Amyloid deposits: protection against toxic protein species?

High-content analysis of proteostasis capacity in cellular models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Disrupted proteome homeostasis (proteostasis) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been a major focus of research in the past two decades. However, the proteostasis processes that become disturbed in ALS are not fully understood. Obtaining more detailed knowledge of proteostasis disruption in association with different ALS-causing mutations will improve our understanding of ALS pathophysiology and may identify novel therapeutic targets and strategies for ALS patients. Here we describe the development and use of a novel high-content analysis (HCA) assay to investigate proteostasis disturbances caused by the expression of several ALS-causing gene variants. This assay involves the use of conformationally-destabilised mutants of firefly luciferase (Fluc) to examine protein folding/re-folding capacity in NSC-34 cells expressing ALS-associated mutations in the genes encoding superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1A4V) and cyclin F (CCNFS621G). We demonstrate that these Fluc isoforms can be used in high-throughput format to report on reductions in the activity of the chaperone network that result from the expression of SOD1A4V, providing multiplexed information at single-cell resolution. In addition to SOD1A4V and CCNFS621G, NSC-34 models of ALS-associated TDP-43, FUS, UBQLN2, OPTN, VCP and VAPB mutants were generated that could be screened using this assay in future work. For ALS-associated mutant proteins that do cause reductions in protein quality control capacity, such as SOD1A4V, this assay has potential to be applied in drug screening studies to identify candidate compounds that can ameliorate this deficiency.

Diosgenin loaded cellulose nanoonion impedes different stages of protein aggregation induced cell death via alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction and upregulation of autophagy

Protein aggregation is a multifaceted phenomenon prevalent in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, yielding aggregates of diverse sizes. Recently, increased attention has been directed towards early protein aggregates due to their pronounced toxicity, largely stemming from inflammation mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study advocates for a therapeutic approach focusing on inflammation control rather than mere ROS inhibition in the context of neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we introduced Camellia sinensis cellulose nanoonion (CS-CNO) as an innovative, biocompatible nanocarrier for encapsulating the phytosteroid diosgenin (DGN@CS-CNO). The resulting nano-assembly, manifesting as spherical entities with dimensions averaging ~180-220 nm, exhibits a remarkable capacity for the gradual and sustained release of approximately 39-44 % of DGN over a 60-hour time frame. DGN@CS-CNO displays a striking ability to inhibit or disassemble various phases of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) protein aggregates, including the early (HEWLEA) and late (HEWLLA) stages. In vitro experiments employing HEK293 cells underscore the potential of DGN@CS-CNO in mitigating cell death provoked by protein aggregation. This effect is achieved by ameliorating ROS-mediated inflammation and countering mitochondrial dysfunction, as evidenced by alterations in TNFα, TLR4, and MT-CO1 protein expression. Western blot analyses reveal that the gradual and sustained release of DGN from DGN@CS-CNO induces autophagy, a pivotal process in dismantling intracellular amyloid deposits. In summary, this study not only illuminates a path forward but also presents a compelling case for the utilization of phytosteroid as a formidable strategy against neuroinflammation incited by protein aggregation.

Widespread nuclear lamina injuries defeat proteostatic purposes of α-synuclein amyloid inclusions

Biogenesis of inclusion bodies (IBs) facilitates protein quality control (PQC). Canonical aggresomes execute degradation of misfolded proteins while non-degradable amyloids sequester into insoluble protein deposits. Lewy bodies (LBs) are filamentous amyloid inclusions of α-synuclein, but PQC benefits and drawbacks associated with LB-like IBs remain underexplored. Here, we report that crosstalk between filamentous LB-like IBs and aggresome-like IBs of α-synuclein (Syn-aggresomes) buffer the load, aggregation state, and turnover of the amyloidogenic protein in mouse primary neurons and HEK293T cells. Filamentous LB-like IBs possess unorthodox PQC capacities of self-quarantining α-synuclein amyloids and being degradable upon receding fresh amyloidogenesis. Syn-aggresomes equilibrate biogenesis of filamentous LB-like IBs by facilitating spontaneous degradation of α-synuclein and conditional turnover of disintegrated α-synuclein amyloids. Thus, both types of IB primarily contribute to PQC. Incidentally, the overgrown perinuclear LB-like IBs become degenerative once these are misidentified by BICD2, a cargo-adapter for the cytosolic motor-protein dynein. Microscopy indicates that microtubules surrounding the perinuclear filamentous inclusions are also distorted, misbalancing the cytoskeleton-nucleoskeleton tension leading to widespread lamina injuries. Together, nucleocytoplasmic mixing, DNA damage, and deregulated transcription of stress chaperones defeat the proteostatic purposes of the filamentous amyloids of α-synuclein.

Targeted ASO-mediated Atp1a2 knockdown in astrocytes reduces SOD1 aggregation and accelerates disease onset in mutant SOD1 mice

Astrocyte-specific ion pump α2-Na+/K+-ATPase plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we test the effect of Atp1a2 mRNA-specific antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to induce α2-Na+/K+-ATPase knockdown in the widely used ALS animal model, SOD1*G93A mice. Two ASOs led to efficient Atp1a2 knockdown and significantly reduced SOD1 aggregation in vivo. Although Atp1a2 ASO-treated mice displayed no off-target or systemic toxicity, the ASO-treated mice exhibited an accelerated disease onset and shorter lifespan than control mice. Transcriptomics studies reveal downregulation of genes involved in oxidative response, metabolic pathways, trans-synaptic signaling, and upregulation of genes involved in glutamate receptor signaling and complement activation, suggesting a potential role for these molecular pathways in de-coupling SOD1 aggregation from survival in Atp1a2 ASO-treated mice. Together, these results reveal a role for α2-Na+/K+-ATPase in SOD1 aggregation and highlight the critical effect of temporal modulation of genetically validated therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative diseases.

The role of tandem repeats in bacterial functional amyloids

Repetitivity and modularity of proteins are two related notions incorporated into multiple evolutionary concepts. We discuss whether they may also be essential for functional amyloids. Amyloids are proteins that create very regular and usually highly insoluble fibrils, which are often associated with neurodegeneration. However, recent discoveries showed that amyloid structure of a protein could also be beneficial and desired, e.g., to promote cell adhesion. Functional amyloids are proteins which differ in their characteristics from pathological amyloids, so that the fibril formation could be more under control of an organism. We propose that repeats in the sequence could regulate the aggregation propensity of these proteins. The inclusion of multiple symmetric interactions, due to the presence of the repeats, could be supporting and strengthening the desirable structural properties of functional amyloids. Our results show that tandem repeats in bacterial functional amyloids have a distinct characteristic. The pattern of repeats supports the appropriate level of fibril formation and better controllability of fibril stability. The repeats tend to be more imperfect, which attenuates excessive aggregation propensity. Their desired structure and function are also reinforced by their amino acid profile. Although in the study we focused on bacterial functional amyloids, due to their importance in biofilm formation, we propose that similar mechanisms could be employed in other functional amyloids which are designed by evolution to aggregate in a desirable manner, but not necessarily in pathological amyloids.

