1
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Misiu Naitė I, Mikalauskaitė K, Paulauskaitė M, Sniečkutė RT, Smirnovas V, Brukštus A, Žiaunys M, Žutautė I. Imidazo[2,1- b][1,3]thiazine Derivatives as Potential Modulators of Alpha-Synuclein Amyloid Aggregation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:4418-4430. [PMID: 39603795 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00451] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Insoluble amyloid fibrils accumulate in the intercellular spaces of organs and tissues, leading to various amyloidosis-related disorders in the human body. Specifically, Parkinson's disease is associated with the aggregation of alpha-synuclein. However, current treatments for Parkinson's primarily focus on managing motor symptoms and slowing disease progression. Efforts to prevent and halt the progression of these diseases involve the search for small molecular compounds. In this work, we synthesized imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazines in an atom-economic way by cyclization of 2-alkynylthioimidazoles using 10% AuCl as the catalyst. We identified several compounds with specific functional groups capable of both inhibiting the aggregation of alpha-synuclein and redirecting the fibril formation pathway. The investigation into how these substances function revealed that imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazine derivatives can influence alpha-synuclein aggregation in several ways. They not only inhibit the primary nucleation process and maintain a balance toward nonaggregated protein states but also stabilize smaller oligomeric species of alpha-synuclein and cause the formation of fibrils with unique structures and forms. These imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazines could potentially be used in developing highly efficient, small molecular weight protein aggregation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrė Misiu Naitė
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko st. 24, Vilnius LT-03225, Lithuania
| | - Kamilė Mikalauskaitė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 7, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Martyna Paulauskaitė
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko st. 24, Vilnius LT-03225, Lithuania
| | - Ru Ta Sniečkutė
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 7, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 7, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Algirdas Brukštus
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko st. 24, Vilnius LT-03225, Lithuania
| | - Mantas Žiaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 7, Vilnius LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Ieva Žutautė
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko st. 24, Vilnius LT-03225, Lithuania
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2
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Sternke‐Hoffmann R, Sun X, Menzel A, Pinto MDS, Venclovaite U, Wördehoff M, Hoyer W, Zheng W, Luo J. Phase Separation and Aggregation of α-Synuclein Diverge at Different Salt Conditions. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308279. [PMID: 38973194 PMCID: PMC11425899 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308279] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The coacervation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) into cytotoxic oligomers and amyloid fibrils are considered pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. While aggregation is central to amyloid diseases, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and its interplay with aggregation have gained increasing interest. Previous work shows that factors promoting or inhibiting aggregation have similar effects on LLPS. This study provides a detailed scanning of a wide range of parameters, including protein, salt and crowding concentrations at multiple pH values, revealing different salt dependencies of aggregation and LLPS. The influence of salt on aggregation under crowding conditions follows a non-monotonic pattern, showing increased effects at medium salt concentrations. This behavior can be elucidated through a combination of electrostatic screening and salting-out effects on the intramolecular interactions between the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of αSyn. By contrast, this study finds a monotonic salt dependence of LLPS due to intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, it observes time evolution of the two distinct assembly states, with macroscopic fibrillar-like bundles initially forming at medium salt concentration but subsequently converting into droplets after prolonged incubation. The droplet state is therefore capable of inhibiting aggregation or even dissolving aggregates through heterotypic interactions, thus preventing αSyn from its dynamically arrested state.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xun Sun
- Center for Life SciencesPaul Scherrer InstituteForschungsstrasse 111Villigen5232Switzerland
| | - Andreas Menzel
- Center for Photon SciencePaul Scherrer InstituteForschungsstrasse 111Villigen5232Switzerland
| | | | - Urte Venclovaite
- Center for Life SciencesPaul Scherrer InstituteForschungsstrasse 111Villigen5232Switzerland
| | - Michael Wördehoff
- Institut für Physikalische BiologieHeinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf40225DüsseldorfGermany
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische BiologieHeinrich‐Heine University Düsseldorf40225DüsseldorfGermany
| | - Wenwei Zheng
- College of Integrative Sciences and ArtsArizona State UniversityMesaAZ85212USA
| | - Jinghui Luo
- Center for Life SciencesPaul Scherrer InstituteForschungsstrasse 111Villigen5232Switzerland
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3
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Ziaunys M, Mikalauskaite K, Sakalauskas A, Smirnovas V. Study of Insulin Aggregation and Fibril Structure under Different Environmental Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9406. [PMID: 39273350 PMCID: PMC11395423 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179406] [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: 08/07/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein amyloid aggregation is linked with widespread and fatal neurodegenerative disorders as well as several amyloidoses. Insulin, a small polypeptide hormone, is associated with injection-site amyloidosis and is a popular model protein for in vitro studies of amyloid aggregation processes as well as in the search for potential anti-amyloid compounds. Despite hundreds of studies conducted with this specific protein, the procedures used have employed a vast array of different means of achieving fibril formation. These conditions include the use of different solution components, pH values, ionic strengths, and other additives. In turn, this variety of conditions results in the generation of fibrils with different structures, morphologies and stabilities, which severely limits the possibility of cross-study comparisons as well as result interpretations. In this work, we examine the condition-structure relationship of insulin amyloid aggregation under a range of commonly used pH and ionic strength conditions as well as solution components. We demonstrate the correlation between the reaction solution properties and the resulting aggregation kinetic parameters, aggregate secondary structures, morphologies, stabilities and dye-binding modes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania; (M.Z.); (K.M.); (A.S.)
