1
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Ryder BD, Ustyantseva E, Boyer DR, Mendoza-Oliva A, Kuska MI, Wydorski PM, Macierzyńska P, Morgan N, Sawaya MR, Diamond MI, Kampinga HH, Joachimiak LA. DNAJB8 oligomerization is mediated by an aromatic-rich motif that is dispensable for substrate activity. Structure 2024:S0969-2126(24)00055-8. [PMID: 38508190 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
J-domain protein (JDP) molecular chaperones have emerged as central players that maintain a healthy proteome. The diverse members of the JDP family function as monomers/dimers and a small subset assemble into micron-sized oligomers. The oligomeric JDP members have eluded structural characterization due to their low-complexity, intrinsically disordered middle domains. This in turn, obscures the biological significance of these larger oligomers in protein folding processes. Here, we identified a short, aromatic motif within DNAJB8 that drives self-assembly through π-π stacking and determined its X-ray structure. We show that mutations in the motif disrupt DNAJB8 oligomerization in vitro and in cells. DNAJB8 variants that are unable to assemble bind to misfolded tau seeds more specifically and retain capacity to reduce protein aggregation in vitro and in cells. We propose a new model for DNAJB8 function in which the sequences in the low-complexity domains play distinct roles in assembly and substrate activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D Ryder
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Elizaveta Ustyantseva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen 9713 AV, The Netherlands
| | - David R Boyer
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ayde Mendoza-Oliva
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Mikołaj I Kuska
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Paweł M Wydorski
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Paulina Macierzyńska
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Nabil Morgan
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Michael R Sawaya
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Harm H Kampinga
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells & Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen 9713 AV, The Netherlands
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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2
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Ryder BD, Ustyantseva E, Boyer DR, Mendoza-Oliva A, Kuska M, Wydorski PM, Macierzynska P, Morgan N, Sawaya MR, Diamond MI, Kampinga HH, Joachimiak L. DNAJB8 oligomerization is mediated by an aromatic-rich motif that is dispensable for substrate activity. bioRxiv 2024:2023.03.06.531355. [PMID: 36945632 PMCID: PMC10028812 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.06.531355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
J-domain protein (JDP) molecular chaperones have emerged as central players that maintain a healthy proteome. The diverse members of the JDP family function as monomers/dimers and a small subset assemble into micron-sized oligomers. The oligomeric JDP members have eluded structural characterization due to their low-complexity, intrinsically disordered middle domains. This in turn, obscures the biological significance of these larger oligomers in protein folding processes. Here, we identified a short, aromatic motif within DNAJB8, that drives self-assembly through pi-pi stacking and determined its X-ray structure. We show that mutations in the motif disrupt DNAJB8 oligomerization in vitro and in cells. DNAJB8 variants that are unable to assemble bind to misfolded tau seeds more specifically and retain capacity to reduce protein aggregation in vitro and in cells. We propose a new model for DNAJB8 function in which the sequences in the low-complexity domains play distinct roles in assembly and substrate activity.
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3
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Smith M, Knight IS, Kormos RC, Pepe JG, Kunach P, Diamond MI, Shahmoradian SH, Irwin JJ, DeGrado WF, Shoichet BK. Docking for Molecules That Bind in a Symmetric Stack with SymDOCK. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:425-434. [PMID: 38191997 PMCID: PMC10806807 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Discovering ligands for amyloid fibrils, such as those formed by the tau protein, is an area of great current interest. In recent structures, ligands bind in stacks in the tau fibrils to reflect the rotational and translational symmetry of the fibril itself; in these structures, the ligands make few interactions with the protein but interact extensively with each other. To exploit this symmetry and stacking, we developed SymDOCK, a method to dock molecules that follow the protein's symmetry. For each prospective ligand pose, we apply the symmetry operation of the fibril to generate a self-interacting and fibril-interacting stack, checking that doing so will not cause a clash between the original molecule and its image. Absent a clash, we retain that pose and add the ligand-ligand van der Waals energy to the ligand's docking score (here using DOCK3.8). We can check these geometries and energies using an implementation of ANI, a neural-network-based quantum-mechanical evaluation of the ligand stacking energies. In retrospective calculations, symmetry docking can reproduce the poses of three tau PET tracers whose structures have been determined. More convincingly, in a prospective study, SymDOCK predicted the structure of the PET tracer MK-6240 bound in a symmetrical stack to AD PHF tau before that structure was determined; the docked pose was used to determine how MK-6240 fit the cryo-EM density. In proof-of-concept studies, SymDOCK enriched known ligands over property-matched decoys in retrospective screens without sacrificing docking speed and can address large library screens that seek new symmetrical stackers. Future applications of this approach will be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew
S. Smith
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California, UCSF Genentech
