghent, Belgium.,Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vera Goossens
- VIB Screening Core, Ghent, Belgium.,Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory for Neuropathology, KU Leuven, and Department of Pathology, UZ Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Audenaert
- VIB Screening Core, Ghent, Belgium.,Centre for Bioassay Development and Screening (C-BIOS), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. .,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- Switch Laboratory, VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. .,Switch Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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20
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Spatharas PM, Nasi GI, Tsiolaki PL, Theodoropoulou MK, Papandreou NC, Hoenger A, Trougakos IP, Iconomidou VA. Clusterin in Alzheimer's disease: An amyloidogenic inhibitor of amyloid formation? Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022; 1868:166384. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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21
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Tang Y, Zhang D, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Zhou Y, Chang Y, Zheng B, Xu A, Zheng J. A new strategy to reconcile amyloid cross-seeding and amyloid prevention in a binary system of α-synuclein fragmental peptide and hIAPP. Protein Sci 2022; 31:485-497. [PMID: 34850985 PMCID: PMC8820123 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid cross-seeding and amyloid inhibition are two different research subjects being studied separately for different pathological purposes, in which amyloid cross-seeding targets to study the co-aggregation of different amyloid proteins and potential molecular links between different neurodegenerative diseases, while amyloid inhibition aims to design different molecules for preventing amyloid aggregation. While both amyloid cross-seeding and amyloid inhibition are critical for better understanding the pathological causes of different neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson disease (PD) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D), less efforts have been made to reconcile the two phenomena. Herein, we proposed a new preventive strategy to demonstrate (a) the cross-seeding of octapeptide TKEQVTNV from α-synuclein (associated with PD) with hIAPP (associated with T2D) and (b) the cross-seeding-promoted hIAPP fibrillization and cross-seeding-reduced hIAPP toxicity. Collective results confirmed that TKEQVTNV can indeed cross-seed with hIAPP monomers and oligomers, not protofibrils, to form β-structure-rich fibrils and to accelerate hIAPP fibrillization. Moreover, such cross-seeding-induced promotion effect by TKEQVTNV also rescued the pancreatic cells from hIAPP-induced cytotoxicity by increasing cell viability and reducing cell apoptosis simultaneously. This work provides a new angle to discover amyloid fragments and use them as amyloid modulators (inhibitors or promotors) to interfere with amyloid aggregation of other amyloid proteins, as well as sequence/structure basis to explore the amyloid cross-seeding between different amyloid proteins that may help explain a potential molecular talk between different neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijing Tang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion EngineeringThe University of AkronAkronOhioUSA
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion EngineeringThe University of AkronAkronOhioUSA
| | - Yonglan Liu
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion EngineeringThe University of AkronAkronOhioUSA
| | - Yanxian Zhang
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion EngineeringThe University of AkronAkronOhioUSA
| | - Yifan Zhou
- Department of Polymer ScienceThe University of AkronAkronOhioUSA
| | - Yung Chang
- R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Department of Chemical EngineeringChung Yuan Christian UniversityTaoyuanTaiwan
| | | | | | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion EngineeringThe University of AkronAkronOhioUSA
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22
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Chakraborty P, Bera S, Mickel P, Paul A, Shimon LJW, Arnon ZA, Segal D, Král P, Gazit E. Inhibitor-Mediated Structural Transition in a Minimal Amyloid Model. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202113845. [PMID: 34791758 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202113845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Despite the fundamental clinical importance of amyloid fibril formation, its mechanism is still enigmatic. Crystallography of minimal amyloid models was a milestone in the understanding of the architecture and biological activities of amyloid fibers. However, the crystal structure of ultimate dipeptide-based amyloids is not yet reported. Herein, we present the crystal structure of a typical amyloid-forming minimal dipeptide, Ac-Phe-Phe-NH2 (Ac-FF-NH2 ), showing a canonical β-sheet structure at the atomic level. The simplicity of the structure helped in investigating amyloid-inhibition using crystallography, never previously reported for larger peptide models. Interestingly, in the presence of an inhibitor, the supramolecular packing of Ac-FF-NH2 molecules rearranged into a supramolecular 2-fold helix (21 helix). This study promotes our understanding of the mechanism of amyloid formation and of the structural transitions that occur during the inhibition process in a most fundamental model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyadarshi Chakraborty
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Santu Bera
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Phil Mickel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor St, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Ashim Paul
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Linda J W Shimon
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Zohar A Arnon
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Daniel Segal
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Petr Král
- Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor St, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Ehud Gazit
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
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23
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Chakraborty P, Bera S, Mickel P, Paul A, Shimon LJW, Arnon ZA, Segal D, Král P, Gazit E. Inhibitor‐Mediated Structural Transition in a Minimal Amyloid Model. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202113845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Priyadarshi Chakraborty
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
| | - Santu Bera
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
| | - Phil Mickel
- Department of Chemistry University of Illinois at Chicago 845 West Taylor St Chicago IL 60607 USA
| | - Ashim Paul
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
| | - Linda J. W. Shimon
- Department of Chemical Research Support Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot 76100 Israel
| | - Zohar A. Arnon
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
| | - Daniel Segal
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
| | - Petr Král
- Departments of Chemistry Physics Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemical Engineering University of Illinois at Chicago 845 West Taylor St Chicago IL 60607 USA
| | - Ehud Gazit
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv 6997801 Israel
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24
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Heterotypic amyloid interactions: Clues to polymorphic bias and selective cellular vulnerability? Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 72:176-186. [PMID: 34942566 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The number of atomic-resolution structures of disease-associated amyloids has greatly increased in recent years. These structures have confirmed not only the polymorphic nature of amyloids but also the association of specific polymorphs to particular proteinopathies. These observations are strengthening the view that amyloid polymorphism is a marker for specific pathological subtypes (e.g. in tauopathies or synucleinopathies). The nature of this association and how it relates to the selective cellular vulnerability of amyloid nucleation, propagation and toxicity are still unclear. Here, we provide an overview of the mechanistic insights provided by recent patient-derived amyloid structures. We discuss the framework organisation of amyloid polymorphism and how heterotypic amyloid interactions with the physiological environment could modify the solubility and assembly of amyloidogenic proteins. We conclude by hypothesising how such interactions could contribute to selective cellular vulnerability.