Naringenin-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles and Their Role in α-Synuclein Stabilization

Misfolding and self-assembly of several intrinsically disordered proteins into ordered β-sheet-rich amyloid aggregates emerged as hallmarks of several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Here we show how the naringenin-embedded nanostructure effectively retards aggregation and fibril formation of α-synuclein, which is strongly associated with the pathology of Parkinson's-like diseases. Naringenin is a polyphenolic compound from a plant source, and in our current investigation, we reported the one-pot synthesis of naringenin-coated spherical and monophasic gold nanoparticles (NAR-AuNPs) under optimized conditions. The average hydrodynamic diameter of the produced nanoparticle was ∼24 nm and showed a distinct absorption band at 533 nm. The zeta potential of the nanocomposite was ∼-22 mV and indicated the presence of naringenin on the surface of nanoparticles. Core-level XPS spectrum analysis showed prominent peaks at 84.02 and 87.68 eV, suggesting the zero oxidation state of metal in the nanostructure. Additionally, the peaks at 86.14 and 89.76 eV were due to the Au-O bond, induced by the hydroxyl groups of the naringenin molecule. The FT-IR analysis further confirmed strong interactions of the molecule with the gold nanosurface via the phenolic oxygen group. The composite surface was found to interact with monomeric α-synuclein and caused a red shift in the nanoparticle absorption band by ∼5 nm. The binding affinity of the composite nanostructure toward α-synuclein was in the micromolar range (K_a∼ 5.02 × 10⁶ M^-1) and may produce a protein corona over the gold nanosurface. A circular dichroism study showed that the nanocomposite can arrest the conformational fluctuation of the protein and hindered its transformation into a compact cross-β-sheet conformation, a prerequisite for amyloid fibril formation. Furthermore, it was found that naringenin and its nanocomplex did not perturb the viability of neuronal cells. It thus appeared that engineering of the nanosurface with naringenin could be an alternative strategy in developing treatment approaches for Parkinson's and other diseases linked to protein conformation.

ALS/FTD: Evolution, Aging, and Cellular Metabolic Exhaustion

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) are neurodegenerations with evolutionary underpinnings, expansive clinical presentations, and multiple genetic risk factors involving a complex network of pathways. This perspective considers the complex cellular pathology of aging motoneuronal and frontal/prefrontal cortical networks in the context of evolutionary, clinical, and biochemical features of the disease. We emphasize the importance of evolution in the development of the higher cortical function, within the influence of increasing lifespan. Particularly, the role of aging on the metabolic competence of delicately optimized neurons, age-related increased proteostatic costs, and specific genetic risk factors that gradually reduce the energy available for neuronal function leading to neuronal failure and disease.

Progress in biophysics and molecular biology proteostasis impairment and ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that results from the loss of both upper and lower motor neurons. It is the most common motor neuron disease and currently has no effective treatment. There is mounting evidence to suggest that disturbances in proteostasis play a significant role in ALS pathogenesis. Proteostasis is the maintenance of the proteome at the right level, conformation and location to allow a cell to perform its intended function. In this review, we present a thorough synthesis of the literature that provides evidence that genetic mutations associated with ALS cause imbalance to a proteome that is vulnerable to such pressure due to its metastable nature. We propose that the mechanism underlying motor neuron death caused by defects in mRNA metabolism and protein degradation pathways converges on proteostasis dysfunction. We propose that the proteostasis network may provide an effective target for therapeutic development in ALS.

The effect of mechanical shocks on the initial aggregation behavior of yeast prion protein Sup35NM

To study the effect of mechanical shocks on the neurodegenerative-related fibril-formation protein, the aggregation process, especially the initial oligomerization of a model yeast prion protein Sup35NM, was followed and analyzed by using a combination of laser light scattering, the Smoluchowski coagulation analysis, Thioflavin T fluorescence assay, and transmission electron microscopy. We find that an initial short-time mechanical shock (ultrasonication or circular shaking) affects the in vitro association kinetics of neurodegenerative-related Sup35NM proteins in dilute PBS solutions by generating a relatively larger number of smaller non-structured oligomers that further serve as tiny "crystallization" seeds in promoting the formation of longer fibrils. Our study provides an effective and quantitative method to investigate the initial oligomerization kinetics of amyloid fibrils formation. Furthermore, the current results may shed light on the molecular understanding on how environmental factors increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.

Challenges in sample preparation and structure determination of amyloids by cryo-EM

Amyloids share a common architecture but play disparate biological roles in processes ranging from bacterial defense mechanisms to protein misfolding diseases. Their structures are highly polymorphic, which makes them difficult to study by X-ray diffraction or NMR spectroscopy. Our understanding of amyloid structures is due in large part to recent advances in the field of cryo-EM, which allows for determining the polymorphs separately. In this review, we highlight the main stepping stones leading to the substantial number of high-resolution amyloid fibril structures known today as well as recent developments regarding automation and software in cryo-EM. We discuss that sample preparation should move closer to physiological conditions to understand how amyloid aggregation and disease are linked. We further highlight new approaches to address heterogeneity and polymorphism of amyloid fibrils in EM image processing and give an outlook to the upcoming challenges in researching the structural biology of amyloids.

Unusual aggregation property of recombinantly expressed cancer-testis antigens in mammalian cells

Transient expression of human intracellular proteins in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells is a reliable system for obtaining soluble proteins with biologically active conformations. Contrary to conventional concepts, we found that recombinantly expressed intracellular cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) showed frequent aggregation in HEK293 cells. Although experimental subcellular localization of recombinant CTAs displayed proper cytosolic or nuclear localization, some proteins showed aggregated particles in the cell. This aggregative property was not observed in recombinant housekeeping proteins. No significant correlation was found between the aggregative and biophysical properties, such as hydrophobicity, contents of intrinsically disordered regions, and expression levels, of CTAs. These results can be explained in terms of structural instability of CTAs, which are specifically expressed in the testis and aberrantly expressed in cancer cells and function as a hub in the protein-protein network using intrinsically disordered regions. Hence, we speculate that recombinantly expressed CTAs failed to form this protein complex. Thus, unfolded CTAs formed aggregated particles in the cell.