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4
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Ziaunys M, Sulskis D, Mikalauskaite K, Sakalauskas A, Snieckute R, Smirnovas V. S100A9 inhibits and redirects prion protein 89-230 fragment amyloid aggregation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 758:110087. [PMID: 38977154 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2024.110087] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Protein aggregation in the form of amyloid fibrils has long been associated with the onset and development of various amyloidoses, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or prion diseases. Recent studies of their fibril formation process have revealed that amyloidogenic protein cross-interactions may impact aggregation pathways and kinetic parameters, as well as the structure of the resulting aggregates. Despite a growing number of reports exploring this type of interaction, they only cover just a small number of possible amyloidogenic protein pairings. One such pair is between two neurodegeneration-associated proteins: the pro-inflammatory S100A9 and prion protein, which are known to co-localize in vivo. In this study, we examined their cross-interaction in vitro and discovered that the fibrillar form of S100A9 modulated the aggregation pathway of mouse prion protein 89-230 fragment, while non-aggregated S100A9 also significantly inhibited its primary nucleation process. These results complement previous observations of the pro-inflammatory protein's role in amyloid aggregation and highlight its potential role against neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Darius Sulskis
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Kamile Mikalauskaite
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Andrius Sakalauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Ruta Snieckute
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
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5
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Iqbal A, Alam MT, Khan A, Siddiqui T, Ali A. Inhibition of protein misfolding and aggregation by steroidal quinoxalin-2(1H)-one and their molecular docking studies. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 269:132020. [PMID: 38704061 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132020] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
A series of D-ring fused 16-substituted steroidal quinoxalin-2(1H)-one attached to an electron-releasing (ER) or electron-withdrawing (EW) groups via steroidal oxoacetate intermediate were synthesized to investigate their protein aggregation inhibition potential using human lysozyme (HLZ). The influence of the type of substituent at the C-6 positions of the quinoxalin-2(1H)-one ring on the protein aggregation inhibition potential was observed, showing that the EW moiety improved the protein aggregation inhibition potency. Of all the evaluated compounds, NO2-substituted quinoxalin-2(1H)-one derivative 13 was the most active compound and had a maximum protein aggregation inhibition effect. Significant stabilization effects strongly support the binding of the most biologically active steroidal quinoxalin-2(1H)-one with docking studies. The predicted physicochemical and ADME properties lie within a drug-like space which shows no violation of Lipinski's rule of five except compounds 12 and 13. Combined, our results suggest that D-ring fused 16-substituted steroidal quinoxalin-2(1H)-one has the potential to modulate the protein aggregation inhibition effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arfeen Iqbal
- Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, UP, India
| | - Md Tauqir Alam
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, UP, India
| | - Asna Khan
- Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, UP, India
| | - Tabassum Siddiqui
- Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, UP, India
| | - Abad Ali
- Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, UP, India.