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25
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Zhou Z, Gu YQ, Wang HX. Artificial Chiral Interfaces against Amyloid-β Peptide Aggregation: Research Progress and Challenges. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:4236-4248. [PMID: 34724384 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by an imbalance between the production and clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) species. AD not only influences the life quality of the patients but also heavily burdens the families and society. Therefore, it is an urgent mission to research and develop some new anti-amyloid aggregation drugs. In recent years, there were research and development of engineered nanostructures as Aβ amyloid inhibitors have attracted extensive attention and become a new frontier in nanomedicine. The effects of nanostructural surface properties (e.g., morphology, charge, hydrophobicity) on inhibition of Aβ aggregation are modulated by adsorbed Aβ peptides. Nevertheless, chirality has been seldom considered in recognition of Aβ species and modulation of Aβ aggregations. Moreover, a more relevant question for chiral inhibitors is little known about the molecular mechanism of how to interface chiral effects Aβ targeting recognition and effective mitigation of amyloidosis at the molecular level. Herein, we review recent experimental and theoretical results acquired in the specific areas of artificial chiral nanostructure inhibitors. This article will be essential to provide a microlevel insight into the effects of chiral nanointerfaces on amyloidosis processes as well as the development of chiral inhibitor drugs against Aβ fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - You-Quan Gu
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hang-Xing Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
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26
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Mamsa SSA, Meloni BP. Arginine and Arginine-Rich Peptides as Modulators of Protein Aggregation and Cytotoxicity Associated With Alzheimer's Disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:759729. [PMID: 34776866 PMCID: PMC8581540 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.759729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A substantial body of evidence indicates cationic, arginine-rich peptides (CARPs) are effective therapeutic compounds for a range of neurodegenerative pathologies, with beneficial effects including the reduction of excitotoxic cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction. CARPs, therefore, represent an emergent class of promising neurotherapeutics with multimodal mechanisms of action. Arginine itself is a known chaotrope, able to prevent misfolding and aggregation of proteins. The putative role of proteopathies in chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) warrants investigation into whether CARPs could also prevent the aggregation and cytotoxicity of amyloidogenic proteins, particularly amyloid-beta and tau. While monomeric arginine is well-established as an inhibitor of protein aggregation in solution, no studies have comprehensively discussed the anti-aggregatory properties of arginine and CARPs on proteins associated with neurodegenerative disease. Here, we review the structural, physicochemical, and self-associative properties of arginine and the guanidinium moiety, to explore the mechanisms underlying the modulation of protein aggregation by monomeric and multimeric arginine molecules. Arginine-rich peptide-based inhibitors of amyloid-beta and tau aggregation are discussed, as well as further modulatory roles which could reduce proteopathic cytotoxicity, in the context of therapeutic development for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayra S A Mamsa
- School of Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, QEII Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Bruno P Meloni
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, QEII Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia.,Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, QEII Medical Centre, Perth, WA, Australia
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27
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Meric G, Naik S, Hunter AK, Robinson AS, Roberts CJ. Challenges for design of aggregation-resistant variants of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Biophys Chem 2021; 277:106630. [PMID: 34119805 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2021.106630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-native protein aggregation is a long-standing issue in pharmaceutical biotechnology. A rational design approach was used in order to identify variants of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) with lower aggregation propensity at solution conditions that are typical of commercial formulation. The approach used aggregation-prone-region (APR) predictors to select single amino acid substitutions that were predicted to decrease intrinsic aggregation propensity (IAP). The results of static light scattering temperature-ramps and chemical unfolding experiments demonstrated that none of the selected variants exhibited improved aggregation resistance, and the apparent conformational stability of each variant was lower than that of WT. Aggregation studies under partly denaturing conditions suggested that the IAP of at least one variant remained unaltered. Overall, this study highlights a general challenge in designing aggregation resistance for proteins, due to the need to accurately predict both APRs and conformational stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulsum Meric
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
| | - Subhashchandra Naik
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
| | - Alan K Hunter
- Biopharmaceuticals Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States.
| | - Anne S Robinson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
| | - Christopher J Roberts
- Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, United States.