The role of amyloid oligomers in neurodegenerative pathologies

Many neurodegenerative diseases are rooted in the activities of amyloid-like proteins which possess conformations that spread to healthy proteins. These include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While their clinical manifestations vary, their protein-level mechanisms are remarkably similar. Aberrant monomeric proteins undergo conformational shifts, facilitating aggregation and formation of solid fibrils. However, there is growing evidence that intermediate oligomeric stages are key drivers of neuronal toxicity. Analysis of protein dynamics is complicated by the fact that nucleation and growth of amyloid-like proteins is not a linear pathway. Feedback within this pathway results in exponential acceleration of aggregation, but activities exerted by oligomers and fibrils can alter cellular interactions and the cellular environment as a whole. The resulting cascade of effects likely contributes to the late onset and accelerating progression of amyloid-like protein disorders and the widespread effects they have on the body. In this review we explore the amyloid-like proteins associated with AD, PD, HD and ALS, as well as the common mechanisms of amyloid-like protein nucleation and aggregation. From this, we identify core elements of pathological progression which have been targeted for therapies, and which may become future therapeutic targets.

Trehalose Restrains the Fibril Load towards α-Lactalbumin Aggregation and Halts Fibrillation in a Concentration-Dependent Manner

Protein aggregation and misfolding are some of the most challenging obstacles, customarily studied for their association with amyloid pathologies. The mechanism of amyloid fibrillation development is a dynamic phenomenon involving various factors such as the intrinsic properties of protein and the physical and chemical environmental conditions. The purpose of this study was to see the thermal aggregation profile of alpha-lactalbumin (α-LA) and to delineate the effect of trehalose on its aggregation profile. α-LA was subjected to thermal aggregation at high concentrations. UV-Vis spectroscopy, a turbidity assay, intrinsic fluorescence, Rayleigh scattering and a thioflavin T (ThT) assay explained the steady outcomes that 1 M trehalose repressed α-LA aggregation in the most effective way followed by 0.75 M and 0.5 M and to a significantly lesser degree by 0.25 M. Multi spectroscopic obser Sania Bashir ations were further entrenched by microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that in the presence of its higher concentration, trehalose hinders fibril development in α-LA. In vitro studies were further validated by in silico studies. Molecular docking analysis indicated that trehalose occupied the binding pocket cavity of α-LA and offered several significant interactions, including H-bonds with important residues. This study provides a platform for trehalose in the therapeutic management of protein aggregation-related diseases.

Stress-induced NEDDylation promotes cytosolic protein aggregation through HDAC6 in a p62-dependent manner

Stress-coupled NEDDylation potentially regulates the aggregation of nuclear proteins, which could protect the nuclear ubiquitin-proteasome system from proteotoxic stress. However, it remains unclear how NEDDylation controls protein-aggregation responses to diverse stress conditions. Here, we identified HDAC6 as a direct NEDD8-binding partner that regulates the formation of aggresome-like bodies (ALBs) containing NEDDylated cytosolic protein aggregates during ubiquitin stress. HDAC6 colocalizes with stress-induced ALBs, and HDAC6 inhibition suppresses ALBs formation, but not stress-induced NEDDylation, suggesting that HDAC6 carries NEDDylated-proteins to generate ALBs. Then, we monitored the ALBs-associated proteostasis network and found that p62 directly controls ALBs formation as an acceptor of NEDDylated cytosolic aggregates. Interestingly, we also observed that ALBs are highly condensed in chloroquine-treated cells with impaired autophagic flux, indicating that ALBs rely on autophagy. Collectively, our data suggest that NEDD8, HDAC6, and p62 are involved in the management of proteotoxic stress by forming cytosolic ALBs coupled to the aggresome-autophagy flux.

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NEDD8 directly binds to HDAC6 and regulates the formation of aggresome-like body (ALB)

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HDAC6 carries NEDDylated cytosolic protein aggregates into ALBs under ubiquitin stress

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p62 directly controls ALBs formation as an acceptor of NEDDylated cytosolic aggregates

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The NEDD8-HDAC6-p62 axis controls proteostasis by forming ALB-coupled autophagy

Emerging Promise of Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's Disease: A New Hope for the Development of Alzheimer's Vaccine

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder and the characteristics of this devastating disorder include the progressive and disabling deficits in the cognitive functions including reasoning, attention, judgment, comprehension, memory, and language.

OBJECTIVE

In this article, we have focused on the recent progress that has been achieved in the development of an effective AD vaccine.

SUMMARY

Currently, available treatment options of AD are limited to deliver short-term symptomatic relief only. A number of strategies targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ) have been developed in order to treat or prevent AD. In order to exert an effective immune response, an AD vaccine should contain adjuvants that can induce an effective anti-inflammatory T helper 2 (Th2) immune response. AD vaccines should also possess the immunogens which have the capacity to stimulate a protective immune response against various cytotoxic Aβ conformers. The induction of an effective vaccine's immune response would necessitate the parallel delivery of immunogen to dendritic cells (DCs) and their priming to stimulate a Th2-polarized response. The aforesaid immune response is likely to mediate the generation of neutralizing antibodies against the neurotoxic Aβ oligomers (AβOs) and also anti-inflammatory cytokines, thus preventing the AD-related inflammation.

CONCLUSION

Since there is an age-related decline in the immune functions, therefore vaccines are more likely to prevent AD instead of providing treatment. AD vaccines might be an effective and convenient approach to avoid the treatment-related huge expense.

Passive immunotherapies targeting Aβ and tau in Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau proteins currently represent the two most promising targets to treat Alzheimer's disease. The most extensively developed method to treat the pathologic forms of these proteins is through the administration of exogenous antibodies, or passive immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the molecular-level strategies that researchers are using to design an effective therapeutic antibody, given the challenges in treating this disease. These challenges include selectively targeting a protein that has misfolded or is pathological rather than the more abundant, healthy protein, designing strategic constructs for immunizing an animal to raise an antibody that has the appropriate conformational selectivity to achieve this end, and clearing the pathological protein species before prion-like cell-to-cell spread of misfolded protein has irreparably damaged neurons, without invoking damaging inflammatory responses in the brain that naturally arise when the innate immune system is clearing foreign agents. The various solutions to these problems in current clinical trials will be discussed.

Microglial-associated responses to comorbid amyloid pathology and hyperhomocysteinemia in an aged knock-in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

Elevated blood homocysteine levels, termed hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), is a prevalent risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in elderly populations. While dietary supplementation of B-vitamins is a generally effective method to lower homocysteine levels, there is little if any benefit to cognition. In the context of amyloid pathology, dietary-induced HHcy is known to enhance amyloid deposition and certain inflammatory responses. Little is known, however, about whether there is a more specific effect on microglia resulting from combined amyloid and HHcy pathologies.

