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Stys PK, Tsutsui S, Gafson AR, ‘t Hart BA, Belachew S, Geurts JJG. New views on the complex interplay between degeneration and autoimmunity in multiple sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1426231. [PMID: 39161786 PMCID: PMC11330826 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1426231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a frequently disabling neurological disorder characterized by symptoms, clinical signs and imaging abnormalities that typically fluctuate over time, affecting any level of the CNS. Prominent lymphocytic inflammation, many genetic susceptibility variants involving immune pathways, as well as potent responses of the neuroinflammatory component to immunomodulating drugs, have led to the natural conclusion that this disease is driven by a primary autoimmune process. In this Hypothesis and Theory article, we discuss emerging data that cast doubt on this assumption. After three decades of therapeutic experience, what has become clear is that potent immune modulators are highly effective at suppressing inflammatory relapses, yet exhibit very limited effects on the later progressive phase of MS. Moreover, neuropathological examination of MS tissue indicates that degeneration, CNS atrophy, and myelin loss are most prominent in the progressive stage, when lymphocytic inflammation paradoxically wanes. Finally, emerging clinical observations such as "progression independent of relapse activity" and "silent progression," now thought to take hold very early in the course, together argue that an underlying "cytodegenerative" process, likely targeting the myelinating unit, may in fact represent the most proximal step in a complex pathophysiological cascade exacerbated by an autoimmune inflammatory overlay. Parallels are drawn with more traditional neurodegenerative disorders, where a progressive proteopathy with prion-like propagation of toxic misfolded species is now known to play a key role. A potentially pivotal contribution of the Epstein-Barr virus and B cells in this process is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K. Stys
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Shigeki Tsutsui
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Arie R. Gafson
- Biogen Digital Health, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Bert A. ‘t Hart
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location VUmc), Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Shibeshih Belachew
- TheraPanacea, Paris, France
- Indivi (DBA of Healios AG), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jeroen J. G. Geurts
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location VUmc), Amsterdam, Netherlands
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2
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Block AJ, Bartz JC. Prion strains: shining new light on old concepts. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 392:113-133. [PMID: 35796874 PMCID: PMC11318079 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03665-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of inevitably fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting numerous mammalian species, including humans. The existence of heritable phenotypes of disease in the natural host suggested that prions exist as distinct strains. Transmission of sheep scrapie to rodent models accelerated prion research, resulting in the isolation and characterization of numerous strains with distinct characteristics. These strains are grouped into categories based on the incubation period of disease in different strains of mice and also by how stable the strain properties were upon serial passage. These classical studies defined the host and agent parameters that affected strain properties, and, prior to the advent of the prion hypothesis, strain properties were hypothesized to be the result of mutations in a nucleic acid genome of a conventional pathogen. The development of the prion hypothesis challenged the paradigm of infectious agents, and, initially, the existence of strains was difficult to reconcile with a protein-only agent. In the decades since, much evidence has revealed how a protein-only infectious agent can perform complex biological functions. The prevailing hypothesis is that strain-specific conformations of PrPSc encode prion strain diversity. This hypothesis can provide a mechanism to explain the observed strain-specific differences in incubation period of disease, biochemical properties of PrPSc, tissue tropism, and subcellular patterns of pathology. This hypothesis also explains how prion strains mutate, evolve, and adapt to new species. These concepts are applicable to prion-like diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, where evidence of strain diversity is beginning to emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J Block
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA
| | - Jason C Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA.