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6
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Stroganova I, Willenberg H, Tente T, Depraz Depland A, Bakels S, Rijs AM. Exploring the Aggregation Propensity of PHF6 Peptide Segments of the Tau Protein Using Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Techniques. Anal Chem 2024; 96:5115-5124. [PMID: 38517679 PMCID: PMC10993201 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Peptide and protein aggregation involves the formation of oligomeric species, but the complex interplay between oligomers of different conformations and sizes complicates their structural elucidation. Using ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS), we aim to reveal these early steps of aggregation for the Ac-PHF6-NH2 peptide segment from tau protein, thereby distinguishing between different oligomeric species and gaining an understanding of the aggregation pathway. An important factor that is often neglected, but which can alter the aggregation propensity of peptides, is the terminal capping groups. Here, we demonstrate the use of IM-MS to probe the early stages of aggregate formation of Ac-PHF6-NH2, Ac-PHF6, PHF6-NH2, and uncapped PHF6 peptide segments. The aggregation propensity of the four PHF6 segments is confirmed using thioflavin T fluorescence assays and transmission electron microscopy. A novel approach based on post-IM fragmentation and quadrupole selection on the TIMS-Qq-ToF (trapped ion mobility) spectrometer was developed to enhance oligomer assignment, especially for the higher-order aggregates. This approach pushes the limits of IM identification of isobaric species, whose signatures appear closer to each other with increasing oligomer size, and provides new insights into the interpretation of IM-MS data. In addition, TIMS collision cross section values are compared with traveling wave ion mobility (TWIMS) data to evaluate potential instrumental bias in the trapped ion mobility results. The two IM-MS instrumental platforms are based on different ion mobility principles and have different configurations, thereby providing us with valuable insight into the preservation of weakly bound biomolecular complexes such as peptide aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliia Stroganova
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Hannah Willenberg
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Thaleia Tente
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Agathe Depraz Depland
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Sjors Bakels
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
| | - Anouk M. Rijs
- Division
of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Analytical Sciences Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 XH, The Netherlands
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7
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Sternke-Hoffmann R, Sun X, Menzel A, Pinto MDS, Venclovaitė U, Wördehoff M, Hoyer W, Zheng W, Luo J. Phase Separation and Aggregation of α-Synuclein Diverge at Different Salt Conditions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.01.582895. [PMID: 38464093 PMCID: PMC10925286 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.01.582895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The coacervation and structural rearrangement of the protein alpha-synuclein (αSyn) into cytotoxic oligomers and amyloid fibrils are considered pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. While aggregation is recognized as the key element of amyloid diseases, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and its interplay with aggregation have gained increasing interest. Previous work showed that factors promoting or inhibiting amyloid formation have similar effects on phase separation. Here, we provide a detailed scanning of a wide range of parameters including protein, salt and crowding concentrations at multiple pH values, revealing different salt dependencies of aggregation and phase separation. The influence of salt on aggregation under crowded conditions follows a non-monotonic pattern, showing increased effects at medium salt concentrations. This behavior can be elucidated through a combination of electrostatic screening and salting-out effects on the intramolecular interactions between the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of αSyn. By contrast, we find a monotonic salt dependence of phase separation due to the intermolecular interaction. Furthermore, we observe the time evolution of the two distinct assembly states, with macroscopic fibrillar-like bundles initially forming at medium salt concentration but subsequently converting into droplets after prolonged incubation. The droplet state is therefore capable of inhibiting aggregation or even dissolving the aggregates through a variety of heterotypic interactions, thus preventing αSyn from its dynamically arrested state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Sternke-Hoffmann
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Xun Sun
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Menzel
- Photon Science Division, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Dos Santos Pinto
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Urtė Venclovaitė
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Michael Wördehoff
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hoyer
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wenwei Zheng
- College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mesa, AZ, 85212, United States
| | - Jinghui Luo
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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8