METHODS

The present study used a knock-in mouse model of amyloidosis, aged to 12 months, given 8 weeks of B-vitamin deficiency-induced HHcy to better understand how microglia are affected in this comorbidity context.

RESULTS

We found that HHcy-inducing diet increased amyloid plaque burden, altered the neuroinflammatory milieu, and upregulated the expression of multiple damage-associated and "homeostatic" microglial genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these data indicate complex effects of comorbid pathologies on microglial function that are not driven solely by increased amyloid burden. Given the highly dynamic nature of microglia, their central role in AD pathology, and the frequent occurrence of various comorbidities in AD patients, it is increasingly important to understand how microglia respond to mixed pathological processes.

Assessing Reproducibility in Amyloid β Research: Impact of Aβ Sources on Experimental Outcomes

The difficulty of synthesizing and purifying the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, combined with its high aggregation propensity and low solubility under physiological conditions, leads to a wide variety of experimental results from kinetic assays to biological activity. Thus, it becomes challenging to reproduce outcomes, and this limits our ability to rely on reported results as the foundation for new research. This article examines variability of the Aβ peptide from different sources, comparing purity, and oligomer and fibril formation propensity side by side. The results highlight the importance of performing rigorous controls so that meaningful biophysical, biochemical, and neurobiological results can be obtained to improve our understanding on Aβ.

Syntaxin 5 Is Required for the Formation and Clearance of Protein Inclusions during Proteostatic Stress

Spatial sorting to discrete quality control sites in the cell is a process harnessing the toxicity of aberrant proteins. We show that the yeast t-snare phosphoprotein syntaxin5 (Sed5) acts as a key factor in mitigating proteotoxicity and the spatial deposition and clearance of IPOD (insoluble protein deposit) inclusions associates with the disaggregase Hsp104. Sed5 phosphorylation promotes dynamic movement of COPII-associated Hsp104 and boosts disaggregation by favoring anterograde ER-to-Golgi trafficking. Hsp104-associated aggregates co-localize with Sed5 as well as components of the ER, trans Golgi network, and endocytic vesicles, transiently during proteostatic stress, explaining mechanistically how misfolded and aggregated proteins formed at the vicinity of the ER can hitchhike toward vacuolar IPOD sites. Many inclusions become associated with mitochondria in a HOPS/vCLAMP-dependent manner and co-localize with Vps39 (HOPS/vCLAMP) and Vps13, which are proteins providing contacts between vacuole and mitochondria. Both Vps39 and Vps13 are required also for efficient Sed5-dependent clearance of aggregates.

Increased levels of Stress-inducible phosphoprotein-1 accelerates amyloid-β deposition in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Molecular chaperones and co-chaperones, which are part of the protein quality control machinery, have been shown to regulate distinct aspects of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology in multiple ways. Notably, the co-chaperone STI1, which presents increased levels in AD, can protect mammalian neurons from amyloid-β toxicity in vitro and reduced STI1 levels worsen Aβ toxicity in C. elegans. However, whether increased STI1 levels can protect neurons in vivo remains unknown. We determined that overexpression of STI1 and/or Hsp90 protected C. elegans expressing Aβ(3-42) against Aβ-mediated paralysis. Mammalian neurons were also protected by elevated levels of endogenous STI1 in vitro, and this effect was mainly due to extracellular STI1. Surprisingly, in the 5xFAD mouse model of AD, by overexpressing STI1, we find increased amyloid burden, which amplifies neurotoxicity and worsens spatial memory deficits in these mutants. Increased levels of STI1 disturbed the expression of Aβ-regulating enzymes (BACE1 and MMP-2), suggesting potential mechanisms by which amyloid burden is increased in mice. Notably, we observed that STI1 accumulates in dense-core AD plaques in both 5xFAD mice and human brain tissue. Our findings suggest that elevated levels of STI1 contribute to Aβ accumulation, and that STI1 is deposited in AD plaques in mice and humans. We conclude that despite the protective effects of STI1 in C. elegans and in mammalian cultured neurons, in vivo, the predominant effect of elevated STI1 is deleterious in AD.

The role of TDP-43 mislocalization in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Since its discovery as a primary component in cytoplasmic aggregates in post-mortem tissue of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), TAR DNA Binding Protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) has remained a central focus to understand the disease. TDP-43 links both familial and sporadic forms of ALS as mutations are causative for disease and cytoplasmic aggregates are a hallmark of nearly all cases, regardless of TDP-43 mutational status. Research has focused on the formation and consequences of cytosolic protein aggregates as drivers of ALS pathology through both gain- and loss-of-function mechanisms. Not only does aggregation sequester the normal function of TDP-43, but these aggregates also actively block normal cellular processes inevitably leading to cellular demise in a short time span. Although there may be some benefit to therapeutically targeting TDP-43 aggregation, this step may be too late in disease development to have substantial therapeutic benefit. However, TDP-43 pathology appears to be tightly linked with its mislocalization from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, making it difficult to decouple the consequences of nuclear-to-cytoplasmic mislocalization from protein aggregation. Studies focusing on the effects of TDP-43 mislocalization have demonstrated both gain- and loss-of-function consequences including altered splicing regulation, over responsiveness to cellular stressors, increases in DNA damage, and transcriptome-wide changes. Additionally, mutations in TARDBP confer a baseline increase in cytoplasmic TDP-43 thus suggesting that small changes in the subcellular localization of TDP-43 could in fact drive early pathology. In this review, we bring forth the theme of protein mislocalization as a key mechanism underlying ALS, by highlighting the importance of maintaining subcellular proteostasis along with the gain- and loss-of-functional consequences when TDP-43 localization is dysregulated. Additional research, focusing on early events in TDP-43 pathogenesis (i.e. to the protein mislocalization stage) will provide insight into disease mechanisms, therapeutic targets, and novel biomarkers for ALS.

Plausible compounds drawn from plants as curative agents for neurodegeneration: An in-silico approach

Classification of chemical compounds of plants as a source of medicaments for neurodegenerative diseases through computer screening is an efficient process in drug discovery, in advance of laboratory testing and clinical trials. The onset of neurodegenerative disorders incarcerates both sufferers and their families mentally and financially. This investigation emphasises the search for potent compounds via a computational approach, as an initial path towards the treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), prion, and Huntington's (HD) diseases. The therapeutic strategy considered here is chelation therapy, emanated from the heightened levels of metal ions, which play an imperative role in the pathogenesis of all four neurodegenerative disorders mentioned. Hence, potent compounds from Sri Lankan plants to function as lead compounds have been identified for Cu(II), Fe(III), Zn(II), and Al(III) ions, from a library of around 200 chemical compounds, using an umbrella sampling molecular dynamics computational approach where the chelating ability of compounds for the metal ion is assessed in terms of binding free energy. Calculations reveal that 12 Sri Lankan plants possess compounds that could be considered as starting points of leads for AD, PD and prion disease. However, no compound was potentially useful for the HD category, according to the study. Potential of mean force of Al³⁺ binding to (-)-5-methylmellin found in Semecarpus walkeri with two representative configurations.