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28
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Firouzi R, Noohi B. Identification of key stabilizing interactions of amyloid-β oligomers based on fragment molecular orbital calculations on macrocyclic β-hairpin peptides. Proteins 2021; 90:229-238. [PMID: 34387401 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Analyzing the electronic states and inter-/intra-molecular interactions of amyloid oligomers expand our understanding of the molecular basis of Alzheimer's disease and other amyloid diseases. In the current study, several high-resolution crystal structures of oligomeric assemblies of Aβ-derived peptides have been studied by the ab initio fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method. The FMO method provides comprehensive details of the molecular interactions between the residues of the amyloid oligomers at the quantum mechanical level. Based on the calculations, two sequential aromatic residues (F19 and F20) and negatively charged E22 on the central region of Aβ have been identified as key residues in oligomer stabilization and potential interesting pharmacophores for preventing oligomer formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohoullah Firouzi
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahare Noohi
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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29
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Esposto JC, Martic S. Phosphorylated TAR DNA-Binding Protein-43: Aggregation and Antibody-Based Inhibition. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166234. [PMID: 34339840 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) pathology, including fibrillar aggregates and mutations, develops in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE). Hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of TDP-43 contribute to pathology and are viable therapeutic targets for ALS. In vivo inhibition of TDP-43 aggregation was evaluated using anti-TDP-43 antibodies with promising outcomes. However, the exact mechanism of antibody-based inhibition targeting TDP-43 is not well understood but may lead to the identification of viable immunotherapies. Herein, the mechanism of in vitro aggregation of phosphorylated TDP-43 was explored, and the anti-TDP-43 antibodies tested for their inhibitor efficacies. Specifically, the aggregation of phosphorylated full-length TDP-43 protein (pS410) was monitored by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), turbidity absorbance, and thioflavin (ThT). The protein aggregates were insoluble, ThT-positive and characterized with heterogeneous morphologies (fibers, amorphous structures). Antibodies specific to epitopes 178-393 and 256-269, within the RRM2-CTD domain, reduced the formation of β-sheets and insoluble aggregates, at low antibody loading (antibody: protein ratio = 1 ug/mL: 45 ug/mL). Inhibition outcomes were highly dependent on the type and loading of antibodies, indicating dual functionality of such inhibitors, as aggregation inhibitors or aggregation promoters. Anti-SOD1 and anti-tau antibodies were not effective inhibitors against TDP-43 aggregation, indicating selective inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine C Esposto
- Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2.
| | - Sanela Martic
- Department of Forensic Science, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada K9L 0G2.
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30
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Peptides for disrupting and degrading amyloids. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2021; 64:124-130. [PMID: 34274561 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid proteins can aggregate into insoluble fibrils and form amyloid deposits in the human brain, which is the hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Promising strategies toward pathological amyloid proteins and deposition include investigating inhibitors that can disrupt amyloid aggregation or induce misfolding protein degradation. In this review, recent progress of peptide-based inhibitors, including amyloid sequence-derived inhibitors, designed peptides, and peptide mimics, is highlighted. Based on the increased understanding of peptide design and precise amyloid structures, these peptides exhibit advanced inhibitory activities against fibrous aggregation as well as enhanced druggability.
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31
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Gorantla N, Sunny LP, Rajasekhar K, Nagaraju PG, CG PP, Govindaraju T, Chinnathambi S. Amyloid-β-Derived Peptidomimetics Inhibits Tau Aggregation. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:11131-11138. [PMID: 34056268 PMCID: PMC8153954 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b03497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The aggregation of tau protein is one of the hallmarks for Alzheimer's disease, resulting in neurodegeneration. The peptidomimetics strategy to prevent tau aggregation is more specific over other small molecules. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of amyloid-β-derived peptidomimetics for inhibiting heparin-induced tau aggregation in vitro. These peptides and their derivatives were known to prevent aggregation of amyloid-β. KLVFF is a hydrophobic sequence of the pentapeptide that prevented tau aggregation as observed by thioflavin S fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. P4 and P5 also prevented assembly of tau into aggregates and formed short fibrils. The β-sheet breaker LPFFD was however ineffective in preventing tau aggregation. The peptides further demonstrated reversal of tau-induced cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggested that these peptides can also be used to inhibit tau aggregation and also, toxicity induced by tau could be considered as potential molecules that have an effect on tau as well as amyloid-β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalini
V. Gorantla
- Neurobiology
Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008 Pune, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), 411008 Pune, India
| | - Lisni P. Sunny
- Neurobiology
Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008 Pune, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), 411008 Pune, India
| | - Kolla Rajasekhar
- Bioorganic
Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Pramod G. Nagaraju
- Department
of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-CFTRI, 570020 Mysore, India
- Bioorganic
Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Poornima Priyadarshini CG
- Department
of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-CFTRI, 570020 Mysore, India
- Bioorganic
Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Thimmaiah Govindaraju
- Bioorganic
Chemistry Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur P.O., Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - Subashchandrabose Chinnathambi
- Neurobiology
Group, Division of Biochemical Sciences, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, 411008 Pune, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), 411008 Pune, India
- . Phone: +91-20-25902232. Fax: +91-20-25902648
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32
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Khan MT, Irfan M, Ahsan H, Ali S, Malik A, Pech-Cervantes A, Cui Z, Zhang Y, Wei D. CYP1A2, 2A13, and 3A4 network and interaction with aflatoxin B 1. WORLD MYCOTOXIN J 2021. [DOI: 10.3920/wmj2020.2621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Aspergillus fungi are known to produce aflatoxins, among which aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most potent carcinogen that is metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP450). In the liver, AFB1 is metabolised into exo-8,9-epoxide by the CYP1A2 enzymes. The resulting epoxide can react with guanine to cause DNA damage. Natural inhibitors are being identified. However, the modes of action are poorly understood. In the current study, we have investigated the mode of action of AFB1 with CYP1A2, CYP3A4 and CYP2A13 using molecular dynamic simulation (MD simulation) approaches. The interaction network and paths among CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and CYP2A13 have been investigated using the STRING database and PathLinker plugin of Cytoscape. CYP3A4 is the most active protein involved in interactions with AFB1 during its metabolism. Residues 362ARG, 445SER, 450LEU and 451PHE of CYP1A2 are important, interacting with AFB1 and converting it to toxic exo-AFB1-8,9-epoxide (AFBEX). The pathway shows that microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) may acts as initiator in the signalling pathway where CYP1A2, CYP3A4 and CYP2A13 interact in a sequential order. The interaction network shows there to be a strong association in expression among CYP1A2, CYP3A4 and CYP2A13 along with other metabolising enzymes. The complex of AFB1 and CYP1A2 was found to be stable during the MD simulation. This study provides a better understanding of the mode of action between AFB1 and CYP1A2, CYP3A4 and CYP2A13 which relates to the effective management of AFB1 toxicity. EPHX1 in the protein network may be an ideal target when designing inhibitors to prevent the toxin’s activation. Peptide inhibitors may be designed to block the substrate site residues of CYP1A2 in order to prevent the conversion from AFB1 into AFBEX. This would either neutralise or reduce its toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Tahir Khan
