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Legname G, Moda F. The Prion Concept and Synthetic Prions. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2017; 150:147-156. [PMID: 28838659 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by unconventional infectious agents, known as prions (PrPSc). Prions derive from a conformational conversion of the normally folded prion protein (PrPC), which acquires pathological and infectious features. Moreover, PrPSc is able to transmit the pathological conformation to PrPC through a mechanism that is still not well understood. The generation of synthetic prions, which behave like natural prions, is of fundamental importance to study the process of PrPC conversion and to assess the efficacy of therapeutic strategies to interfere with this process. Moreover, the ability of synthetic prions to induce pathology in animals confirms that the pathological properties of the prion strains are all enciphered in abnormal conformations, characterizing these infectious agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Legname
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Fabio Moda
- IRCCS Foundation Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
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Abstract
Prions are the etiological agent of fatal neurodegenerative diseases called prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. These maladies can be sporadic, genetic or infectious disorders. Prions are due to post-translational modifications of the cellular prion protein leading to the formation of a β-sheet enriched conformer with altered biochemical properties. The molecular events causing prion formation in sporadic prion diseases are still elusive. Recently, we published a research elucidating the contribution of major structural determinants and environmental factors in prion protein folding and stability. Our study highlighted the crucial role of octarepeats in stabilizing prion protein; the presence of a highly enthalpically stable intermediate state in prion-susceptible species; and the role of disulfide bridge in preserving native fold thus avoiding the misfolding to a β-sheet enriched isoform. Taking advantage from these findings, in this work we present new insights into structural determinants of prion protein folding and stability.
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Key Words
- ADAM family, A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase family
- CJD, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- FFI, fatal familial insomnia
- GPI, glycosylphosphatidylinositol
- GSS, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome
- N-terminal domain
- NMDA receptor, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor
- OR, octarepeats
- PrPC, cellular prion protein
- PrPSc, prion
- TSE, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
- disulfide bridge
- folding
- globular domain
- intermediate state
- octarepeat
- prion protein
- stability
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Benetti
- a Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience; Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , Trieste , Italy
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Atkinson CJ, Zhang K, Munn AL, Wiegmans A, Wei MQ. Prion protein scrapie and the normal cellular prion protein. Prion 2016; 10:63-82. [PMID: 26645475 PMCID: PMC4981215 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2015.1110293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prions are infectious proteins and over the past few decades, some prions have become renowned for their causative role in several neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. Since their discovery, the mechanisms and mode of transmission and molecular structure of prions have begun to be established. There is, however, still much to be elucidated about prion diseases, including the development of potential therapeutic strategies for treatment. The significance of prion disease is discussed here, including the categories of human and animal prion diseases, disease transmission, disease progression and the development of symptoms and potential future strategies for treatment. Furthermore, the structure and function of the normal cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) and its importance in not only in prion disease development, but also in diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J. Atkinson
- Division of Molecular and Gene Therapies, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Kai Zhang
- Division of Molecular and Gene Therapies, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Alan L. Munn
- Laboratory of Yeast Cell Biology, Molecular Basis of Disease Program, Menzies Health Institute Queensland and School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Adrian Wiegmans
- Tumour Microenvironment Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Australia
| | - Ming Q. Wei
- Division of Molecular and Gene Therapies, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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Le NTT, Narkiewicz J, Aulić S, Salzano G, Tran HT, Scaini D, Moda F, Giachin G, Legname G. Synthetic prions and other human neurodegenerative proteinopathies. Virus Res 2014; 207:25-37. [PMID: 25449570 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Revised: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders. The common feature of these diseases is the pathological conversion of the normal cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into a β-structure-rich conformer-termed PrP(Sc). The latter can induce a self-perpetuating process leading to amplification and spreading of pathological protein assemblies. Much evidence suggests that PrP(Sc) itself is able to recruit and misfold PrP(C) into the pathological conformation. Recent data have shown that recombinant PrP(C) can be misfolded in vitro and the resulting synthetic conformers are able to induce the conversion of PrP(C) into PrP(Sc)in vivo. In this review we describe the state-of-the-art of the body of literature in this field. In addition, we describe a cell-based assay to test synthetic prions in cells, providing further evidence that synthetic amyloids are able to template conversion of PrP into prion inclusions. Studying prions might help to understand the pathological mechanisms governing other neurodegenerative diseases. Aggregation and deposition of misfolded proteins is a common feature of several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other disorders. Although the proteins implicated in each of these diseases differ, they share a common prion mechanism. Recombinant proteins are able to aggregate in vitro into β-rich amyloid fibrils, sharing some features of the aggregates found in the brain. Several studies have reported that intracerebral inoculation of synthetic aggregates lead to unique pathology, which spread progressively to distal brain regions and reduced survival time in animals. Here, we review the prion-like features of different proteins involved in neurodegenerative disorders, such as α-synuclein, superoxide dismutase-1, amyloid-β and tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nhat Tran Thanh Le
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Joanna Narkiewicz
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Suzana Aulić
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Giulia Salzano
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Hoa Thanh Tran
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Denis Scaini
- Life Science Department, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fabio Moda
- Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Department of Neuropathology and Neurology 5, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giachin
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy; Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Area Science Park, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy.