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3
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Schou AS, Nielsen JE, Askeland A, Jørgensen MM. Extracellular vesicle-associated proteins as potential biomarkers. Adv Clin Chem 2020; 99:1-48. [PMID: 32951635 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2020.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Every cell in the body secretes extracellular vesicles (EVs) possibly as cellular signaling components and these cell-derivatives can be found in multiple numbers in biological fluids. EVs have in the scientific field received great attention in relation to pathophysiology and disease diagnostics. Altered protein expressions associated with circulating EVs in diseased individuals can serve as biomarkers for different disease states. This capacity paves the way for non-invasive screening tools and early diagnostic markers. However, no isolation method of EVs has been acknowledged as the "golden standard," thus reproducibility of the studies remains inadequate. Increasing interest in EV proteins as disease biomarkers could give rise to more scientific knowledge with diagnostic applicability. In this chapter, studies of proteins believed to be associated with EVs within cancer, autoimmunity, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases have been outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Sophie Schou
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Research Unit for Molecular Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jonas Ellegaard Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Anders Askeland
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Malene Møller Jørgensen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
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4
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Chandrasekaran P, Santosh Kumar C, Rangachari K, Sekar K. Disassociation of β1-α1-β2 from the α2-α3 domain of prion protein (PrP) is a prerequisite for the conformational conversion of PrPC into PrPSc: Driven by the free energy landscape. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 136:368-376. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.06.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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5
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Nizynski B, Nieznanska H, Dec R, Boyko S, Dzwolak W, Nieznanski K. Amyloidogenic cross-seeding of Tau protein: Transient emergence of structural variants of fibrils. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201182. [PMID: 30024984 PMCID: PMC6053212 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid aggregates of Tau protein have been implicated in etiology of many neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). When amyloid growth is induced by seeding with preformed fibrils assembled from the same protein, structural characteristics of the seed are usually imprinted in daughter generations of fibrils. This so-called conformational memory effect may be compromised when the seeding involves proteins with non-identical sequences leading to the emergence of distinct structural variants of fibrils (amyloid ‘strains’). Here, we investigate cross-seeding of full-length human Tau (FL Tau) with fibrils assembled from K18 and K18ΔK280 fragments of Tau in the presence of poly-L-glutamate (poly-Glu) as an enhancer of Tau aggregation. To study cross-seeding between Tau polypeptides and the role of the conformational memory effect in induction of Tau amyloid polymorphism, kinetic assays, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and limited proteolysis have been employed. The fastest fibrillization was observed for FL Tau monomers seeded with preformed K18 amyloid yielding daughter fibrils with unique trypsin digestion patterns. Morphological features of daughter FL Tau fibrils induced by K18 and K18ΔK280 seeds were reminiscent of the mother fibrils (i.e. straight paired fibrils and paired helical filaments (PHFs), respectively) but disappeared in the following generations which became similar to unpaired FL Tau amyloid fibrils formed de novo. The structural evolution observed in our study was accompanied by disappearance of the unique proteolysis profile originated from K18. Our findings may have implications for understanding molecular mechanisms of the emergence and stability of Tau amyloid strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Nizynski
- College of Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2C, Warsaw, Poland.,Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hanna Nieznanska
- Department of Biochemistry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert Dec
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Solomiia Boyko
- Department of Biochemistry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Nieznanski
- Department of Biochemistry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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6
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Sproviero D, La Salvia S, Giannini M, Crippa V, Gagliardi S, Bernuzzi S, Diamanti L, Ceroni M, Pansarasa O, Poletti A, Cereda C. Pathological Proteins Are Transported by Extracellular Vesicles of Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:487. [PMID: 30072868 PMCID: PMC6060258 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive adult-onset neurodegenerative disease, that affects cortical, bulbar and spinal motor neurons, and it is considered a proteinopathy, in which pathological proteins (SOD1, TDP-43, and FUS) may accumulate and interfere with neuronal functions eventually leading to cell death. These proteins can be released from cells and transported in the body fluids by extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are spherical vesicles, which are classified mainly in microvesicles (MVs) and exosomes (EXOs) based on their biogenesis, size and surface markers. In this study we characterized MVs and EXOs isolated from plasma of sporadic ALS patients and healthy controls and determined their number, size and SOD1, TDP-43, and FUS protein composition. No variation was found in the number of EVs between ALS patients and controls. However, the mean size both for MVs and for EXOs resulted increased in ALS patients compared to controls. MVs derived from ALS patients were enriched in SOD1, TDP-43, phospho-TDP-43, and FUS proteins compared to CTRLs. SOD1 was generally more concentrated in EXOs than in MVs, while TDP-43 and FUS protein levels were slightly higher in MVs than in EXOs. We demonstrated that MVs and EXOs size were increased in ALS patients compared to controls and that MVs of ALS patients were enriched with toxic proteins compared to CTRLs. EXOs did not show any protein changes. These data may suggest that MVs can transport toxic proteins and might play a role in prion-like propagation of ALS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Sproviero