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore-Pakistan, 54000 Lahore, Pakistan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China P.R
| | - M. Irfan
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-7011, USA
| | - H. Ahsan
- Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - S. Ali
- Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
- Provincial Tuberculosis Reference Lab, Hayatabad Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - A. Malik
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore-Pakistan, 54000 Lahore, Pakistan
| | - A.A. Pech-Cervantes
- Agricultural Research Station, Fort Valley State University, 9000 Watson Blvd, Fort Valley, GA 31030, USA
| | - Z. Cui
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, XinHua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China P.R
| | - Y.J. Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China P.R
| | - D.Q. Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and Joint Laboratory of International Cooperation in Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China P.R
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Vanke Cloud City Phase I Building 8, Xili Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China P.R
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Gao J, Suo C, Tseng JH, Moss MA, Terry AV, Chapman J. Design and Synthesis of Ranitidine Analogs as Multi-Target Directed Ligands for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063120. [PMID: 33803769 PMCID: PMC8003314 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides and deposition of amyloid plaques are implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, blocking Aβ aggregation with small molecules has been proposed as one therapeutic approach for AD. In the present study, a series of ranitidine analogs containing cyclic imide isosteres were synthesized and their inhibitory activities toward Aβ aggregation were evaluated using in vitro thioflavin T assays. The structure–activity relationship revealed that the 1,8-naphthalimide moiety provided profound inhibition of Aβ aggregation and structural modifications on the other parts of the parent molecule (compound 6) maintained similar efficacy. Some of these ranitidine analogs also possessed potent inhibitory activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is another therapeutic target in AD. These ranitidine analogs, by addressing both Aβ aggregation and AChE, offer insight into the key chemical features of a new type of multi-target directed ligands for the pharmaceutical treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Chen Suo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (C.S.); (J.-H.T.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Jui-Heng Tseng
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (C.S.); (J.-H.T.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Melissa A. Moss
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (C.S.); (J.-H.T.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Alvin V. Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;
| | - James Chapman
- Department of Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA;
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34
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Inhibition of aggregation of amyloid-β through covalent modification with benzylpenicillin; potential relevance to Alzheimer's disease. Biochem Biophys Rep 2021; 26:100943. [PMID: 33778168 PMCID: PMC7985693 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.100943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is correlated with the misfolding and aggregation of amyloid-beta protein (Aβ). Here we report that the antibiotic benzylpenicillin (BP) can specifically bind to Aβ, modulate the process of aggregation and supress its cytotoxic effect, initially via a reversible binding interaction, followed by covalent bonding between specific functional groups (nucleophiles) within the Aβ peptide and the beta-lactam ring. Mass spectrometry and computational docking supported covalent modification of Aβ by BP. BP was found to inhibit aggregation of Aβ as revealed by the Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assay and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In addition, BP treatment was found to have a cytoprotective activity against Aβ-induced cell cytotoxicity as shown by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell toxicity assay. The specific interaction of BP with Aβ suggests the possibility of structure-based drug design, leading to the identification of new drug candidates against AD. Moreover, good pharmacokinetics of beta-lactam antibiotics and safety on long-time use make them valuable candidates for drug repurposing towards neurological disorders such as AD.
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Prabakaran R, Rawat P, Thangakani AM, Kumar S, Gromiha MM. Protein aggregation: in silico algorithms and applications. Biophys Rev 2021; 13:71-89. [PMID: 33747245 PMCID: PMC7930180 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-021-00778-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a topic of immense interest to the scientific community due to its role in several neurodegenerative diseases/disorders and industrial importance. Several in silico techniques, tools, and algorithms have been developed to predict aggregation in proteins and understand the aggregation mechanisms. This review attempts to provide an essence of the vast developments in in silico approaches, resources available, and future perspectives. It reviews aggregation-related databases, mechanistic models (aggregation-prone region and aggregation propensity prediction), kinetic models (aggregation rate prediction), and molecular dynamics studies related to aggregation. With a multitude of prediction models related to aggregation already available to the scientific community, the field of protein aggregation is rapidly maturing to tackle new applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Prabakaran
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India
| | - Puneet Rawat
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India
| | - A. Mary Thangakani
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Biotherapeutics Discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceutical Inc., Ridgefield, CT USA
| | - M. Michael Gromiha
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India
- School of Computing, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan
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Chan KH, Lim J, Jee JE, Aw JH, Lee SS. Peptide-Peptide Co-Assembly: A Design Strategy for Functional Detection of C-peptide, A Biomarker of Diabetic Neuropathy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249671. [PMID: 33352955 PMCID: PMC7766332 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes-related neuropathy is a debilitating condition that may be averted if it can be detected early. One possible way this can be achieved at low cost is to utilise peptides to detect C-peptide, a biomarker of diabetic neuropathy. This depends on peptide-peptide co-assembly, which is currently in a nascent stage of intense study. Instead, we propose a bead-based triple-overlay combinatorial strategy that can preserve inter-residue information during the screening process for a suitable complementary peptide to co-assemble with C-peptide. The screening process commenced with a pentapeptide general library, which revealed histidine to be an essential residue. Further screening with seven tetrapeptide focused libraries led to a table of self-consistent peptide sequences that included tryptophan and lysine at high frequencies. Three complementary nonapeptides (9mer com-peptides), wpkkhfwgq (Trp-D), kwkkhfwgq (Lys-D), and KWKKHFWGQ (Lys-L) (as a negative control) were picked from this table for co-assembly studies with C-peptide. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies were utilized to study inter-peptide interactions and changes in secondary structures respectively. ATR-FTIR studies showed that there is indeed inter-peptide interaction between C-peptide and the tryptophan residues of the 9mer com-peptides. CD studies of unaggregated and colloidal C-peptide with the 9mer com-peptides suggest that the extent of co-assembly of C-peptide with Trp-D is greatest, followed by Lys-D and Lys-L. These results are promising and indicate that the presented strategy is viable for designing and evaluating longer complementary peptides, as well as complementary peptides for co-assembly with other polypeptides of interest and importance. We discuss the possibility of designing complementary peptides to inhibit toxic amyloidosis with this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiat Hwa Chan
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, 16 College Avenue West, Singapore 138527, Singapore;
- Correspondence: (K.H.C.); (S.S.L.)