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Sulatsky MI, Stepanenko OV, Stepanenko OV, Kuznetsova IM, Turoverov KK, Sulatskaya AI. Prediction of the Feasibility of Using the ≪Gold Standard≫ Thioflavin T to Detect Amyloid Fibril in Acidic Media. Anal Chem 2024; 96:2158-2164. [PMID: 38269442 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Ordered protein aggregates, amyloid fibrils, form toxic plaques in the human body in amyloidosis and neurodegenerative diseases and provide adaptive benefits to pathogens and to reduce the nutritional value of legumes. To identify the amyloidogenic properties of proteins and study the processes of amyloid fibril formation and degradation, the cationic dye thioflavin T (ThT) is the most commonly used. However, its use in acidic environments that induce amyloid formation in vitro can sometimes lead to misinterpretation of experimental results due to electrostatic repulsion. In this work, we show that calculating the net charge per residue of amyloidogenic proteins or peptides is a simple and effective approach for predicting whether their fibrils will interact with ThT at acidic pH. In particular, it was shown that at pH 2, proteins and peptides with a net charge per residue > +0.18 are virtually unstained by this fluorescent probe. The applicability of the proposed approach was demonstrated by predicting and experimentally confirming the absence of ThT interaction with amyloids formed from green fluorescent (sfGFP) and odorant-binding (bOBP) proteins, whose fibrillogenesis was first carried out in an acidic environment. Correct experimental evidence that the inability to detect these fibrils under acidic conditions is precisely because of the lack of dye binding to amyloids (and not their specific structure or the low fluorescence quantum yield of the bound dye) and that the number of ThT molecules associated with fibrils increases with decreasing acidity of the medium was obtained by using the equilibrium microdialysis approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksim I Sulatsky
- Laboratory of cell morphology, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky ave., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Olesya V Stepanenko
- Laboratory of structural dynamics, stability and folding of proteins, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky ave., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Olga V Stepanenko
- Laboratory of structural dynamics, stability and folding of proteins, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky ave., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina M Kuznetsova
- Laboratory of structural dynamics, stability and folding of proteins, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky ave., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Konstantin K Turoverov
- Laboratory of structural dynamics, stability and folding of proteins, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky ave., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna I Sulatskaya
- Laboratory of structural dynamics, stability and folding of proteins, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky ave., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
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9
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Ziaunys M, Mikalauskaite K, Sakalauskas A, Smirnovas V. Investigating lysozyme amyloid fibril formation and structural variability dependence on its initial folding state under different pH conditions. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4888. [PMID: 38151910 PMCID: PMC10804668 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4888] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Protein fibril formation and accumulation are associated with dozens of amyloidoses, including the widespread and yet-incurable Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Currently, there are still several aspects of amyloid aggregation that are not fully understood, which negatively contributes to the development of disease-altering drugs and treatments. One factor which requires a more in-depth analysis is the effect of the environment on both the initial state of amyloidogenic proteins and their aggregation process and resulting fibril characteristics. In this work, we examine how lysozyme's folding state influences its amyloid formation kinetics and resulting aggregate structural characteristics under several different pH conditions, ranging from acidic to neutral. We demonstrate that both the initial state of the protein and the solution's pH value have a significant combined effect on the variability of the resulting aggregate secondary structures, as well as their stabilities, interactions with amyloid-specific dye molecules, and self-replication properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius UniversityVilniusLithuania
| | - Kamile Mikalauskaite
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius UniversityVilniusLithuania
| | - Andrius Sakalauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius UniversityVilniusLithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius UniversityVilniusLithuania
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10
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Ziaunys M, Mikalauskaite K, Krasauskas L, Smirnovas V. Conformation-Specific Association of Prion Protein Amyloid Aggregates with Tau Protein Monomers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119277. [PMID: 37298227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils is associated with several amyloidoses, including neurodegenerative Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Despite years of research and numerous studies, the process is still not fully understood, which significantly impedes the search for cures of amyloid-related disorders. Recently, there has been an increase in reports of amyloidogenic protein cross-interactions during the fibril formation process, which further complicates the already intricate process of amyloid aggregation. One of these reports displayed an interaction involving Tau and prion proteins, which prompted a need for further investigation into the matter. In this work, we generated five populations of conformationally distinct prion protein amyloid fibrils and examined their interaction with Tau proteins. We observed that there was a conformation-specific association between Tau monomers and prion protein fibrils, which increased the aggregate self-association and amyloidophilic dye binding capacity. We also determined that the interaction did not induce the formation of Tau protein amyloid aggregates, but rather caused their electrostatic adsorption to the prion protein fibril surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Kamile Mikalauskaite
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Lukas Krasauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
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11