Hitchhiking on vesicles: a way to harness age-related proteopathies?

Central to proteopathies and leading to most age-related neurodegenerative disorders is a failure in protein quality control (PQC). To harness the toxicity of misfolded and damaged disease proteins, such proteins are either refolded, degraded by temporal PQC, or sequestered by spatial PQC into specific, organelle-associated, compartments within the cell. Here, we discuss the impact of vesicle trafficking pathways in general, and syntaxin 5 in particular, as key players in spatial PQC directing misfolded proteins to the surface of vacuole and mitochondria, which facilitates their clearance and detoxification. Since boosting vesicle trafficking genetically can positively impact on spatial PQC and make cells less sensitive to misfolded disease proteins, we speculate that regulators of such trafficking might serve as therapeutic targets for age-related neurological disorders.

Modification of Aβ Peptide Aggregation via Covalent Binding of a Series of Ru(III) Complexes

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, leading to loss of cognition, and eventually death. The disease is characterized by the formation of extracellular aggregates of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide and neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein inside cells, and oxidative stress. In this study, we investigate a series of Ru(III) complexes (Ru-N) derived from NAMI-A in which the imidazole ligand has been substituted for pyridine derivatives, as potential therapeutics for AD. The ability of the Ru-N series to bind to Aβ was evaluated by NMR and ESI-MS, and their influence on the Aβ peptide aggregation process was investigated via electrophoresis gel/western blot, TEM, turbidity, and Bradford assays. The complexes were shown to bind covalently to the Aβ peptide, likely via a His residue. Upon binding, the complexes promote the formation of soluble high molecular weight aggregates, in comparison to peptide precipitation for peptide alone. In addition, TEM analysis supports both amorphous and fibrillar aggregate morphology for Ru-N treatments, while only large amorphous aggregates are observed for peptide alone. Overall, our results show that the Ru-N complexes modulate Aβ peptide aggregation, however, the change in the size of the pyridine ligand does not substantially alter the Aβ aggregation process.

Size-Dependent Interaction of Amyloid β Oligomers with Brain Total Lipid Extract Bilayer-Fibrillation Versus Membrane Destruction

Amyloid β, Aβ(1-42), is a component of senile plaques present in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients and one of the main suspects responsible for pathological consequences of the disease. Herein, we directly visualize the Aβ activity toward a brain-like model membrane and demonstrate that this activity strongly depends on the Aβ oligomer size. PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping mode of atomic force microscopy imaging revealed that the interaction of large-size (LS) Aβ oligomers, corresponding to high-molecular-weight Aβ oligomers, with the brain total lipid extract (BTLE) membrane resulted in accelerated Aβ fibrillogenesis on the membrane surface. Importantly, the fibrillogenesis did not affect integrity of the membrane. In contrast, small-size (SS) Aβ oligomers, corresponding to low-molecular-weight Aβ oligomers, created pores and then disintegrated the BTLE membrane. Both forms of the Aβ oligomers changed nanomechanical properties of the membrane by decreasing its Young's modulus by ∼45%. Our results demonstrated that both forms of Aβ oligomers induce the neurotoxic effect on the brain cells but their action toward the membrane differs significantly.

Trapping and Characterization of Nontoxic Aβ42 Aggregation Intermediates

Amyloid β (Aβ) 42 is an aggregation-prone peptide and the believed seminal etiological agent of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Intermediates of Aβ42 aggregation, commonly referred to as diffusible oligomers, are considered to be among the most toxic forms of the peptide. Here, we studied the effect of the age-related epimerization of Ser26 (i.e., S26s chiral edit) in Aβ42 and discovered that this subtle molecular change led to reduced fibril formation propensity. Surprisingly, the resultant soluble aggregates were nontoxic. To gain insight into the structural changes that occurred in the peptide upon S26s substitution, the system was probed using an array of biophysical and biochemical methods. These experiments consistently pointed to the stabilization of aggregation intermediates in the Aβ42-S26s system. To better understand the changes arising as a consequence of the S26s substitution, molecular level structural studies were performed. Using a combined nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)- and density functional theory (DFT)-computational approach, we found that the S26s chiral edit induced only local structural changes in the Gly25-Ser26-Asn27 region. Interestingly, these subtle changes enabled the formation of an intramolecular Ser26-Asn27 H-bond, which disrupted the ability of Asn27 to engage in the fibrillogenic side chain-to-side chain H-bonding pattern. This reveals that intermolecular stabilizing interactions between Asn27 side chains are a key element controlling Aβ42 aggregation and toxicity.

Key Peptides and Proteins in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a form of progressive dementia involving cognitive impairment, loss of learning and memory. Different proteins (such as amyloid precursor protein (APP), β- amyloid (Aβ) and tau protein) play a key role in the initiation and progression of AD. We review the role of the most important proteins and peptides in AD pathogenesis. The structure, biosynthesis and physiological role of APP are shortly summarized. The details of trafficking and processing of APP to Aβ, the cytosolic intracellular Aβ domain (AICD) and small soluble proteins are shown, together with other amyloid-forming proteins such as tau and α-synuclein (α-syn). Hypothetic physiological functions of Aβ are summarized. The mechanism of conformational change, the formation and the role of neurotoxic amyloid oligomeric (oAβ) are shown. The fibril formation process and the co-existence of different steric structures (U-shaped and S-shaped) of Aβ monomers in mature fibrils are demonstrated. We summarize the known pathogenic and non-pathogenic mutations and show the toxic interactions of Aβ species after binding to cellular receptors. Tau phosphorylation, fibrillation, the molecular structure of tau filaments and their toxic effect on microtubules are shown. Development of Aβ and tau imaging in AD brain and CSF as well as blood biomarkers is shortly summarized. The most probable pathomechanisms of AD including the toxic effects of oAβ and tau; the three (biochemical, cellular and clinical) phases of AD are shown. Finally, the last section summarizes the present state of Aβ- and tau-directed therapies and future directions of AD research and drug development.