Hall Box 2280, 600 16th St Rm 518,San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Program
in Biophysics, University of California, UCSF Genentech Hall MC2240, 600
16th St Rm N474D,San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Ian S. Knight
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California, UCSF Genentech
Hall Box 2280, 600 16th St Rm 518,San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Rian C. Kormos
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California, UCSF Genentech
Hall Box 2280, 600 16th St Rm 518,San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Program
in Biophysics, University of California, UCSF Genentech Hall MC2240, 600
16th St Rm N474D,San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Joseph G. Pepe
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California, UCSF Genentech
Hall Box 2280, 600 16th St Rm 518,San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Program
in Biophysics, University of California, UCSF Genentech Hall MC2240, 600
16th St Rm N474D,San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Peter Kunach
- McGill
Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill
University, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada
- Department
of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Room 310, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A1, Canada
- Center
for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell
Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center, 6124 Harry Hines Blvd. Suite NS03.200, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Department
of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., G2.222, Dallas, Texas 75390-9368, United States
- Department
of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390-9111, United States
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center
for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell
Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center, 6124 Harry Hines Blvd. Suite NS03.200, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Department
of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., G2.222, Dallas, Texas 75390-9368, United States
- Department
of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390-9111, United States
| | - Sarah H. Shahmoradian
- Center
for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell
Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center, 6124 Harry Hines Blvd. Suite NS03.200, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- Department
of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390-8816, United States
| | - John J. Irwin
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California, UCSF Genentech
Hall Box 2280, 600 16th St Rm 518,San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - William F. DeGrado
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California, UCSF Genentech
Hall Box 2280, 600 16th St Rm 518,San Francisco, California 94158, United States
- Cardiovascular
Research Institute, University of California, 555 Mission Bay Blvd South, PO Box 589001, San Francisco, California 94158-9001, United
States
| | - Brian K. Shoichet
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California, UCSF Genentech
Hall Box 2280, 600 16th St Rm 518,San Francisco, California 94158, United States
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4
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LaCroix MS, Artikis E, Hitt BD, Beaver JD, Estill-Terpack SJ, Gleason K, Tamminga CA, Evers BM, White CL, Caughey B, Diamond MI. Tau seeding without tauopathy. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105545. [PMID: 38072056 PMCID: PMC10797195 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are caused by brain accumulation of tau assemblies. Evidence suggests tau functions as a prion, and cells and animals can efficiently propagate unique, transmissible tau pathologies. This suggests a dedicated cellular replication machinery, potentially reflecting a normal physiologic function for tau seeds. Consequently, we hypothesized that healthy control brains would contain seeding activity. We have recently developed a novel monoclonal antibody (MD3.1) specific for tau seeds. We used this antibody to immunopurify tau from the parietal and cerebellar cortices of 19 healthy subjects without any neuropathology, ranging 19 to 65 years. We detected seeding in lysates from the parietal cortex, but not in the cerebellum. We also detected no seeding in brain homogenates from wildtype or human tau knockin mice, suggesting that cellular/genetic context dictates development of seed-competent tau. Seeding did not correlate with subject age or brain tau levels. We confirmed our essential findings using an orthogonal assay, real-time quaking-induced conversion, which amplifies tau seeds in vitro. Dot blot analyses revealed no AT8 immunoreactivity above background levels in parietal and cerebellar extracts and ∼1/100 of that present in AD. Based on binding to a panel of antibodies, the conformational characteristics of control seeds differed from AD, suggesting a unique underlying assembly, or structural ensemble. Tau's ability to adopt self-replicating conformations under nonpathogenic conditions may reflect a normal function that goes awry in disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S LaCroix
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Brian D Hitt
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Joshua D Beaver
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Sandi-Jo Estill-Terpack
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kelly Gleason
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Carol A Tamminga
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Bret M Evers
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Byron Caughey
- NIH/NIAID, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
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5