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sabrina La Salvia
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marta Giannini
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Valeria Crippa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stella Gagliardi
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Bernuzzi
- Immunohematological and Transfusional Service and Centre of Transplantation Immunology, IRCCS Foundation San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Luca Diamanti
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of General Neurology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mauro Ceroni
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of General Neurology, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Orietta Pansarasa
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Angelo Poletti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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7
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Abstract
Prions are misfolded, aggregated, infectious proteins found in a range of organisms from mammals to bacteria. In mammals, prion formation is difficult to study because misfolding and aggregation take place prior to symptom presentation. The study of the yeast prion [PSI+], which is the misfolded infectious form of Sup35p, provides a tractable system to monitor prion formation in real time. Recently, we showed that the de novo formation of prion aggregates begins with the appearance of highly mobile cytoplasmic foci, called early foci, which assemble into larger ring or dot structures. We also observed SDS-resistant oligomers during formation, and lysates containing newly formed oligomers can convert [psi−] cells to the [PSI+] state, suggesting that these oligomers have infectious potential. Here, we further characterize two aspects of prion formation: spatial sequestration of early foci and oligomerization of endogenous Sup35p. Our data provides important insights into the process of prion formation and explores the minimal oligomer requirement for infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas R Lyke
- a Department of Biological Sciences , Marquette University , Milwaukee , WI , USA
| | - Anita L Manogaran
- a Department of Biological Sciences , Marquette University , Milwaukee , WI , USA
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8
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Surmacz-Chwedoruk W, Babenko V, Dec R, Szymczak P, Dzwolak W. The emergence of superstructural order in insulin amyloid fibrils upon multiple rounds of self-seeding. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32022. [PMID: 27558445 PMCID: PMC4997315 DOI: 10.1038/srep32022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Typically, elongation of an amyloid fibril entails passing conformational details of the mother seed to daughter generations of fibrils with high fidelity. There are, however, several factors that can potentially prevent such transgenerational structural imprinting from perpetuating, for example heterogeneity of mother seeds or so-called conformational switching. Here, we examine phenotypic persistence of bovine insulin amyloid ([BI]) upon multiple rounds of self-seeding under quiescent conditions. According to infrared spectroscopy, with the following passages of homologous seeding, daughter fibrils gradually depart from the mother seed’s spectral characteristics. We note that this transgenerational structural drift in [BI] amyloid leads toward fibrils with infrared, chiroptical, and morphological traits similar to those of the superstructural variant of fibrils which normally forms upon strong agitation of insulin solutions. However, in contrast to agitation-induced insulin amyloid, the superstructural assemblies of daughter fibrils isolated through self-seeding are sonication-resistant. Our results suggest that formation of single amyloid fibrils is not a dead-end of the amyloidogenic self-assembly. Instead, the process appears to continue toward the self-assembly of higher-order structures although on longer time-scales. From this perspective, the fast agitation-induced aggregation of insulin appears to be a shortcut to amyloid superstructures whose formation under quiescent conditions is slow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Surmacz-Chwedoruk
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska 29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland.,Institute of Biotechnology and Antibiotics, Staroscinska 5, 02-516 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Viktoria Babenko
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert Dec
- Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Szymczak
- Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sokolowska 29/37, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
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9
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Strain-dependent profile of misfolded prion protein aggregates. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20526. [PMID: 26877167 PMCID: PMC4753423 DOI: 10.1038/srep20526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are composed of the misfolded prion protein (PrPSc) organized in a variety of aggregates. An important question in the prion field has been to determine the identity of functional PrPSc aggregates. In this study, we used equilibrium sedimentation in sucrose density gradients to separate PrPSc aggregates from three hamster prion strains (Hyper, Drowsy, SSLOW) subjected to minimal manipulations. We show that PrPSc aggregates distribute in a wide range of arrangements and the relative proportion of each species depends on the prion strain. We observed a direct correlation between the density of the predominant PrPSc aggregates and the incubation periods for the strains studied. The relative presence of PrPSc in fractions of different sucrose densities was indicative of the protein deposits present in the brain as analyzed by histology. Interestingly, no association was found between sensitivity to proteolytic degradation and aggregation profiles. Therefore, the organization of PrP molecules in terms of the density of aggregates generated may determine some of the particular strain properties, whereas others are independent from it. Our findings may contribute to understand the mechanisms of strain variation and the role of PrPSc aggregates in prion-induced neurodegeneration.