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Benetti F, Biarnés X, Attanasio F, Giachin G, Rizzarelli E, Legname G. Structural determinants in prion protein folding and stability. J Mol Biol 2014; 426:3796-3810. [PMID: 25280897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Prions are responsible for a heterogeneous group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases, involving post-translational modifications of the cellular prion protein. Epidemiological studies on Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a prototype prion disorder, show a majority of cases being sporadic, while the remaining occurrences are either genetic or iatrogenic. The molecular mechanisms by which PrP(C) is converted into its pathological isoform have not yet been established. While point mutations and seeds trigger the protein to cross the energy barriers, thus causing genetic and infectious transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, respectively, the mechanism responsible for sporadic forms remains unclear. Since prion diseases are protein-misfolding disorders, we investigated prion protein folding and stability as functions of different milieus. Using spectroscopic techniques and atomistic simulations, we dissected the contribution of major structural determinants, also defining the energy landscape of prion protein. In particular, we elucidated (i) the essential role of the octapeptide region in prion protein folding and stability, (ii) the presence of a very enthalpically stable intermediate in prion-susceptible species, and (iii) the role of the disulfide bridge in prion protein folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Benetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy; Italian Institute of Technology, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati Unit, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Xevi Biarnés
- Department of Physics, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, I-34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesco Attanasio
- National Research Council, Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Viale Andrea Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giachin
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Enrico Rizzarelli
- National Research Council, Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, Viale Andrea Doria 6, I-95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy; Italian Institute of Technology, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati Unit, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136 Trieste, Italy; Elettra - Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., AREA Science Park, I-34149 Basovizza Trieste, Italy.
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Using protein misfolding cyclic amplification generates a highly neurotoxic PrP dimer causing neurodegeneration. J Mol Neurosci 2013; 51:655-62. [PMID: 23771785 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-013-0039-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/27/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Under the "protein-only" hypothesis, prion-based diseases are proposed to result from an infectious agent that is an abnormal isoform of the prion protein in the scrapie form, PrP(Sc). However, since PrP(Sc) is highly insoluble and easily aggregates in vivo, this view appears to be overly simplistic, implying that the presence of PrP(Sc) may indirectly cause neurodegeneration through its intermediate soluble form. We generated a neurotoxic PrP dimer with partial pathogenic characteristics of PrP(Sc) by protein misfolding cyclic amplification in the presence of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylglycerol consisting of recombinant hamster PrP (23-231). After intracerebral injection of the PrP dimer, wild-type hamsters developed signs of neurodegeneration. Clinical symptoms, necropsy findings, and histopathological changes were very similar to those of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Additional investigation showed that the toxicity is primarily related to cellular apoptosis. All results suggested that we generated a new neurotoxic form of PrP, PrP dimer, which can cause neurodegeneration. Thus, our study introduces a useful model for investigating PrP-linked neurodegenerative mechanisms.
