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Gotte G. Effects of Pathogenic Mutants of the Neuroprotective RNase 5-Angiogenin in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:738. [PMID: 38927674 PMCID: PMC11202570 DOI: 10.3390/genes15060738] [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: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects the motoneurons. More than 40 genes are related with ALS, and amyloidogenic proteins like SOD1 and/or TDP-43 mutants are directly involved in the onset of ALS through the formation of polymorphic fibrillogenic aggregates. However, efficacious therapeutic approaches are still lacking. Notably, heterozygous missense mutations affecting the gene coding for RNase 5, an enzyme also called angiogenin (ANG), were found to favor ALS onset. This is also true for the less-studied but angiogenic RNase 4. This review reports the substrate targets and illustrates the neuroprotective role of native ANG in the neo-vascularization of motoneurons. Then, it discusses the molecular determinants of many pathogenic ANG mutants, which almost always cause loss of function related to ALS, resulting in failures in angiogenesis and motoneuron protection. In addition, ANG mutations are sometimes combined with variants of other factors, thereby potentiating ALS effects. However, the activity of the native ANG enzyme should be finely balanced, and not excessive, to avoid possible harmful effects. Considering the interplay of these angiogenic RNases in many cellular processes, this review aims to stimulate further investigations to better elucidate the consequences of mutations in ANG and/or RNase 4 genes, in order to achieve early diagnosis and, possibly, successful therapies against ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Gotte
- Biological Chemistry Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
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Noro I, Bettin I, Fasoli S, Smania M, Lunardi L, Giannini M, Andreoni L, Montioli R, Gotte G. Human RNase 1 can extensively oligomerize through 3D domain swapping thanks to the crucial contribution of its C-terminus. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 249:126110. [PMID: 37536419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126110] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Human ribonuclease (RNase) 1 and bovine RNase A are the proto-types of the secretory "pancreatic-type" (pt)-RNase super-family. RNase A can oligomerize through the 3D domain swapping (DS) mechanism upon acetic acid (HAc) lyophilisation, producing enzymatically active oligomeric conformers by swapping both N- and C-termini. Also some RNase 1 mutants were found to self-associate through 3D-DS, however forming only N-swapped dimers. Notably, enzymatically active dimers and larger oligomers of wt-RNase 1 were collected here, in higher amount than RNase A, from HAc lyophilisation. In particular, RNase 1 self-associates through the 3D-DS of its N-terminus and, at a higher extent, of the C-terminus. Since RNase 1 is four-residues longer than RNase A, we further analyzed its oligomerization tendency in a mutant lacking the last four residues. The C-terminus role has been investigated also in amphibian onconase (ONC®), a pt-RNase that can form only a N-swapped dimer, since its C-terminus, that is three-residues longer than RNase A, is locked by a disulfide bond. While ONC mutants designed to unlock or cut this constraint were almost unable to dimerize, the RNase 1 mutant self-associated at a higher extent than the wt, suggesting a specific role of the C-terminus in the oligomerization of different RNases. Overall, RNase 1 reaches here the highest ability, among pt-RNases, to extensively self-associate through 3D-DS, paving the way for new investigations on the structural and biological properties of its oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Noro
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Biological Chemistry Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bettin
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Biological Chemistry Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Sabrina Fasoli
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Biological Chemistry Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Marcello Smania
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Biological Chemistry Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Luca Lunardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Biological Chemistry Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Giannini
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Biological Chemistry Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Leonardo Andreoni
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Biological Chemistry Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Riccardo Montioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Biological Chemistry Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Gotte
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine, and Movement Sciences, Biological Chemistry Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy.