| | - Jaehong Lim
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore 138669, Singapore; (J.L.); (J.E.J.)
| | - Joo Eun Jee
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore 138669, Singapore; (J.L.); (J.E.J.)
| | - Jia Hui Aw
- Division of Science, Yale-NUS College, 16 College Avenue West, Singapore 138527, Singapore;
| | - Su Seong Lee
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore 138669, Singapore; (J.L.); (J.E.J.)
- Correspondence: (K.H.C.); (S.S.L.)
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A framework for understanding the functions of biomolecular condensates across scales. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2020; 22:215-235. [PMID: 33169001 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-020-00303-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 388] [Impact Index Per Article: 97.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are found throughout eukaryotic cells, including in the nucleus, in the cytoplasm and on membranes. They are also implicated in a wide range of cellular functions, organizing molecules that act in processes ranging from RNA metabolism to signalling to gene regulation. Early work in the field focused on identifying condensates and understanding how their physical properties and regulation arise from molecular constituents. Recent years have brought a focus on understanding condensate functions. Studies have revealed functions that span different length scales: from molecular (modulating the rates of chemical reactions) to mesoscale (organizing large structures within cells) to cellular (facilitating localization of cellular materials and homeostatic responses). In this Roadmap, we discuss representative examples of biochemical and cellular functions of biomolecular condensates from the recent literature and organize these functions into a series of non-exclusive classes across the different length scales. We conclude with a discussion of areas of current interest and challenges in the field, and thoughts about how progress may be made to further our understanding of the widespread roles of condensates in cell biology.
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Mitra A, Sarkar N. Sequence and structure-based peptides as potent amyloid inhibitors: A review. Arch Biochem Biophys 2020; 695:108614. [PMID: 33010227 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Misfolded and natively disordered globular proteins tend to aggregate together in an interwoven fashion to form fibrous, proteinaceous deposits referred to as amyloid fibrils. Formation and deposition of such insoluble fibrils are the characteristic features of a broad group of diseases, known as amyloidosis. Some of these proteins are known to cause several degenerative disorders in humans, such as Amyloid-Beta (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide (hIAPP, amylin) in type 2 diabetes, α-synuclein (α-syn) in Parkinson's disease (PD) and so on. The fact that these proteins do not share any significant sequence or structural homology in their native states make therapy quite challenging. However, it is observed that aggregation-prone proteins and peptides tend to adopt a similar type of secondary structure during the formation of fibrils. Rationally designed peptides can be a potent inhibitor that has been shown to disrupt the fibril structure by binding specifically to the amyloidogenic region(s) within a protein. The following review will analyze the inhibitory potency of both sequence-based and structure-based small peptides that have been shown to inhibit amyloidogenesis of proteins such as Aβ, human amylin, and α-synuclein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Mitra
- Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, 769008, Odisha, India
| | - Nandini Sarkar
- Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, 769008, Odisha, India.