Long-term voluntary wheel running does not alter vascular amyloid burden but reduces neuroinflammation in the Tg-SwDI mouse model of cerebral amyloid angiopathy

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular exercise (CVE) has been shown to be protective against cognitive decline in aging and the risk for dementias, including Alzheimer's Disease (AD). CVE has also been shown to have several beneficial effects on brain pathology and behavioral impairments in mouse models of AD; however, no studies have specifically examined the effects of CVE on cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), which is the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the cerebral vasculature. CAA may be uniquely susceptible to beneficial effects of CVE interventions due to the location and nature of the pathology. Alternatively, CVE may exacerbate CAA pathology, due to added stress on already compromised cerebral vasculature.

METHODS

In the current study, we examined the effects of CVE over many months in mice, thereby modeling a lifelong commitment to CVE in humans. We assessed this voluntary CVE in Tg-SwDI mice, a transgenic mouse model of CAA that exhibits behavioral deficits, fibrillar vascular Aβ pathology, and significant perivascular neuroinflammation. Various "doses" of exercise intervention (0 h ("Sedentary"), 1 h, 3 h, 12 h access to running wheel) were assessed from ~ 4 to 12 months of age for effects on physiology, behavior/cognitive performance, and pathology.

RESULTS

The 12 h group performed the greatest volume of exercise, whereas the 1 h and 3 h groups showed high levels of exercise intensity, as defined by more frequent and longer duration running bouts. Tg-SwDI mice exhibited significant cerebral vascular Aβ pathology and increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as compared to WT controls. Tg-SwDI mice did not show motor dysfunction or altered levels of anxiety or sociability compared to WT controls, though Tg-SwDI animals did appear to exhibit a reduced tendency to explore novel environments. At all running levels, CAA pathology in Tg-SwDI mice was not significantly altered, but 12-h high-volume exercise showed increased insoluble Aβ burden. However, CVE attenuated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 and was generally effective at enhancing motor function and reducing anxiety-like behavior in Tg-SwDI mice, though alterations in learning and memory tasks were varied.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these results suggest that CAA can still develop regardless of a lifespan of substantial CVE, although downstream effects on neuroinflammation may be reduced and functional outcomes improved.

Lysozyme-luteolin binding: molecular insights into the complexation process and the inhibitory effects of luteolin towards protein modification

In the proposed work, the complexation of bioactive flavonoid luteolin with hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) along with its inhibitory influence on HEWL modification has been explored with the help of multi-spectroscopic and computational methods. The binding affinity has been observed to be moderate in nature (in the order of 10⁴ M^-1) and the static quenching mechanism was found to be involved in the fluorescence quenching process. The binding constant (K_b) shows a progressive increase with the increase in temperature from (4.075 ± 0.046 × 10⁴ M^-1) at 293 K to (6.962 ± 0.024 × 10⁴ M^-1) at 313 K under experimental conditions. Spectroscopic measurements along with molecular docking calculations suggest that Trp62 is involved in the binding site of luteolin within the geometry of HEWL. The positive changes in enthalpy (ΔH = +19.99 ± 0.65 kJ mol^-1) as well as entropy (ΔS = +156.28 ± 2.00 J K^-1 mol^-1) are indicative of the presence of hydrophobic forces that stabilize the HEWL-luteolin complex. The micro-environment around the Trp residues showed an increase in hydrophobicity as indicated by synchronous fluorescence (SFS), three dimensional fluorescence (3D) and red edge excitation (REES) studies. The % α-helix of HEWL showed a marked reduction upon binding with luteolin as indicated by circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies. Moreover, luteolin is situated at a distance of 4.275 ± 0.004 nm from the binding site as indicated by FRET theory, and the rate of energy transfer k_ET (0.063 ± 0.004 ns^-1) has been observed to be faster than the donor decay rate (1/τ_D = 0.606 ns^-1), which is indicative of the non-radiative energy transfer during complexation. Leaving aside the binding study, luteolin showed promising inhibitory effects towards the d-ribose mediated glycation of HEWL as well as towards HEWL fibrillation as studied by fluorescence emission and imaging studies. Excellent correlation with the experimental observations as well as precise location and dynamics of luteolin within the binding site has been obtained from molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies.

Exploring Amyloid-β Dimer Structure Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

A major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the aggregation of amyloid-β peptides in the brains of people afflicted by the disease. The exact pathway to this catastrophic event is unknown. In this work, a total of 9.5 μs molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to investigate the structure and dynamics of the smallest form of toxic Aβ oligomers, i.e., the Aβ dimers. This study suggests that specific hydrophobic regions are vital in the aggregation process. Different possible structures for Aβ dimers are reported along with their relative binding affinity. These data may be used to design better Aβ-aggregation inhibitors. The diversity of the dimer structures suggests several aggregation pathways.

Promising Results from Alzheimer's Disease Passive Immunotherapy Support the Development of a Preventive Vaccine

The apparently near-term effects of the monoclonal antibody BAN2401 in slowing the progression of prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD) has created cautious optimism about the therapeutic use of antibodies that neutralize cytotoxic soluble amyloid-β aggregates, rather than removing plaque. Plaque being protective, as it immobilizes cytotoxic amyloid-β, rather than AD's causative agent. The presence of natural antibodies against cytotoxic amyloid-β implies the existence of a protective anti-AD immunity. Hence, for vaccines to induce a similar immunoresponse that prevents and/or delays the onset of AD, they must have adjuvants that stimulate a sole anti-inflammatory Th2 immunity, plus immunogens that induce a protective immunoresponse against diverse cytotoxic amyloid-β conformers. Indeed, amyloid-β pleomorphism may explain the lack of long-term protection by monoclonal antibodies that neutralize single conformers, like aducanumab. A situation that would allow new cytotoxic conformers to escape neutralization by previously effective monoclonal antibodies. Stimulation of a vaccine's effective immunoresponse would require the concurrent delivery of immunogen to dendritic cells and their priming, to induce a polarized Th2 immunity. An immunoresponse that would produce besides neutralizing antibodies against neurotoxic amyloid-β oligomers, anti-inflammatory cytokines; preventing inflammation that aggravates AD. Because of age-linked immune decline, vaccines would be significantly more effective in preventing, rather than treating AD. Considering the amyloid-β's role in tau's pathological hyperphosphorylation and their synergism in AD, the development of preventive vaccines against both amyloid-β and tau should be considered. Due to convenience and cost, vaccines may be the only option available to many countries to forestall the impending AD epidemic.