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Diamond MI. Travels with tau prions. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:83-88. [PMID: 37950616 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Tau was originally identified as a microtubule associated protein, and subsequently recognized to constitute the fibrillar assemblies found in Alzheimer disease and related neurodegenerative tauopathies. Point mutations in the microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT) gene cause dominantly inherited tauopathies, and most predispose it to aggregate. This indicates tau aggregation underlies pathogenesis of tauopathies. Our work has suggested that tau functions as a prion, forming unique intracellular pathological assemblies that subsequently move to other cells, inducing further aggregation that underlies disease progression. Remarkably, in simple cells tau forms stably propagating aggregates of distinct conformation, termed strains. Each strain induces a unique and, in some cases, transmissible, neuropathological phenotype upon inoculation into a mouse model. After binding heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the plasma membrane, tau assemblies enter cells via macropinocytosis. From within a vesicle, if not trafficked to the endolysosomal system, tau subsequently enters the cytoplasm, where it becomes a template for its own replication, apparently after processing by valosin containing protein. The smallest seed unit is a stable monomer, which suggests that initial folding events in tau presage subsequent pathological aggregation. The study of tau prions has raised important questions about basic cell biological processes that underlie their replication and propagation, with implications for therapy of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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6
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Hitt BD, Gupta A, Singh R, Yang T, Beaver JD, Shang P, White CL, Joachimiak LA, Diamond MI. Anti-tau antibodies targeting a conformation-dependent epitope selectively bind seeds. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105252. [PMID: 37714465 PMCID: PMC10582770 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative tauopathies are caused by the transition of tau protein from a monomer to a toxic aggregate. They include Alzheimer disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and Pick disease (PiD). We have previously proposed that tau monomer exists in two conformational ensembles: an inert form (Mi), which does not self-assemble, and seed-competent form (Ms), which self-assembles and templates ordered assembly growth. We proposed that cis/trans isomerization of tau at P301, the site of dominant disease-associated S/L missense mutations, might underlie the transition of wild-type tau to a seed-competent state. Consequently, we created monoclonal antibodies using non-natural antigens consisting of fluorinated proline (P∗) at the analogous P270 in repeat 1 (R1), biased toward the trans-configuration at either the R1/R2 (TENLKHQP∗GGGKVQIINKK) or the R1/R3 (TENLKHQP∗GGGKVQIVYK) interfaces. Two antibodies, MD2.2 and MD3.1, efficiently immunoprecipitated soluble seeds from AD and PSP but not CBD or PiD brain samples. The antibodies efficiently stained brain samples of AD, PSP, and PiD, but not CBD. They did not immunoprecipitate or immunostain tau from the control brain. Creation of potent anti-seed antibodies based on the trans-proline epitope implicates local unfolding around P301 in pathogenesis. MD2.2 and MD3.1 may also be useful for therapy and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Hitt
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Ankit Gupta
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ruhar Singh
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ting Yang
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Joshua D Beaver
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ping Shang
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA; Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
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7
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Smith MS, Knight IS, Kormos RC, Pepe JG, Kunach P, Diamond MI, Shahmoradian SH, Irwin JJ, DeGrado WF, Shoichet BK. Docking for molecules that bind in a symmetric stack with SymDOCK. bioRxiv 2023:2023.10.27.564400. [PMID: 37961414 PMCID: PMC10634874 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.27.564400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Discovering ligands for amyloid fibrils, such as those formed by the tau protein, is an area of much current interest. In recent structures, ligands bind in stacks in the tau fibrils to reflect the rotational and translational symmetry of the fibril itself; in these structures the ligands make few interactions with the protein but interact extensively with each other. To exploit this symmetry and stacking, we developed SymDOCK, a method to dock molecules that follow the protein's symmetry. For each prospective ligand pose, we apply the symmetry operation of the fibril to generate a self-interacting and fibril-interacting stack, checking that doing so will not cause a clash between the original molecule and its image. Absent a clash, we retain that pose and add the ligand-ligand van der Waals energy to the ligand's docking score (here using DOCK3.8). We can check these geometries and energies using an implementation of ANI, a neural network-based quantum-mechanical evaluation of the ligand stacking energies. In retrospective calculations, symmetry docking can reproduce the poses of three tau PET tracers whose structures have been determined. More convincingly, in a prospective study SymDOCK predicted the structure of the PET tracer MK-6240 bound in a symmetrical stack to AD PHF tau before that structure was determined; the docked pose was used to determine how MK-6240 fit the cryo-EM density. In proof-of-concept studies, SymDOCK enriched known ligands over property-matched decoys in retrospective screens without sacrificing docking speed, and can address large library screens that seek new symmetrical stackers. Future applications of this approach will be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Smith
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Program in Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ian S. Knight