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Islam A, Kikuchi Y, Iimori T. Electroabsorption and Stark Fluorescence Spectroscopies of Thioflavin T. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:1436-1444. [PMID: 36740807 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c07794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Thioflavin T (ThT) is a typical fluorescent marker for detecting the formation of amyloid fibrils, because its fluorescence intensity increases by more than 2 orders of magnitude upon complexation with the fibrils. Strong electrostatic fields on protein surfaces are known to be a significant factor in chemical reactions and biological functions. Therefore, ThT bound to amyloid fibrils must experience strong electric fields. This study employed electroabsorption and Stark fluorescence spectroscopies to clarify the effects of external electric fields on the photophysics of ThT. The absorption spectrum shows two bands ascribed to locally excited (LE) and charge transfer (CT) states. Coupling between the LE and CT states is enhanced in the presence of an external electric field, resulting in fluorescence quenching. The electric field strength of the amyloid fibril surface was inferred from the fluorescence quenching efficiency of ThT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahatashamul Islam
- Department of Sciences and Informatics, Muroran Institute of Technology, Mizumoto-cho 27-1, Muroran, Hokkaido050-8585, Japan
| | - Yudai Kikuchi
- Department of Sciences and Informatics, Muroran Institute of Technology, Mizumoto-cho 27-1, Muroran, Hokkaido050-8585, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Iimori
- Department of Sciences and Informatics, Muroran Institute of Technology, Mizumoto-cho 27-1, Muroran, Hokkaido050-8585, Japan
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12
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Seetaloo N, Zacharopoulou M, Stephens AD, Kaminski Schierle GS, Phillips JJ. Millisecond Hydrogen/Deuterium-Exchange Mass Spectrometry Approach to Correlate Local Structure and Aggregation in α-Synuclein. Anal Chem 2022; 94:16711-16719. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Neeleema Seetaloo
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, ExeterEX4 4QD, U.K
| | - Maria Zacharopoulou
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, CambridgeCB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Amberley D. Stephens
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, CambridgeCB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Gabriele S. Kaminski Schierle
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, CambridgeCB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Jonathan J. Phillips
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, ExeterEX4 4QD, U.K
- Alan Turing Institute, British Library, LondonNW1 2DB, U.K
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13
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Thapa S, Heo YS. Optimization of a Single Substrate-Based Fluorometric Assay for Glucose and Lactate Measurement to Assess Preimplantation Single Embryo Quality and Blood in Obese Mouse and Clinical Human Samples. Anal Chem 2022; 94:16171-16179. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seema Thapa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Seok Heo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
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14
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Ziaunys M, Sakalauskas A, Mikalauskaite K, Smirnovas V. Rapid restructurization of conformationally-distinct alpha-synuclein amyloid fibrils at an elevated temperature. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14137. [PMID: 36199282 PMCID: PMC9528901 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation in the form of amyloid fibrils is linked with the onset and progression of more than 30 amyloidoses, including multiple neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Despite countless studies and years of research, the process of such aggregate formation is still not fully understood. One peculiar aspect of amyloids is that they appear to be capable of undergoing structural rearrangements even after the fibrils have already formed. Such a phenomenon was reported to occur in the case of alpha-synuclein and amyloid beta aggregates after a long period of incubation. In this work, we examine whether incubation at an elevated temperature can induce the restructurization of four different conformation alpha-synuclein amyloid fibrils. We show that this structural alteration occurs in a relatively brief time period, when the aggregates are incubated at 60 °C. Additionally, it appears that during this process multiple conformationally-distinct alpha-synuclein fibrils all shift towards an identical secondary structure.
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15
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Review of Fluorescence Spectroscopy in Environmental Quality Applications. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27154801. [PMID: 35956751 PMCID: PMC9370042 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence spectroscopy is an optical spectroscopic method that has been applied for the assessment of environmental quality extensively during the last 20 years. Most of the earlier works have used conventional light sources in spectrofluorometers to assess quality. Many recent works have used laser sources of light for the same purpose. The improvement of the energy sources and of the higher resolution spectrometers has led to a tremendous increase in applications. The motivation for the present review study is the increasing use of laser sources in environmental applications. The review is divided in two parts. The fundamental principles of fluorescence spectroscopy are described in the first part. The environmental applications are described in the second part.
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16
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Interactions between S100A9 and Alpha-Synuclein: Insight from NMR Spectroscopy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126781. [PMID: 35743221 PMCID: PMC9224231 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
S100A9 is a pro-inflammatory protein that co-aggregates with other proteins in amyloid fibril plaques. S100A9 can influence the aggregation kinetics and amyloid fibril structure of alpha-synuclein (α-syn), which is involved in Parkinson's disease. Currently, there are limited data regarding their cross-interaction and how it influences the aggregation process. In this work, we analyzed this interaction using solution 19F and 2D 15N-1H HSQC NMR spectroscopy and studied the aggregation properties of these two proteins. Here, we show that α-syn interacts with S100A9 at specific regions, which are also essential in the first step of aggregation. We also demonstrate that the 4-fluorophenylalanine label in alpha-synuclein is a sensitive probe to study interaction and aggregation using 19F NMR spectroscopy.