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10
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Soto C, Satani N. The intricate mechanisms of neurodegeneration in prion diseases. Trends Mol Med 2015; 17:14-24. [PMID: 20889378 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2010.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Revised: 08/27/2010] [Accepted: 09/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of infectious neurodegenerative diseases with an entirely novel mechanism of transmission, involving a protein-only infectious agent that propagates the disease by transmitting protein conformational changes. The disease results from extensive and progressive brain degeneration. The molecular mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration are not entirely known but involve multiple processes operating simultaneously and synergistically in the brain, including spongiform degeneration, synaptic alterations, brain inflammation, neuronal death and the accumulation of protein aggregates. Here, we review the pathways implicated in prion-induced brain damage and put the pieces together into a possible model of neurodegeneration in prion disorders. A more comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of brain degeneration is essential to develop a much needed therapy for these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Soto
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's disease and related Brain disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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11
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Morales R, Callegari K, Soto C. Prion-like features of misfolded Aβ and tau aggregates. Virus Res 2015; 207:106-12. [PMID: 25575736 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Revised: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent findings have shown that several misfolded proteins can transmit disease pathogenesis in a prion-like manner by transferring their conformational properties to normally folded units. However, the extent by which these molecule-to-molecule or cell-to-cell spreading processes reflect the entire prion behavior is now subject of controversy, especially due to the lack of epidemiological data supporting inter-individual transmission of non-prion protein misfolding diseases. Nevertheless, extensive research has shown that several of the typical characteristics of prions can be observed for Aβ and tau aggregates when administered in animal models. In this article we review recent studies describing the prion-like features of both proteins, highlighting the similarities with bona fide prions in terms of inter-individual transmission, their strain-like conformational diversity, and the transmission of misfolded aggregates by different routes of administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Morales
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
| | - Keri Callegari
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
| | - Claudio Soto
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
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12
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Shirai T, Saito M, Kobayashi A, Asano M, Hizume M, Ikeda S, Teruya K, Morita M, Kitamoto T. Evaluating prion models based on comprehensive mutation data of mouse PrP. Structure 2014; 22:560-71. [PMID: 24560805 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2013.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Revised: 12/21/2013] [Accepted: 12/28/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The structural details of the essential entity of prion disease, fibril prion protein (PrP(Sc)), are still elusive despite the large body of evidence supporting the prion hypothesis. Five major working models of PrP(Sc) structure, which are not compatible with each other, have been proposed. However, no systematic evaluation has been performed on those models. We devised a method that combined systematic point mutation with threading on knowledge-based amino acid potentials. A comprehensive mutation experiment was performed on mouse prion protein, and the PrP(Sc) conversion efficiency of each mutant was examined. The models were evaluated based on the mutation data by using the threading method. Although the data turned out to be rather more consistent with the models that assumed a conversion of the N-terminal region of core PrP into a β helix than with others, substantial modifications were also required to further improve the current model based on recent experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Shirai
- Department of Computer Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Nagahama, Shiga 526-0829, Japan; Bioinformatics Research Division, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 5-3, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666 Japan.