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Bhattacharyya R, Bhattacharjee S, Pathak BK, Sengupta J. Heptameric Peptide Interferes with Amyloid-β Aggregation by Structural Reorganization of the Toxic Oligomers. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:16128-16138. [PMID: 32656435 PMCID: PMC7346273 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c01730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, involves misfolding and aggregation of the extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) protein where the intermediate oligomers, formed during the aggregation progression cascade, are considered the prime toxic species. Here, we identify an active peptide fragment from a medicinal plant-derived (Aristolochia indica) fibrinolytic enzyme having anti-amyloidogenic effects against Aβ fibrillation and toxicity. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), followed by computational analysis of the peptide pool generated by proteolytic digestion of the enzyme, identifies two peptide sequences with predictive high-propensity binding to Aβ42. Microscopic visualizations in conjunction with biochemical and biophysical assessments suggest that the synthetic version of one of the peptides (termed here Pactive, GFLLHQK) arrests Aβ molecules in off-pathway oligomers that can no longer participate in the cytotoxic fibrillation pathway. In contrast, the other peptide (termed P1) aggravates the fibrillation process. Further investigations confirm the strong binding affinity of Pactive with both Aβ42 monomers and toxic oligomers by biolayer interferometric assays. We have also shown that, mechanistically, Pactive binding induces conformational alterations in the Aβ molecule along with modification of Aβ hydrophobicity, one of the key players in aggregation. Importantly, the biostability of Pactive in human blood serum and its nontoxic nature make it a promising therapeutic candidate against Alzheimer's, for which no disease-modifying treatments are available to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajanya Bhattacharyya
- Structural
Biology & Bio-Informatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Sayan Bhattacharjee
- Structural
Biology & Bio-Informatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Bani K. Pathak
- Structural
Biology & Bio-Informatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Jayati Sengupta
- Structural
Biology & Bio-Informatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
- Academy
of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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Structure-based machine-guided mapping of amyloid sequence space reveals uncharted sequence clusters with higher solubilities. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3314. [PMID: 32620861 PMCID: PMC7335209 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17207-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The amyloid conformation can be adopted by a variety of sequences, but the precise boundaries of amyloid sequence space are still unclear. The currently charted amyloid sequence space is strongly biased towards hydrophobic, beta-sheet prone sequences that form the core of globular proteins and by Q/N/Y rich yeast prions. Here, we took advantage of the increasing amount of high-resolution structural information on amyloid cores currently available in the protein databank to implement a machine learning approach, named Cordax (https://cordax.switchlab.org), that explores amyloid sequence beyond its current boundaries. Clustering by t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbour Embedding (t-SNE) shows how our approach resulted in an expansion away from hydrophobic amyloid sequences towards clusters of lower aliphatic content and higher charge, or regions of helical and disordered propensities. These clusters uncouple amyloid propensity from solubility representing sequence flavours compatible with surface-exposed patches in globular proteins, functional amyloids or sequences associated to liquid-liquid phase transitions. An increasing number of amyloid structures are determined. Here, the authors present the structure-based amyloid core sequence prediction method Cordax that is based on machine learning and allows the detection of aggregation-prone regions with higher solubility, disorder and surface exposure, and furthermore predicts the structural topology, orientation and overall architecture of the resulting putative fibril core.
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41
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Jokar S, Erfani M, Bavi O, Khazaei S, Sharifzadeh M, Hajiramezanali M, Beiki D, Shamloo A. Design of peptide-based inhibitor agent against amyloid-β aggregation: Molecular docking, synthesis and in vitro evaluation. Bioorg Chem 2020; 102:104050. [PMID: 32663672 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Formation of the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide aggregations represents an indispensable role in appearing and progression of Alzheimer disease. β-sheet breaker peptides can be designed and modified with different amino acids in order to improve biological properties and binding affinity to the amyloid beta peptide. In the present study, three peptide sequences were designed based on the hopeful results of LIAIMA peptide and molecular docking studies were carried out onto the monomer and fibril structure of amyloid beta peptide using AutoDock Vina software. According to the obtained interactions and binding energy from docking, the best-designed peptide (d-GABA-FPLIAIMA) was chosen and synthesized in great yield (%96) via the Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis. The synthesis and purity of the resulting peptide were estimated and evaluated by Mass spectroscopy and Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) methods, respectively. Stability studies in plasma and Thioflavin T (ThT) assay were performed in order to measure the binding affinity and in vitro aggregation inhibition of Aβ peptide. The d-GABA-FPLIAIMA peptide showed good binding energy and affinity to Aβ fibrils, high stability (more than 90%) in human serum, and a reduction of 20% in inhibition of the Aβ aggregation growth. Finally, the favorable characteristics of our newly designed peptide make it a promising candidate β-sheet breaker agent for further in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safura Jokar
- Department of Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Erfani
- Radiation Applications Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Omid Bavi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Saeedeh Khazaei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Sharifzadeh
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy; Toxicology and Poisoning Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Malihe Hajiramezanali
- Department of Nuclear Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Beiki
- Research Center for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Shamloo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
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42
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Sahoo BR, Cox SJ, Ramamoorthy A. High-resolution probing of early events in amyloid-β aggregation related to Alzheimer's disease. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:4627-4639. [PMID: 32300761 PMCID: PMC7254607 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc01551b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), soluble oligomers of amyloid-β (Aβ) are emerging as a crucial entity in driving disease progression as compared to insoluble amyloid deposits. The lacuna in establishing the structure to function relationship for Aβ oligomers prevents the development of an effective treatment for AD. While the transient and heterogeneous properties of Aβ oligomers impose many challenges for structural investigation, an effective use of a combination of NMR techniques has successfully identified and characterized them at atomic-resolution. Here, we review the successful utilization of solution and solid-state NMR techniques to probe the aggregation and structures of small and large oligomers of Aβ. Biophysical studies utilizing the commonly used solution and 19F based NMR experiments to identify the formation of small size early intermediates and to obtain their structures, and dock-lock mechanism of fiber growth at atomic-resolution are discussed. In addition, the use of proton-detected magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR experiments to obtain high-resolution insights into the aggregation pathways and structures of large oligomers and other aggregates is also presented. We expect these NMR based studies to be valuable for real-time monitoring of the depletion of monomers and the formation of toxic oligomers and high-order aggregates under a variety of conditions, and to solve the high-resolution structures of small and large size oligomers for most amyloid proteins, and therefore to develop inhibitors and drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikash R Sahoo
- Biophysics Program, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA.