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17
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Khamphukdee C, Turkmani I, Chotritthirong Y, Chulikhit Y, Boonyarat C, Sekeroglu N, Silva AMS, Monthakantirat O, Kijjoa A. Effects of the Bark Resin Extract of Garcinia nigrolineata on Chronic Stress-Induced Memory Deficit in Mice Model and the In Vitro Monoamine Oxidases and β-Amyloid Aggregation Inhibitory Activities of Its Prenylated Xanthone Constituents. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27093014. [PMID: 35566362 PMCID: PMC9103351 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27093014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study describes investigation of the effects of the bark resin extract of Garcinia nigrolineata (Clusiaceae) on the cognitive function and the induction of oxidative stress in both frontal cortex and hippocampus by unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). By using behavioral mouse models, i.e., the Y-maze test, the Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT), and the Morris Water Maze Test (MWMT), it was found that the negative impact of repeated mild stress-induced learning and memory deficit through brain oxidative stress in the UCMS mice was reversed by treatment with the bark resin extract G. nigrolineata. Moreover, the prenylated xanthones viz. cowagarcinone C, cowaxanthone, α-mangostin, cowaxanthone B, cowanin, fuscaxanthone A, fuscaxanthone B, xanthochymusxanthones A, 7-O-methylgarcinone E, and cowagarcinone A, isolated from the bark resin of G. nigrolineata, were assayed for their inhibitory activities against β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation and monoamine oxidase enzymes (MAOs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Charinya Khamphukdee
- Division of Pharmacognosy and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand;
| | - Ibrahim Turkmani
- ICBAS-Instituo de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar and CIIMAR, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Yutthana Chotritthirong
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand;
| | - Yaowared Chulikhit
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (Y.C.); (C.B.)
| | - Chantana Boonyarat
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (Y.C.); (C.B.)
| | - Nazim Sekeroglu
- Phytotherapy, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Application & Research Center and Biology Department, Faculty of Arts and Science, Gaziantep University, 27310 Gaziantep, Turkey;
| | - Artur M. S. Silva
- Departamento de Química & QOPNA, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Orawan Monthakantirat
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; (Y.C.); (C.B.)
- Correspondence: (O.M.); (A.K.); Tel.: +66-81-3404677 (O.M.); +351-220428331 (A.K.)
| | - Anake Kijjoa
- ICBAS-Instituo de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar and CIIMAR, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (O.M.); (A.K.); Tel.: +66-81-3404677 (O.M.); +351-220428331 (A.K.)
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18
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Chung CW, Stephens AD, Ward E, Feng Y, Davis MJ, Kaminski CF, Kaminski Schierle GS. Label-Free Characterization of Amyloids and Alpha-Synuclein Polymorphs by Exploiting Their Intrinsic Fluorescence Property. Anal Chem 2022; 94:5367-5374. [PMID: 35333515 PMCID: PMC8988127 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c05651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Conventional in vitro aggregation assays often involve tagging with extrinsic fluorophores, which can interfere with aggregation. We propose the use of intrinsic amyloid fluorescence lifetime probed using two-photon excitation and represented by model-free phasor plots as a label-free assay to characterize the amyloid structure. Intrinsic amyloid fluorescence arises from the structured packing of β-sheets in amyloids and is independent of aromatic-based fluorescence. We show that different amyloids [i.e., α-Synuclein (αS), β-Lactoglobulin (βLG), and TasA] and different polymorphic populations of αS (induced by aggregation in salt-free and salt buffers mimicking the intra-/extracellular environments) can be differentiated by their unique fluorescence lifetimes. Moreover, we observe that disaggregation of the preformed fibrils of αS and βLG leads to increased fluorescence lifetimes, distinct from those of their fibrillar counterparts. Our assay presents a medium-throughput method for rapid classification of amyloids and their polymorphs (the latter of which recent studies have shown lead to different disease pathologies) and for testing small-molecule inhibitory compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chyi Wei Chung
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Amberley D Stephens
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Edward Ward
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Yuqing Feng
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Molly Jo Davis
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Clemens F Kaminski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, U.K
| | - Gabriele S Kaminski Schierle
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, U.K
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19