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rian C. Kormos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Program in Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joseph G. Pepe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Program in Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Peter Kunach
- McGill Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sarah H. Shahmoradian
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - John J. Irwin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - William F. DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brian K. Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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8
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Chlebowicz J, Russ W, Chen D, Vega A, Vernino S, White CL, Rizo J, Joachimiak LA, Diamond MI. Saturation mutagenesis of α-synuclein reveals monomer fold that modulates aggregation. Sci Adv 2023; 9:eadh3457. [PMID: 37889966 PMCID: PMC10610913 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh3457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (aSyn) aggregation underlies neurodegenerative synucleinopathies. aSyn seeds are proposed to replicate and propagate neuronal pathology like prions. Seeding of aSyn can be recapitulated in cellular systems of aSyn aggregation; however, the mechanism of aSyn seeding and its regulation are not well understood. We developed an mEos-based aSyn seeding assay and performed saturation mutagenesis to identify with single-residue resolution positive and negative regulators of aSyn aggregation. We not only found the core regions that govern aSyn aggregation but also identified mutants outside of the core that enhance aggregation. We identified local structure within the N terminus of aSyn that hinders the fibrillization propensity of its aggregation-prone core. Based on the screen, we designed a minimal aSyn fragment that shows a ~4-fold enhancement in seeding activity and enabled discrimination of synucleinopathies. Our study expands the basic knowledge of aSyn aggregation and advances the design of cellular systems of aSyn aggregation to diagnose synucleinopathies based on protein conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Chlebowicz
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - William Russ
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Evozyne Inc., Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dailu Chen
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anthony Vega
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Steven Vernino
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Charles L. White
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Josep Rizo
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lukasz A. Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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9
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Kunach P, Vaquer-Alicea J, Smith MS, Hopewell R, Monistrol J, Moquin L, Therriault J, Tissot C, Rahmouni N, Massarweh G, Soucy JP, Guiot MC, Shoichet BK, Rosa-Neto P, Diamond MI, Shahmoradian SH. Cryo-EM structure of Alzheimer's disease tau filaments with PET ligand MK-6240. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.22.558671. [PMID: 37790438 PMCID: PMC10542181 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.22.558671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) ligands have advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and treatment. Using autoradiography and cryo-EM, we identified AD brain tissue with elevated tau burden, purified filaments, and determined the structure of second-generation high avidity PET ligand MK-6240 at 2.31 Å resolution, which bound at a 1:1 ratio within the cleft of tau paired-helical filament (PHF), engaging with glutamine 351, lysine K353, and isoleucine 360. This information elucidates the basis of MK-6240 PET in quantifying PHF deposits in AD and may facilitate the structure-based design of superior ligands against tau amyloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kunach
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Matthew S. Smith
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Program of Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Jim Monistrol
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Luc Moquin
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Joseph Therriault
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Cecile Tissot
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nesrine Rahmouni
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | - Marie-Christine Guiot
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Brian K. Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Pedro Rosa-Neto
- Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Sarah H. Shahmoradian
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, Dallas, TX, United States
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10
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Batra S, Vaquer-Alicea J, Manon VA, Kashmer OM, Lemoff A, Cairns NJ, White CL, Diamond MI. VCP increases or decreases tau seeding using specific cofactors. bioRxiv 2023:2023.08.30.555637. [PMID: 37693404 PMCID: PMC10491269 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.30.555637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Background Neurodegenerative tauopathies may progress based on seeding by pathological tau assemblies, whereby an aggregate is released from one cell, gains entry to an adjacent or connected cell, and serves as a specific template for its own replication in the cytoplasm. In vitro seeding reactions typically take days, yet seeding into the complex cytoplasmic milieu can happen within hours. A cellular machinery might regulate this process, but potential players are unknown. Methods We used proximity labeling to identify factors that control seed amplification. We fused split-APEX2 to the C-terminus of tau repeat domain (RD) to reconstitute peroxidase activity upon seeded intracellular tau aggregation. We identified valosin containing protein (VCP/p97) 5h after seeding. Mutations in