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43
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Amyloid Evolution: Antiparallel Replaced by Parallel. Biophys J 2020; 118:2526-2536. [PMID: 32311316 PMCID: PMC7231890 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Several atomic structures have now been found for micrometer-scale amyloid fibrils or elongated microcrystals using a range of methods, including NMR, electron microscopy, and X-ray crystallography, with parallel β-sheet appearing as the most common secondary structure. The etiology of amyloid disease, however, indicates nanometer-scale assemblies of only tens of peptides as significant agents of cytotoxicity and contagion. By combining solution X-ray with molecular dynamics, we show that antiparallel structure dominates at the first stages of aggregation for a specific set of peptides, being replaced by parallel at large length scales only. This divergence in structure between small and large amyloid aggregates should inform future design of molecular therapeutics against nucleation or intercellular transmission of amyloid. Calculations and an overview from the literature argue that antiparallel order should be the first appearance of structure in many or most amyloid aggregation processes, regardless of the endpoint. Exceptions to this finding should exist, depending inevitably on the sequence and on solution conditions.
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44
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Yang F, Zhang W, Jiang Y, Yin F, Han W, Li Z. Targeting the Amyloid-β Fibril Surface with a Constrained Helical Peptide Inhibitor. Biochemistry 2020; 59:290-296. [PMID: 31702899 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers are well-known toxic molecular species associated with Alzheimer's disease. Recent discoveries of the ability of amyloid fibril surfaces to convert soluble proteins into toxic oligomers suggested that these surfaces could serve as therapeutic targets for intervention. We have shown previously that a short helical peptide could be a key structural motif that can specifically recognize the K16-E22 region of the Aβ40 fibril surface with an affinity at the level of several micromolar. Here, we demonstrate that in-tether chiral center-induced helical stabilized peptides could also recognize the fibril surfaces, effectively inhibiting the surface-mediated oligomerization of Aβ40. Moreover, through extensive computational sampling, we observed two distinct ways in which the peptide inhibitors recognize the fibril surface. Apart from a binding mode that, in accord with the original design, involves hydrophobic side chains at the binding interface, we observed much more frequently another binding mode in which the hydrophobic staple interacts directly with the fibril surface. The affinity of the peptides for the fibril surface could be adjusted by tuning the hydrophobicity of the staple. The best candidate investigated here exhibits a submicromolar affinity (∼0.75 μM). Collectively, this work opens an avenue for the rational design of candidate drugs with stapled peptides for amyloid-related disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University , Shenzhen 518055 , China
| | - Wan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University , Shenzhen 518055 , China
| | - Yixiang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University , Shenzhen 518055 , China.,Shenzhen Bay Laboratory , Shenzhen 518055 , China
| | - Feng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University , Shenzhen 518055 , China.,Shenzhen Bay Laboratory , Shenzhen 518055 , China
| | - Wei Han
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University , Shenzhen 518055 , China
| | - Zigang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology , Shenzhen Graduate School of Peking University , Shenzhen 518055 , China.,Shenzhen Bay Laboratory , Shenzhen 518055 , China
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45
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Mouchlis VD, Melagraki G, Zacharia LC, Afantitis A. Computer-Aided Drug Design of β-Secretase, γ-Secretase and Anti-Tau Inhibitors for the Discovery of Novel Alzheimer's Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E703. [PMID: 31973122 PMCID: PMC7038192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases, which are characterized by progressive neuronal death and synapses loss in human brain, are rapidly growing affecting millions of people globally. Alzheimer's is the most common neurodegenerative disease and it can be caused by genetic and environmental risk factors. This review describes the amyloid-β and Tau hypotheses leading to amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, respectively which are the predominant pathways for the development of anti-Alzheimer's small molecule inhibitors. The function and structure of the druggable targets of these two pathways including β-secretase, γ-secretase, and Tau are discussed in this review article. Computer-Aided Drug Design including computational structure-based design and ligand-based design have been employed successfully to develop inhibitors for biomolecular targets involved in Alzheimer's. The application of computational molecular modeling for the discovery of small molecule inhibitors and modulators for β-secretase and γ-secretase is summarized. Examples of computational approaches employed for the development of anti-amyloid aggregation and anti-Tau phosphorylation, proteolysis and aggregation inhibitors are also reported.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Georgia Melagraki
- Division of Physical Sciences & Applications, Hellenic Military Academy, Vari 16672, Greece;
| | - Lefteris C. Zacharia
- Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 1700, Cyprus;
| | - Antreas Afantitis
- Department of ChemoInformatics, NovaMechanics Ltd., Nicosia 1046, Cyprus
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46
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Est CB, Mangrolia P, Murphy RM. ROSETTA-informed design of structurally stabilized cyclic anti-amyloid peptides. Protein Eng Des Sel 2019; 32:47-57. [PMID: 31650164 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzz016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
β-amyloid oligomers are thought to be the most toxic species formed en route to fibril deposition in Alzheimer's disease. Transthyretin is a natural sequestering agent of β-amyloid oligomers: the binding site to β-amyloid has been traced to strands G/H of the inner β-sheet of transthyretin. A linear peptide, with the same primary sequence as the β-amyloid binding domain on transthyretin, was moderately effective at inhibiting β-amyloid fibril growth. Insertion of a β-turn template and cyclization greatly increased stability against proteolysis and improved efficacy as an amyloid inhibitor. However, the cyclic peptide still contained a significant amount of disorder. Using the Simple Cyclic Peptide Application within ROSETTA as an in silico predictor of cyclic peptide conformation and stability, we investigated putative structural enhancements, including stabilization by disulfide linkages and insertion of a second β-turn template. Several candidates were synthesized and tested for secondary structure and ability to inhibit β-amyloid aggregation. The results demonstrate that cyclization, β-sheet structure and conformational homogeneity are all preferable design features, whereas disulfide bond formation across the two β-strands is not preferable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandler B Est
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Parth Mangrolia
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Regina M Murphy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USA
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47