Novel Mannitol-Based Small Molecules for Inhibiting Aggregation of α-Synuclein Amyloids in Parkinson's Disease

The aggregation of the amyloidogenic protein α-synuclein (α-Syn) into toxic oligomers and mature fibrils is the major pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD). Small molecules that inhibit α-Syn aggregation thus may be useful therapeutics for PD. Mannitol and naphthoquinone-tryptophan (NQTrp) have been shown in the past to inhibit α-Syn aggregation by different mechanisms. Herein, we tested whether the conjugation of Mannitol and NQTrp may result in enhance efficacy toward α-Syn. The molecules were conjugated either by a click linker or via a PEG linker. The effect of the conjugate molecules on α-Syn aggregation in vitro was monitored using Thioflavin T fluorescence assay, circular dichroism, transmission electron microscopy, and Congo red birefringence assay. One of the conjugate molecules was found to be more effective than the two parent molecules and as effective as a mixture of the two. The conjugate molecules attenuated the disruptive effect of α-Syn on artificial membrane of Large Unilamellar Vesicles as monitored by dye leakage assay. The conjugates were found to be have low cytotoxicity and reduced toxicity of α-Syn toward SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. These novel designed entities can be attractive scaffold for the development of therapeutic agents for PD.

NEDDylation promotes nuclear protein aggregation and protects the Ubiquitin Proteasome System upon proteotoxic stress

Spatial management of stress-induced protein aggregation is an integral part of the proteostasis network. Protein modification by the ubiquitin-like molecule NEDD8 increases upon proteotoxic stress and it is characterised by the formation of hybrid NEDD8/ubiquitin conjugates. However, the biological significance of this response is unclear. Combination of quantitative proteomics with biological analysis shows that, during proteotoxic stress, NEDDylation promotes nuclear protein aggregation, including ribosomal proteins as a major group. This correlates with protection of the nuclear Ubiquitin Proteasome System from stress-induced dysfunction. Correspondingly, we show that NEDD8 compromises ubiquitination and prevents targeting and processing of substrates by the proteasome. Moreover, we identify HUWE1 as a key E3-ligase that is specifically required for NEDDylation during proteotoxic stress. The study reveals a specific role for NEDD8 in nuclear protein aggregation upon stress and is consistent with the concept that transient aggregate formation is part of a defence mechanism against proteotoxicity.

Protein NEDDylation increases upon proteotoxic stress but the function of this response remains to be elucidated. Here, the authors show that NEDDylation contributes to the cellular defence against proteotoxicity by promoting nuclear protein aggregation and protecting the ubiquitin proteasome system.

Heat shock promotes inclusion body formation of mutant huntingtin (mHtt) and alleviates mHtt-induced transcription factor dysfunction

PolyQ-expanded huntingtin (mHtt) variants form aggregates, termed inclusion bodies (IBs), in individuals with and models of Huntington's disease (HD). The role of IB versus diffusible mHtt in neurotoxicity remains unclear. Using a ponasterone (PA)-inducible cell model of HD, here we evaluated the effects of heat shock on the appearance and functional outcome of Htt103QExon1-EGFP expression. Quantitative image analysis indicated that 80-90% of this mHtt protein initially appears as "diffuse" signals in the cytosol, with IBs forming at high mHtt expression. A 2-h heat shock during the PA induction reduced the diffuse signal, but greatly increased mHtt IB formation in both cytosol and nucleus. Dose- and time-dependent mHtt expression suggested that nucleated polymerization drives IB formation. RNA-mediated knockdown of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and heat shock cognate 70 protein (HSC70) provided evidence for their involvement in promoting diffuse mHtt to form IBs. Reporter gene assays assessing the impacts of diffuse versus IB mHtt showed concordance of diffuse mHtt expression with the repression of heat shock factor 1, cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB), and NF-κB activity. CREB repression was reversed by heat shock coinciding with mHtt IB formation. In an embryonic striatal neuron-derived HD model, the chemical chaperone sorbitol similarly promoted the structuring of diffuse mHtt into IBs and supported cell survival under stress. Our results provide evidence that mHtt IB formation is a chaperone-supported cellular coping mechanism that depletes diffusible mHtt conformers, alleviates transcription factor dysfunction, and promotes neuron survival.

The cellular and pathologic prion protein

The cellular prion protein, PrP^C, is a small, cell surface glycoprotein with a function that is currently somewhat ill defined. It is also the key molecule involved in the family of neurodegenerative disorders called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which are also known as prion diseases. The misfolding of PrP^C to a conformationally altered isoform, designated PrP^TSE, is the main molecular process involved in pathogenesis and appears to precede many other pathologic and clinical manifestations of disease, including neuronal loss, astrogliosis, and cognitive loss. PrP^TSE is also believed to be the major component of the infectious "prion," the agent responsible for disease transmission, and preparations of this protein can cause prion disease when inoculated into a naïve host. Thus, understanding the biochemical and biophysical properties of both PrP^C and PrP^TSE, and ultimately the mechanisms of their interconversion, is critical if we are to understand prion disease biology. Although entire books could be devoted to research pertaining to the protein, herein we briefly review the state of knowledge of prion biochemistry, including consideration of prion protein structure, function, misfolding, and dysfunction.

d-Amino Acid Pseudopeptides as Potential Amyloid-Beta Aggregation Inhibitors

A causative factor for neurotoxicity associated with Alzheimer's disease is the aggregation of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide into soluble oligomers. Two all d-amino acid pseudo-peptides, SGB1 and SGD1, were designed to stop the aggregation. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been carried out to study the interaction of the pseudo-peptides with both Aβ13⁻23 (the core recognition site of Aβ) and full-length Aβ1⁻42. Umbrella sampling MD calculations have been used to estimate the free energy of binding, ∆G, of these peptides to Aβ13⁻23. The highest ∆Gbinding is found for SGB1. Each of the pseudo-peptides was also docked to Aβ1⁻42 and subjected up to seven microseconds of all atom molecular dynamics simulations. The resulting structures lend insight into how the dynamics of Aβ1⁻42 are altered by complexation with the pseudo-peptides and confirmed that SGB1 may be a better candidate for developing into a drug to prevent Alzheimer's disease.

Paradoxical Effect of Trehalose on the Aggregation of α-Synuclein: Expedites Onset of Aggregation yet Reduces Fibril Load

Aggregation of α-synuclein is closely connected to the pathology of Parkinson's disease. The phenomenon involves multiple steps, commenced by partial misfolding and eventually leading to mature amyloid fibril formation. Trehalose, a widely accepted osmolyte, has been shown previously to inhibit aggregation of various globular proteins owing to its ability to prevent the initial unfolding of protein. In this study, we have examined if it behaves in a similar fashion with intrinsically disordered protein α-synuclein and possesses the potential to act as therapeutic agent against Parkinson's disease. It was observed experimentally that samples coincubated with trehalose fibrillate faster compared to the case in its absence. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that this initial acceleration is manifestation of trehalose's tendency to perturb the conformational transitions between different conformers of monomeric protein. It stabilizes the aggregation prone "extended" conformer of α-synuclein, by binding to its exposed acidic residues of the C terminus. It also favors the β-rich oligomers once formed. Interestingly, the total fibrils formed are still promisingly less since it accelerates the competing pathway toward formation of amorphous aggregates.