| | - Mihoko Saito
- Department of Computer Bioscience, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Nagahama, Shiga 526-0829, Japan; Bioinformatics Research Division, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 5-3, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666 Japan
| | - Atsushi Kobayashi
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Research, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Masahiro Asano
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Research, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Masaki Hizume
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Research, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Shino Ikeda
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Research, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Kenta Teruya
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Research, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Masanori Morita
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Research, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan; Research and Development Division, Benesis Corporation, Kitahama, Chuo-Ku, Osaka 541-850, Japan
| | - Tetsuyuki Kitamoto
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine Research, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
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13
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Concha-Marambio L, Diaz-Espinoza R, Soto C. The extent of protease resistance of misfolded prion protein is highly dependent on the salt concentration. J Biol Chem 2013; 289:3073-9. [PMID: 24338008 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.513267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are neurodegenerative diseases caused by prions in mammals. An aberrantly folded protein (PrP(Sc)) is the main component of these proteinaceous infectious particles. Prions exhibit strong resistance to protease digestion, which is typically exploited for biochemical discrimination from its native cellular form (PrP(C)). This classical feature has been partially challenged by the isolation of sizeable amounts of protease-sensitive PrP(Sc) isoforms that self-propagate in vivo. Here, we report that the degree of PrP(Sc) protease resistance is highly dependent on the concentration of salt in the solution. Similar changes were observed in PrP(Sc) obtained from different strains and species. Strikingly, the effect of salt is reversible and is associated with changes on the size of PrP(Sc) particles, but surprisingly, the more protease-sensitive species consists of a larger size. These findings shed light on the mechanistic aspects of prion proteolysis and should be considered when assessing samples of biomedical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Concha-Marambio
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030 and
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14
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Lin Z, Zhao D, Yang L. Interaction between misfolded PrP and the ubiquitin-proteasome system in prion-mediated neurodegeneration. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2013; 45:477-84. [PMID: 23449072 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmt020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are associated with the conformational conversion of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) to pathological β-sheet isoforms (PrP(Sc)), which is the infectious agent beyond comprehension. Increasing evidence indicated that an unknown toxic gain of function of PrP(sc) underlies neuronal death. Conversely, strong evidence indicated that cellular prion protein might be directly cytotoxic by mediating neurotoxic signaling of β-sheet-rich conformers independent of prion replication. Furthermore, the common properties of β-sheet-rich isoform such as PrP(Sc) and β amyloid protein become the lynchpin that interprets the general pathological mechanism of protein misfolding diseases. Dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been implicated in various protein misfolding diseases. However, the mechanisms of this impairment remain unknown in many cases. In prion disease, prion-infected mouse brains have increased levels of ubiquitin conjugates, which correlate with decreased proteasome function. Both PrP(C) and PrP(Sc) accumulate in cells after proteasome inhibition, which leads to increased cell death. A direct interaction between 20S core particle and PrP isoforms was demonstrated. Here we review the ability of misfolded PrP and UPS to affect each other, which might contribute to the pathological features of prion-mediated neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Lin
- State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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15
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Gavrin LK, Denny RA, Saiah E. Small Molecules That Target Protein Misfolding. J Med Chem 2012; 55:10823-43. [DOI: 10.1021/jm301182j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lori Krim Gavrin
- BioTherapeutics
Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, 200 CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge,
Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Rajiah Aldrin Denny
- BioTherapeutics
Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, 200 CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge,
Massachusetts 02140, United States
| | - Eddine Saiah
- BioTherapeutics
Chemistry, Pfizer Worldwide Medicinal Chemistry, 200 CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge,
Massachusetts 02140, United States
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16
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Bogdanov M, Dowhan W. Lipid-dependent generation of dual topology for a membrane protein. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:37939-48. [PMID: 22969082 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.404103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanism by which membrane proteins exhibit structural and functional duality in the same membrane or different membranes is unknown. We posit that such duality is determined by both the protein sequence and the membrane lipid composition wherein a spatial or temporal change in the latter can result in a post-assembly change in protein structure and function. To investigate whether co-existence of multiple topological conformers is dependent on the membrane lipid composition, we determined the topological organization of lactose permease in an Escherichia coli model cell system in which phosphatidylethanolamine membrane content can be systematically varied. At intermediate levels of phosphatidylethanolamine a mixture of native and topologically mis-oriented conformers co-existed. There was no threshold level of phosphatidylethanolamine determining a sharp transition from one conformer to the other. Co-existing conformers were not in rapid equilibrium at a static lipid composition indicating that duality of topology is established during an early folding step. Depletion of intermediate levels of phosphatidylethanolamine after final protein assembly resulted in complete mis-orientation of the native conformer. Combined with previous results, such topological dynamics are reversible in both directions. We propose a thermodynamically based model for how lipid-protein interactions can result in a mixed topological organization and how changes in lipid composition can result in changes in the ratio of topologically distinct conformers of proteins. These observations demonstrate a potential lipid-dependent biological switch for generating dynamic structural and functional heterogeneity for a protein within the same membrane or between different membranes in more complex eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Bogdanov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas 77303, USA.