VCP underlie two neurodegenerative diseases, multisystem proteinopathy and vacuolar tauopathy, but its mechanistic role is unclear. We utilized tau biosensors, a cellular model for tau aggregation, to study the effects of VCP on tau seeding. Results VCP knockdown reduced tau seeding. However, distinct chemical inhibitors of VCP and the proteasome had opposing effects on aggregation, but only when given <8h of seed exposure. ML-240 increased seeding efficiency ~40x, whereas NMS-873 decreased seeding efficiency by 50%, and MG132 increased seeding ~10x. We screened VCP co-factors in HEK293 biosensor cells by genetic knockout or knockdown. Reduction of ATXN3, NSFL1C, UBE4B, NGLY1, and OTUB1 decreased tau seeding, as did NPLOC4, which also uniquely increased soluble tau levels. Reduction of FAF2 and UBXN6 increased tau seeding. Conclusions VCP uses distinct cofactors to determine seed replication efficiency, consistent with a dedicated cytoplasmic processing complex that directs seeds towards dissolution vs. amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushobhna Batra
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Victor A Manon
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Andrew Lemoff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Nigel J Cairns
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
- Department of Neurology, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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11
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Perez VA, Sanders DW, Mendoza-Oliva A, Stopschinski BE, Mullapudi V, White CL, Joachimiak LA, Diamond MI. DnaJC7 specifically regulates tau seeding. eLife 2023; 12:e86936. [PMID: 37387473 PMCID: PMC10473839 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative tauopathies are caused by accumulation of toxic tau protein assemblies. This appears to involve template-based seeding events, whereby tau monomer changes conformation and is recruited to a growing aggregate. Several large families of chaperone proteins, including Hsp70s and J domain proteins (JDPs), cooperate to regulate the folding of intracellular proteins such as tau, but the factors that coordinate this activity are not well known. The JDP DnaJC7 binds tau and reduces its intracellular aggregation. However, it is unknown whether this is specific to DnaJC7 or if other JDPs might be similarly involved. We used proteomics within a cell model to determine that DnaJC7 co-purified with insoluble tau and colocalized with intracellular aggregates. We individually knocked out every possible JDP and tested the effect on intracellular aggregation and seeding. DnaJC7 knockout decreased aggregate clearance and increased intracellular tau seeding. This depended on the ability of the J domain (JD) of DnaJC7 to stimulate Hsp70 ATPase activity, as JD mutations that block this interaction abrogated the protective activity. Disease-associated mutations in the JD and substrate binding site of DnaJC7 also abolished its protective activity. DnaJC7 thus specifically regulates tau aggregation in cooperation with Hsp70.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Ann Perez
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - David W Sanders
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Ayde Mendoza-Oliva
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Barbara Elena Stopschinski
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Vishruth Mullapudi
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Neurology, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
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12
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Sun Z, Kwon JS, Ren Y, Chen S, Cates K, Lu X, Walker CK, Karahan H, Sviben S, Fitzpatrick JAJ, Valdez C, Houlden H, Karch CM, Bateman RJ, Sato C, Mennerick SJ, Diamond MI, Kim J, Tanzi RE, Holtzman DM, Yoo AS. Endogenous recapitulation of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology through human 3D direct neuronal reprogramming. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.24.542155. [PMID: 37292658 PMCID: PMC10245934 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.24.542155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects elderly individuals, and is characterized by hallmark neuronal pathologies including extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque deposition, intracellular tau tangles, and neuronal death. However, recapitulating these age-associated neuronal pathologies in patient-derived neurons has remained a significant challenge, especially for late-onset AD (LOAD), the most common form of the disorder. Here, we applied the high efficiency microRNA-mediated direct neuronal reprogramming of fibroblasts from AD patients to generate cortical neurons in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel and self-assembled neuronal spheroids. Our findings indicate that neurons and spheroids reprogrammed from both autosomal dominant AD (ADAD) and LOAD patients exhibited AD-like phenotypes linked to neurons, including extracellular Aβ deposition, dystrophic neurites with hyperphosphorylated, K63-ubiquitin-positive, seed-competent tau, and spontaneous neuronal death in culture. Moreover, treatment with β- or γ-secretase inhibitors in LOAD patient-derived neurons and spheroids before Aβ deposit formation significantly lowered Aβ deposition, as well as tauopathy and neurodegeneration. However, the same treatment after the cells already formed Aβ deposits only had a mild effect. Additionally, inhibiting the synthesis of age-associated retrotransposable elements (RTEs) by treating LOAD neurons and spheroids with the reverse transcriptase inhibitor, lamivudine, alleviated AD neuropathology. Overall, our results demonstrate that direct neuronal reprogramming of AD patient fibroblasts in a 3D environment can capture age-related neuropathology and reflect the interplay between Aβ accumulation, tau dysregulation, and neuronal death. Moreover, miRNA-based 3D neuronal conversion provides a human-relevant AD model that can be used to identify compounds that can potentially ameliorate AD-associated pathologies and neurodegeneration.