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Didonna A. Prion protein and its role in signal transduction. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2013; 18:209-30. [PMID: 23479001 PMCID: PMC6275729 DOI: 10.2478/s11658-013-0085-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Accepted: 02/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a class of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that can be sporadic, genetic or iatrogenic. They are characterized by the unique nature of their etiologic agent: prions (PrP(Sc)). A prion is an infectious protein with the ability to convert the host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into new prion molecules by acting as a template. Since Stanley B. Prusiner proposed the "protein-only" hypothesis for the first time, considerable effort has been put into defining the role played by PrP(C) in neurons. However, its physiological function remains unclear. This review summarizes the major findings that support the involvement of PrP(C) in signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Didonna
- Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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D'Angelo P, Della Longa S, Arcovito A, Mancini G, Zitolo A, Chillemi G, Giachin G, Legname G, Benetti F. Effects of the pathological Q212P mutation on human prion protein non-octarepeat copper-binding site. Biochemistry 2012; 51:6068-79. [PMID: 22788868 DOI: 10.1021/bi300233n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are a class of fatal neurodegenerative disorders characterized by brain spongiosis, synaptic degeneration, microglia and astrocytes activation, neuronal loss and altered redox control. These maladies can be sporadic, iatrogenic and genetic. The etiological agent is the prion, a misfolded form of the cellular prion protein, PrP(C). PrP(C) interacts with metal ions, in particular copper and zinc, through the octarepeat and non-octarepeat binding sites. The physiological implication of this interaction is still unclear, as is the role of metals in the conversion. Since prion diseases present metal dyshomeostasis and increased oxidative stress, we described the copper-binding site located in the human C-terminal domain of PrP-HuPrP(90-231), both in the wild-type protein and in the protein carrying the pathological mutation Q212P. We used the synchrotron-based X-ray absorption fine structure technique to study the Cu(II) and Cu(I) coordination geometries in the mutant, and we compared them with those obtained using the wild-type protein. By analyzing the extended X-ray absorption fine structure and the X-ray absorption near-edge structure, we highlighted changes in copper coordination induced by the point mutation Q212P in both oxidation states. While in the wild-type protein the copper-binding site has the same structure for both Cu(II) and Cu(I), in the mutant the coordination site changes drastically from the oxidized to the reduced form of the copper ion. Copper-binding sites in the mutant resemble those obtained using peptides, confirming the loss of short- and long-range interactions. These changes probably cause alterations in copper homeostasis and, consequently, in redox control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola D'Angelo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy.
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Benetti F, Gustincich S, Legname G. Gene expression profiling and therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases: a comprehensive study on potentiality and limits. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2012; 7:245-59. [PMID: 22468955 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2012.659661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neurodegenerative diseases are incurable debilitating disorders of the nervous system that affect approximately 30 million people worldwide. Despite profuse efforts attempting to define the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, many aspects of these pathologies remain elusive. The novelty of their mechanisms represents a challenge to biology, to their related biomarkers identification and drug discovery. Because of their multifactorial aspects and complexity, gene expression analysis platforms have been extensively used to investigate altered pathways during degeneration and to identify potential biomarkers and drug targets. AREAS COVERED This work offers an overview of the gene expression profiling studies carried out on Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease and prion disease specimens. Therapeutic approaches are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Although many therapeutic approaches have been tested, some of them acting on several altered cellular pathways, no effective cures for these neurodegenerative diseases have been identified. Microarray technology must be associated with functional proteomics and physiology in an effort to identify specific and selective biomarkers and druggable targets, thus allowing the successful discovery of disease-modifying therapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Benetti
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Neurobiology Sector, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy
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Diaz-Espinoza R, Mukherjee A, Soto C. Kosmotropic anions promote conversion of recombinant prion protein into a PrPSc-like misfolded form. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31678. [PMID: 22347503 PMCID: PMC3276510 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Accepted: 01/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are self-propagating proteins involved in transmissible spongiform encephalopaties in mammals. An aberrant conformation with amyloid-like features of a cell surface protein, termed prion protein (PrP), is thought to be the essential component of the infectious particle, though accessory co-factor molecules such as lipids and nucleotides may be involved. The cellular co-factors and environmental conditions implicated in PrP misfolding are not completely understood. To address this issue, several studies have been done inducing misfolding of recombinant PrP (recPrP) into classical amyloid structures using partially denaturing conditions. In this work, we report that misfolding of recPrP into PrP(Sc)-like aggregates can be induced by simply incubating the protein in the presence of kosmotropic salts at concentrations that are known to retain or increase the stability of the protein. We used a simple experimental reaction (protein, buffer and salts) submitted to agitation/incubation cycles at physiological temperature and pH. The formation of protease resistant-recPrP was time and salt-concentration dependent and required the presence of kosmotropic anions such as F(-) or SO(4)(-2). The molecular weights of the protease resistant recPrP fragments are reminiscent of those found in degradation assays of bona fide PrP(Sc). The aggregates also exhibited PrP(Sc)-like ultrastructural features including rod-shape morphology under electron microscope, high beta-sheet content and thioflavin-T positive signal. The formation of recPrP aggregates with PrP(Sc) biochemical features under conditions closer to physiological in the absence of organic co-factor molecules provides a simple setup that may prove helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of PrP misfolding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Diaz-Espinoza
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Abhisek Mukherjee
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Claudio Soto
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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