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Kropotova ES, Ivleva IS, Karpenko MN, Mosevitsky MI. Design of enkephalin modifications protected from brain extracellular peptidases providing long-term analgesia. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 28:115184. [PMID: 31740204 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.115184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The main obstacle to the use of many therapeutic peptides in practice is their rapid destruction by extracellular peptidases. Earlier we have found that active in the extracellular medium of mammalian brain exopeptidases are unable to break the bonds formed by β-alanine. We have designed several modified forms of opioid peptide enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met; Enk) with end βAla: ModEnk1 (βAla-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-βAla), ModEnk2 (βAla-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-NH2), ModEnk3 (βAla-Tyr-Gly-Phe-NH2). These modifications are much more stable than Enk in the suspension of isolated axonal endings (synaptosomes) that mimics the brain extracellular medium. ModEnk1-3 have been tested in standard "pain" experiment "tail flick" on rats using intranasal peptide administration. ModEnk1 and ModEnk2 (but not ModEnk3) have fully preserved pain-relieving properties of Enk, but their efficiency was maintained for much longer. Compared to ModEnk1, ModEnk2 is more stable and provides longer analgesia because it is less accessible for endopeptidases. They are potent non-toxic analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina S Kropotova
- Division of Molecular and Radiation Biophysics, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P.Konstantinov of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Gatchina 188300, Russia; Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Irina S Ivleva
- Pavlov's Department of Physiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Marina N Karpenko
- Pavlov's Department of Physiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg 197376, Russia
| | - Mark I Mosevitsky
- Division of Molecular and Radiation Biophysics, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P.Konstantinov of National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute", Gatchina 188300, Russia; Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia.
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48
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Zanjani AAH, Reynolds NP, Zhang A, Schilling T, Mezzenga R, Berryman JT. Kinetic Control of Parallel versus Antiparallel Amyloid Aggregation via Shape of the Growing Aggregate. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15987. [PMID: 31690748 PMCID: PMC6831816 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
By combining atomistic and higher-level modelling with solution X-ray diffraction we analyse self-assembly pathways for the IFQINS hexapeptide, a bio-relevant amyloid former derived from human lysozyme. We verify that (at least) two metastable polymorphic structures exist for this system which are substantially different at the atomistic scale, and compare the conditions under which they are kinetically accessible. We further examine the higher-level polymorphism for these systems at the nanometre to micrometre scales, which is manifested in kinetic differences and in shape differences between structures instead of or as well as differences in the small-scale contact topology. Any future design of structure based inhibitors of the IFQINS steric zipper, or of close homologues such as TFQINS which are likely to have similar structures, should take account of this polymorphic assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Asghar Hakami Zanjani
- University of Luxembourg, Department of Physics and Materials Science, 162a Avenue de la Fäıencerie, Luxembourg City, L-1511, Luxembourg
| | - Nicholas P Reynolds
- Swinburne University of Technology, ARC Training Centre for Biodevices, John Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3122, Australia
| | - Afang Zhang
- Shanghai University Department of Polymer Materials, Nanchen Street 333, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Tanja Schilling
- Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 3, 79104, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Raffaele Mezzenga
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, CH-8092, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 10, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joshua T Berryman
- University of Luxembourg, Department of Physics and Materials Science, 162a Avenue de la Fäıencerie, Luxembourg City, L-1511, Luxembourg.
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Rubrofusarin inhibits Aβ aggregation and ameliorates memory loss in an Aβ-induced Alzheimer's disease-like mouse model. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 132:110698. [PMID: 31348966 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.110698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The misfolding and aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide is a common histopathologic characteristic in patients with Alzheimer's disease, so is considered to play an critical role. In the present study, we examined the effect of rubrofusarin, an ingredient of Cassiae semen, on Aβ aggregation and memory loss in an AD mouse model. Rubrofusarin inhibited Aβ aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, rubrofusarin dis-aggregated preformed Aβ fibrils in a concentration-dependent manner. Although aggregated Aβ induced memory loss, Aβ pre-incubated with rubrofusarin failed to induce memory loss. Moreover, rubrofusarin administration ameliorated Aβ aggregates-induced memory loss. Finally, rubrofusarin reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein or Iba-1-positive area, markers of neuroinflammation, in the hippocampus of Aβ-treated mice. These results suggest that rubrofusarin can decrease Aβ fibril formation and ameliorate memory loss in the AD mouse model.
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50
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Zhang L, Chen C, Mak MSH, Lu J, Wu Z, Chen Q, Han Y, Li Y, Pi R. Advance of sporadic Alzheimer's disease animal models. Med Res Rev 2019; 40:431-458. [DOI: 10.1002/med.21624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhou China
| | - Chen Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhou China
| | - Marvin SH Mak
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese MedicineThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom Hong Kong
| | - Junfeng Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhou China
| | - Zeqing Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhou China
| | - Qiuhe Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhou China
| | - Yifan Han
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Institute of Modern Chinese MedicineThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom Hong Kong
- International Joint Laboratory<SYSU‐PolyU HK>of Novel Anti‐Dementia Drugs of GuangzhouGuangzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology (Incubation)The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research InstituteShenzhen China
| | - Yuefeng Li
- Guangdong Landau Biotechnology Co LtdGuangzhou China
| | - Rongbiao Pi
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhou China
- International Joint Laboratory<SYSU‐PolyU HK>of Novel Anti‐Dementia Drugs of GuangzhouGuangzhou China
- National and Local United Engineering Lab of Druggability and New Drugs EvaluationSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhou China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of MedicineSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhou China
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