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17
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Makarava N, Kovacs GG, Savtchenko R, Alexeeva I, Budka H, Rohwer RG, Baskakov IV. Stabilization of a prion strain of synthetic origin requires multiple serial passages. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:30205-14. [PMID: 22807452 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.392985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission of prions to a new host is frequently accompanied by strain adaptation, a phenomenon that involves reduction of the incubation period, a change in neuropathological features and, sometimes, tissue tropism. Here we show that a strain of synthetic origin (SSLOW), although serially transmitted within the same species, displayed the key attributes of the strain adaptation process. At least four serial passages were required to stabilize the strain-specific SSLOW phenotype. The biological titration of SSLOW revealed a correlation between clinical signs and accumulation of PrP(Sc) in brains of animals inoculated with high doses (10(-1)-10(-5) diluted brain material), but dissociation between the two processes at low dose inocula (10(-6)-10(-8) diluted brain material). At low doses, several asymptomatic animals harbored large amounts of PrP(Sc) comparable with those seen in the brains of terminally ill animals, whereas one clinically ill animal had very little, if any, PrP(Sc). In summary, the current study illustrates that the phenomenon of prion strain adaptation is more common than generally thought and could be observed upon serial transmission without changing the host species. When PrP(Sc) is seeded by recombinant PrP structures different from that of authentic PrP(Sc), PrP(Sc) properties continued to evolve for as long as four serial passages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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18
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Abstract
Aggregation-prone proteins associated with neurodegenerative disease, such as α synuclein and β amyloid, now appear to share key prion-like features with mammalian prion protein, such as the ability to recruit normal proteins to aggregates and to translocate between neurons. These features may shed light on the genesis of stereotyped lesion development patterns in conditions such as Alzheimer disease and Lewy Body dementia. We discuss the qualifications of tau protein as a possible "prionoid" mediator of lesion spread based on recent characterizations of the secretion, uptake and transneuronal transfer of human tau isoforms in a variety of tauopathy models, and in human patients. In particular, we consider (1) the possibility that prionoid behavior of misprocessed tau in neurodegenerative disease may involve other aggregation-prone proteins, including PrP itself, and (2) whether "prionlike" tau lesion propagation might include mechanisms other than protein-protein templating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garth F Hall
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
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19
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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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20
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Moreno-Gonzalez I, Soto C. Misfolded protein aggregates: mechanisms, structures and potential for disease transmission. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2011; 22:482-7. [PMID: 21571086 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2011.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2011] [Revised: 04/15/2011] [Accepted: 04/25/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Some of the most prevalent human degenerative diseases appear as a result of the misfolding and aggregation of proteins. Compelling evidence suggest that misfolded protein aggregates play an important role in cell dysfunction and tissue damage, leading to the disease. Prion protein (Prion diseases), amyloid-beta (Alzheimer's disease), alpha-synuclein (Parkinson's disease), Huntingtin (Huntington's disease), serum amyloid A (AA amyloidosis) and islet amyloid polypeptide (type 2 diabetes) are some of the proteins that trigger disease when they get misfolded. The recent understanding of the crucial role of misfolded proteins as well as the structural requirements and mechanism of protein misfolding have raised the possibility that these diseases may be transmissible by self-propagation of the protein misfolding process in a similar way as the infamous prions transmit prion diseases. Future research in this field should aim to clarify this possibility and translate the knowledge of the basic disease mechanisms into development of novel strategies for early diagnosis and efficient treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Moreno-Gonzalez
- Mitchell Center Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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21
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Savistchenko J, Arellano-Anaya ZE, Andréoletti O, Vilette D. Mammalian prions: tracking the infectious entities. Prion 2011; 5:84-7. [PMID: 21597318 DOI: 10.4161/pri.5.2.16096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding is central to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders. Among these disorders, prion diseases are unique because they are transmissible. The conversion of the host-encoded GPI-anchored PrP protein into a structurally altered form is crucially associated with the infectious and neurotoxic properties of the resulting abnormal PrP. Many lines of evidence indicate that distinct aggregated forms with different size and protease resistance are produced during prion multiplication. The recent isolation of various subsets of abnormal PrP, along with the improved biochemical tools and infectivity detection assays have shed light on the diversity of abnormal PrP protein and may give insights into the features of the more infectious subsets of abnormal PrP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Savistchenko
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôte Agent Pathogène, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, France
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