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Ziaunys M, Mikalauskaite K, Veiveris D, Sakalauskas A, Smirnovas V. Superoxide dismutase-1 alters the rate of prion protein aggregation and resulting fibril conformation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2022; 715:109096. [PMID: 34848178 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.109096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The assembly of amyloidogenic proteins into highly-structured fibrillar aggregates is related to the onset and progression of several amyloidoses, including neurodegenerative Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases. Despite years of research and a general understanding of the process of such aggregate formation, there are currently still very few drugs and treatment modalities available. One of the factors that is relatively insufficiently understood is the cross-interaction between different amyloid-forming proteins. In recent years, it has been shown that several of these proteins or their aggregates can alter each other's fibrillization properties, however, there are still many unknowns in the amyloid interactome. In this work, we examine the interaction between amyloid disease-related prion protein and superoxide dismutase-1. We show that not only does superoxide dismutase-1 increase the lag time of prion protein fibril formation, but it also changes the conformation of the resulting aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Kamile Mikalauskaite
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Dominykas Veiveris
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Andrius Sakalauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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20
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Zhytniakivska O, Kurutos A, Shchuka M, Vus K, Tarabara U, Trusova V, Gorbenko G. Fӧrster resonance energy transfer between Thioflavin T and unsymmetrical trimethine cyanine dyes on amyloid fibril scaffold. Chem Phys Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2021.139127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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21
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Ziaunys M, Sakalauskas A, Mikalauskaite K, Smirnovas V. Polymorphism of Alpha-Synuclein Amyloid Fibrils Depends on Ionic Strength and Protein Concentration. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12382. [PMID: 34830264 PMCID: PMC8621411 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregate formation is linked with multiple amyloidoses, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Currently, the understanding of such fibrillar structure formation and propagation is still not sufficient, the outcome of which is a lack of potent, anti-amyloid drugs. The environmental conditions used during in vitro protein aggregation assays play an important role in determining both the aggregation kinetic parameters, as well as resulting fibril structure. In the case of alpha-synuclein, ionic strength has been shown as a crucial factor in its amyloid aggregation. In this work, we examine a large sample size of alpha-synuclein aggregation reactions under thirty different ionic strength and protein concentration combinations and determine the resulting fibril structural variations using their dye-binding properties, secondary structure and morphology. We show that both ionic strength and protein concentration determine the structural variability of alpha-synuclein amyloid fibrils and that sometimes even identical conditions can result in up to four distinct types of aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania; (A.S.); (K.M.); (V.S.)
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22
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Ziaunys M, Mikalauskaite K, Sakalauskas A, Smirnovas V. Interplay between epigallocatechin-3-gallate and ionic strength during amyloid aggregation. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12381. [PMID: 34733592 PMCID: PMC8544251 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The formation and accumulation of protein amyloid aggregates is linked with multiple amyloidoses, including neurodegenerative Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. The mechanism of such fibril formation is impacted by various environmental conditions, which greatly complicates the search for potential anti-amyloid compounds. One of these factors is solution ionic strength, which varies between different aggregation protocols during in vitro drug screenings. In this work, we examine the interplay between ionic strength and a well-known protein aggregation inhibitor-epigallocatechin-3-gallate. We show that changes in solution ionic strength have a major impact on the compound's inhibitory effect, reflected in both aggregation times and final fibril structure. We also observe that this effect is unique to different amyloid-forming proteins, such as insulin, alpha-synuclein and amyloid-beta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantas Ziaunys
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Kamile Mikalauskaite
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Andrius Sakalauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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23
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S100A9 Alters the Pathway of Alpha-Synuclein Amyloid Aggregation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157972. [PMID: 34360737 PMCID: PMC8348003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of amyloid fibril plaques in the brain creates inflammation and neuron death. This process is observed in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Alpha-synuclein is the main protein found in neuronal inclusions of patients who have suffered from Parkinson's disease. S100A9 is a calcium-binding, pro-inflammation protein, which is also found in such amyloid plaques. To understand the influence of S100A9 on the aggregation of α-synuclein, we analyzed their co-aggregation kinetics and the resulting amyloid fibril structure by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. We found that the presence of S100A9 alters the aggregation kinetics of α-synuclein and stabilizes the formation of a particular amyloid fibril structure. We also show that the solution's ionic strength influences the interplay between S100A9 and α-synuclein, stabilizing a different structure of α-synuclein fibrils.