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Gotte G, Menegazzi M. Protein Oligomerization. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10648. [PMID: 37445826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein self-association is a biologically remarkable event that involves and affects the structural and functional properties of proteins [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Gotte
- Biological Chemistry Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Marta Menegazzi
- Biological Chemistry Section, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
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Sultana MF, Abo H, Kawashima H. Human and mouse angiogenins: Emerging insights and potential opportunities. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1022945. [PMID: 36466652 PMCID: PMC9714274 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1022945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenin, a well-known angiogenic factor, is crucial to the angiogenesis in gastrointestinal tumors. Human angiogenin has only one gene, whereas the murine angiogenin family has extended to incorporate six genes. Evolutionary studies have suggested functional variations among murine angiogenin paralogs, even though the three-dimensional structures of angiogenin proteins are remarkably similar. In addition to angiogenesis, the ubiquitous pattern of angiogenin expression suggests a variety of functions, such as tumorigenesis, neuroprotective, antimicrobial activity, and innate immunity. Here, we comprehensively reviewed studies on the structures and functions of human and mouse angiogenins. Understanding the structure and function of angiogenins from a broader perspective could facilitate future research related to development of novel therapeutics on its biological processes, especially in gastrointestinal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mst. Farzana Sultana
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Pharmacy, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Hirohito Abo
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroto Kawashima
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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Slow Evolution toward “Super-Aggregation” of the Oligomers Formed through the Swapping of RNase A N-Termini: A Wish for Amyloidosis? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911192. [PMID: 36232496 PMCID: PMC9569824 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Natively monomeric RNase A can oligomerize upon lyophilization from 40% acetic acid solutions or when it is heated at high concentrations in various solvents. In this way, it produces many dimeric or oligomeric conformers through the three-dimensional domain swapping (3D-DS) mechanism involving both RNase A N- or/and C-termini. Here, we found many of these oligomers evolving toward not negligible amounts of large derivatives after being stored for up to 15 months at 4 °C in phosphate buffer. We call these species super-aggregates (SAs). Notably, SAs do not originate from native RNase A monomer or from oligomers characterized by the exclusive presence of the C-terminus swapping of the enzyme subunits as well. Instead, the swapping of at least two subunits’ N-termini is mandatory to produce them. Through immunoblotting, SAs are confirmed to derive from RNase A even if they retain only low ribonucleolytic activity. Then, their interaction registered with Thioflavin-T (ThT), in addition to TEM analyses, indicate SAs are large and circular but not “amyloid-like” derivatives. This confirms that RNase A acts as an “auto-chaperone”, although it displays many amyloid-prone short segments, including the 16–22 loop included in its N-terminus. Therefore, we hypothesize the opening of RNase A N-terminus, and hence its oligomerization through 3D-DS, may represent a preliminary step favoring massive RNase A aggregation. Interestingly, this process is slow and requires low temperatures to limit the concomitant oligomers’ dissociation to the native monomer. These data and the hypothesis proposed are discussed in the light of protein aggregation in general, and of possible future applications to contrast amyloidosis.
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Sievers K, Ficner R. Structure of angiogenin dimer bound to double-stranded RNA. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2022; 78:330-337. [PMID: 36048083 PMCID: PMC9435672 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x22008317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenin is a pathologically relevant but little understood ribonuclease, the interactions of which with RNA are structurally unknown. Here, the first crystal structure of human angiogenin bound to RNA is presented. Angiogenin is an unusual member of the RNase A family and is of great interest in multiple pathological contexts. Although it has been assigned various regulatory roles, its core catalytic function is that of an RNA endonuclease. However, its catalytic efficiency is comparatively low and this has been linked to a unique C-terminal helix which partially blocks its RNA-binding site. Assuming that binding to its RNA substrate could trigger a conformational rearrangement, much speculation has arisen on the topic of the interaction of angiogenin with RNA. To date, no structural data on angiogenin–RNA interactions have been available. Here, the structure of angiogenin bound to a double-stranded RNA duplex is reported. The RNA does not reach the active site of angiogenin and no structural arrangement of the C-terminal domain is observed. However, angiogenin forms a previously unobserved crystallographic dimer that makes several backbone interactions with the major and minor grooves of the RNA double helix.
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Culurciello R, Bosso A, Troisi R, Barrella V, Di Nardo I, Borriello M, Gaglione R, Pistorio V, Aceto S, Cafaro V, Notomista E, Sica F, Arciello A, Pizzo E. Protective Effects of Recombinant Human Angiogenin in Keratinocytes: New Insights on Oxidative Stress Response Mediated by RNases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158781. [PMID: 35955913 PMCID: PMC9369303 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human angiogenin (ANG) is a 14-kDa ribonuclease involved in different pathophysiological processes including tumorigenesis, neuroprotection, inflammation, innate immunity, reproduction, the regeneration of damaged tissues and stress cell response, depending on its intracellular localization. Under physiological conditions, ANG moves to the cell nucleus where it enhances rRNA transcription; conversely, recent reports indicate that under stress conditions, ANG accumulates in the cytoplasmic compartment and modulates the production of tiRNAs, a novel class of small RNAs that contribute to the translational inhibition and recruitment of stress granules (SGs). To date, there is still limited and controversial experimental evidence relating to a hypothetical role of ANG in the epidermis, the outermost layer of human skin, which is continually exposed to external stressors. The present study collects compelling evidence that endogenous ANG is able to modify its subcellular localization on HaCaT cells, depending on different cellular stresses. Furthermore, the use of recombinant ANG allowed to determine as this special enzyme is effectively able to counter at various levels the alterations of cellular homeostasis in HaCaT cells, actually opening a new vision on the possible functions that this special enzyme can support also in the stress response of human skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna Culurciello
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Centro Servizi Metrologici e Tecnologici Avanzati (CeSMA), University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosso
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Romualdo Troisi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Barrella
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Ilaria Di Nardo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Margherita Borriello
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Gaglione
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Pistorio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Serena Aceto
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Cafaro
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Eugenio Notomista
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Filomena Sica
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Arciello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Elio Pizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Centro Servizi Metrologici e Tecnologici Avanzati (CeSMA), University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081679151
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