Specification of Physiologic and Disease States by Distinct Proteins and Protein Conformations

Protein conformational states-from intrinsically disordered ensembles to amyloids that underlie the self-templating, infectious properties of prion-like proteins-have attracted much attention. Here, we highlight the diversity, including differences in biophysical properties, that drive distinct biological functions and pathologies among self-templating proteins. Advances in chemical genomics, gene editing, and model systems now permit deconstruction of the complex interplay between these protein states and the host factors that react to them. These methods reveal that conformational switches modulate normal and abnormal information transfer and that intimate relationships exist between the intrinsic function of proteins and the deleterious consequences of their misfolding.

Asymmetric Inheritance of Aggregated Proteins and Age Reset in Yeast Are Regulated by Vac17-Dependent Vacuolar Functions

Age can be reset during mitosis in both yeast and stem cells to generate a young daughter cell from an aged and deteriorated one. This phenomenon requires asymmetry-generating genes (AGGs) that govern the asymmetrical inheritance of aggregated proteins. Using a genome-wide imaging screen to identify AGGs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we discovered a previously unknown role for endocytosis, vacuole fusion, and the myosin-dependent adaptor protein Vac17 in asymmetrical inheritance of misfolded proteins. Overproduction of Vac17 increases deposition of aggregates into cytoprotective vacuole-associated sites, counteracts age-related breakdown of endocytosis and vacuole integrity, and extends replicative lifespan. The link between damage asymmetry and vesicle trafficking can be explained by a direct interaction between aggregates and vesicles. We also show that the protein disaggregase Hsp104 interacts physically with endocytic vesicle-associated proteins, such as the dynamin-like protein, Vps1, which was also shown to be required for Vac17-dependent sequestration of protein aggregates. These data demonstrate that two physiognomies of aging-reduced endocytosis and protein aggregation-are interconnected and regulated by Vac17.

Insulin-Degrading Enzyme in the Fight against Alzheimer's Disease

After decades of research and clinical trials there is still no cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD). While impaired clearance of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides is considered as one of the major causes of AD, it was recently complemented by a potential role of other toxic amyloidogenic species. Insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) is the proteolytic culprit of various β-forming peptides, both extracellular and intracellular. On the basis of demonstrated allosteric activation of IDE against Aβ, it is possible to propose a new strategy for the targeted IDE-based cleansing of different toxic aggregation-prone peptides. Consequently, specific allosteric activation of IDE coupled with state-of-the-art compound delivery and CRISP-Cas9 technique of transgene insertion can be instrumental in the fight against AD and related neurodegenerative maladies.

Polyglutamine expansion diseases: More than simple repeats

Polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat-containing proteins are widespread in the human proteome but only nine of them are associated with highly incapacitating neurodegenerative disorders. The genetic expansion of the polyQ tract in disease-related proteins triggers a series of events resulting in neurodegeneration. The polyQ tract plays the leading role in the aggregation mechanism, but other elements modulate the aggregation propensity in the context of the full-length proteins, as implied by variations in the length of the polyQ tract required to trigger the onset of a given polyQ disease. Intrinsic features such as the presence of aggregation-prone regions (APRs) outside the polyQ segments and polyQ-flanking sequences, which synergistically participate in the aggregation process, are emerging for several disease-related proteins. The inherent polymorphic structure of polyQ stretches places the polyQ proteins in a central position in protein-protein interaction networks, where interacting partners may additionally shield APRs or reshape the aggregation course. Expansion of the polyQ tract perturbs the cellular homeostasis and contributes to neuronal failure by modulating protein-protein interactions and enhancing toxic oligomerization. Post-translational modifications further regulate self-assembly either by directly altering the intrinsic aggregation propensity of polyQ proteins, by modulating their interaction with different macromolecules or by modifying their withdrawal by the cell quality control machinery. Here we review the recent data on the multifaceted aggregation pathways of disease-related polyQ proteins, focusing on ataxin-3, the protein mutated in Machado-Joseph disease. Further mechanistic understanding of this network of events is crucial for the development of effective therapies for polyQ diseases.

Brain ureido degenerative protein modifications are associated with neuroinflammation and proteinopathy in Alzheimer's disease with cerebrovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Brain degenerative protein modifications (DPMs) are associated with the apparition and progression of dementia, and at the same time, Alzheimer's disease with cerebrovascular disease (AD + CVD) is the most prevalent form of dementia in the elder population. Thus, understanding the role(s) of brain DPMs in this dementia subtype may provide novel insight on the disease pathogenesis and may aid on the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Two essential DPMs known to promote inflammation in several human diseases are the ureido DPMs (uDPMs) arginine citrullination and lysine carbamylation, although they have distinct enzymatic and non-enzymatic origins, respectively. Nevertheless, the implication of uDPMs in the neuropathology of dementia remains poorly understood.

METHODS

In this study, we use the state-of-the-art, ultracentrifugation-electrostatic repulsion hydrophilic interaction chromatography (UC-ERLIC)-coupled mass spectrometry technology to undertake a comparative characterization of uDPMs in the soluble and particulate postmortem brain fractions of subjects diagnosed with AD + CVD and age-matched controls.

RESULTS

An increase in the formation of uDPMs was observed in all the profiled AD + CVD brains. Citrulline-containing proteins were found more abundant in the soluble fraction of AD + CVD whereas homocitrulline-containing proteins were preferentially abundant in the particulate fraction of AD + CVD brains. Several dementia-specific citrulline residues were also identified in soluble proteins previously categorized as pro-immunogenic, which include the receptor P2X7, alpha-internexin, GFAP, CNP, MBP, and histones. Similarly, diverse dementia-specific homocitrulline residues were also observed in the particulate fractions of AD + CVD in proteins that have been vastly implicated in neuropathology. Intriguingly, we also found that the amino acids immediately flanking arginine residues may specifically influence the increase in protein citrullination.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these results indicate that uDPMs widely contribute to the pathophysiology of AD + CVD by promoting neuroinflammation and proteinopathy. Furthermore, the obtained results could help to identify disease-associated proteins that can act as potential targets for therapeutic intervention or as novel biomarkers of specific neuropathology.