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24
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Andrade S, Loureiro JA, Pereira MC. Vitamin B12 Inhibits Aβ Fibrillation and Disaggregates Preformed Fibrils in the Presence of Synthetic Neuronal Membranes. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2491-2502. [PMID: 34133880 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide with subsequent formation of fibrils which deposit in senile plaques is considered one of the key triggers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Molecules targeting the inhibition of Aβ fibrillation and/or the disruption of Aβ fibrils are thus promising approaches for the medical prevention and treatment of AD. However, amyloid formation is a complex process strongly influenced by the cellular environment, such as cell membranes, which may affect the effectiveness of therapeutic molecules. In this study, the effect of the vitamin B12 (VB12) on the formation and disaggregation of Aβ1-42 fibrils was investigated in the presence of artificial neuronal membranes mimicked by liposomes. Evidence showed that VB12 slows down the Aβ fibrillization and reduces the content of fibrils in aqueous solution. Moreover, the vitamin exhibited a strong ability to disrupt preformed fibrils. However, the presence of lipid vesicles compromised the VB12's antiamyloidogenic properties due to the competitive interaction of the vitamin with the lipid membrane and the Aβ peptide. Even so, VB12 was effective in inhibiting the fibril formation and disaggregating fibrils in the lipid membrane environment. Thereby, these results indicate that VB12 could be a promising molecule both for the prevention and cure of AD, thus warranting its study in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Andrade
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana A. Loureiro
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria C. Pereira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
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25
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Temperature-Dependent Structural Variability of Prion Protein Amyloid Fibrils. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105075. [PMID: 34064883 PMCID: PMC8151363 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils is associated with the onset and progression of prion diseases—a group of neurodegenerative amyloidoses. The process of such aggregate formation is still not fully understood, especially regarding their polymorphism, an event where the same type of protein forms multiple, conformationally and morphologically distinct structures. Considering that such structural variations can greatly complicate the search for potential antiamyloid compounds, either by having specific propagation properties or stability, it is important to better understand this aggregation event. We have recently reported the ability of prion protein fibrils to obtain at least two distinct conformations under identical conditions, which raised the question if this occurrence is tied to only certain environmental conditions. In this work, we examined a large sample size of prion protein aggregation reactions under a range of temperatures and analyzed the resulting fibril dye-binding, secondary structure and morphological properties. We show that all temperature conditions lead to the formation of more than one fibril type and that this variability may depend on the state of the initial prion protein molecules.
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26
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Lysozyme Fibrils Alter the Mechanism of Insulin Amyloid Aggregation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041775. [PMID: 33579016 PMCID: PMC7916790 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils is linked to multiple disorders. The understanding of how natively non-harmful proteins convert to these highly cytotoxic amyloid aggregates is still not sufficient, with new ideas and hypotheses being presented each year. Recently it has been shown that more than one type of protein aggregates may co-exist in the affected tissue of patients suffering from amyloid-related disorders, sparking the idea that amyloid aggregates formed by one protein may induce another protein’s fibrillization. In this work, we examine the effect that lysozyme fibrils have on insulin amyloid aggregation. We show that not only do lysozyme fibrils affect insulin nucleation, but they also alter the mechanism of its aggregation.
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27
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Intracellular Ionic Strength Sensing Using NanoLuc. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020677. [PMID: 33445497 PMCID: PMC7826950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular ionic strength regulates myriad cellular processes that are fundamental to cellular survival and proliferation, including protein activity, aggregation, phase separation, and cell volume. It could be altered by changes in the activity of cellular signaling pathways, such as those that impact the activity of membrane-localized ion channels or by alterations in the microenvironmental osmolarity. Therefore, there is a demand for the development of sensitive tools for real-time monitoring of intracellular ionic strength. Here, we developed a bioluminescence-based intracellular ionic strength sensing strategy using the Nano Luciferase (NanoLuc) protein that has gained tremendous utility due to its high, long-lived bioluminescence output and thermal stability. Biochemical experiments using a recombinantly purified protein showed that NanoLuc bioluminescence is dependent on the ionic strength of the reaction buffer for a wide range of ionic strength conditions. Importantly, the decrease in the NanoLuc activity observed at higher ionic strengths could be reversed by decreasing the ionic strength of the reaction, thus making it suitable for sensing intracellular ionic strength alterations. Finally, we used an mNeonGreen–NanoLuc fusion protein to successfully monitor ionic strength alterations in a ratiometric manner through independent fluorescence and bioluminescence measurements in cell lysates and live cells. We envisage that the biosensing strategy developed here for detecting alterations in intracellular ionic strength will be applicable in a wide range of experiments, including high throughput cellular signaling, ion channel functional genomics, and drug discovery.
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