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13
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Ramirez DM, Whitesell JD, Bhagwat N, Thomas TL, Ajay AD, Nawaby A, Delatour B, Bay S, LaFaye P, Knox JE, Harris JA, Meeks JP, Diamond MI. Endogenous pathology in tauopathy mice progresses via brain networks. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.23.541792. [PMID: 37293074 PMCID: PMC10245958 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.23.541792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative tauopathies are hypothesized to propagate via brain networks. This is uncertain because we have lacked precise network resolution of pathology. We therefore developed whole-brain staining methods with anti-p-tau nanobodies and imaged in 3D PS19 tauopathy mice, which have pan-neuronal expression of full-length human tau containing the P301S mutation. We analyzed patterns of p-tau deposition across established brain networks at multiple ages, testing the relationship between structural connectivity and patterns of progressive pathology. We identified core regions with early tau deposition, and used network propagation modeling to determine the link between tau pathology and connectivity strength. We discovered a bias towards retrograde network-based propagation of tau. This novel approach establishes a fundamental role for brain networks in tau propagation, with implications for human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise M.O. Ramirez
- Department of Neurology, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer D. Whitesell
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, USA
- Cajal Neuroscience; Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nikhil Bhagwat
- Allen Institute for Brain Science; Seattle, WA, USA
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), McGill University; Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Talitha L. Thomas
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Apoorva D. Ajay
- Department of Neurology, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ariana Nawaby
- Department of Neurology, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Benoît Delatour
- Paris Brain Institute (ICM), CNRS UMR 7225, INSERM U1127, Sorbonne Université, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière; Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Bay
- Unité de Chimie des Biomolécules, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3523; Paris, France
| | - Pierre LaFaye
- Antibody Engineering Platform, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528; Paris, France
| | | | | | - Julian P. Meeks
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical School; Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX, USA
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14
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Chen D, Bali S, Singh R, Wosztyl A, Mullapudi V, Vaquer-Alicea J, Jayan P, Melhem S, Seelaar H, van Swieten JC, Diamond MI, Joachimiak LA. FTD-tau S320F mutation stabilizes local structure and allosterically promotes amyloid motif-dependent aggregation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1625. [PMID: 36959205 PMCID: PMC10036635 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37274-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid deposition of the microtubule-associated protein tau is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In frontotemporal dementia with abnormal tau (FTD-tau), missense mutations in tau enhance its aggregation propensity. Here we describe the structural mechanism for how an FTD-tau S320F mutation drives spontaneous aggregation, integrating data from in vitro, in silico and cellular experiments. We find that S320F stabilizes a local hydrophobic cluster which allosterically exposes the 306VQIVYK311 amyloid motif; identify a suppressor mutation that destabilizes S320F-based hydrophobic clustering reversing the phenotype in vitro and in cells; and computationally engineer spontaneously aggregating tau sequences through optimizing nonpolar clusters surrounding the S320 position. We uncover a mechanism for regulating tau aggregation which balances local nonpolar contacts with long-range interactions that sequester amyloid motifs. Understanding this process may permit control of tau aggregation into structural polymorphs to aid the design of reagents targeting disease-specific tau conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dailu Chen
- Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, 75390, USA
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Sofia Bali
- Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, 75390, USA
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Ruhar Singh
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Aleksandra Wosztyl
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Vishruth Mullapudi
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Parvathy Jayan
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Shamiram Melhem
- Department of Neurology & Alzheimer Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Harro Seelaar
- Department of Neurology & Alzheimer Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - John C van Swieten
- Department of Neurology & Alzheimer Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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15
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Perez VA, Sanders DW, Mendoza-Oliva A, Stopschinski BE, Mullapudi V, White CL, Joachimiak LA, Diamond MI. DnaJC7 specifically regulates tau seeding. bioRxiv 2023:2023.03.16.532880. [PMID: 36993367 PMCID: PMC10055123 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.16.532880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative tauopathies are caused by accumulation of toxic tau protein assemblies. This appears to involve template-based seeding events, whereby tau monomer changes conformation and is recruited to a growing aggregate. Several large families of chaperone proteins, including Hsp70s and J domain proteins (JDPs) cooperate to regulate the folding of intracellular proteins such as tau, but the factors that coordinate this activity are not well known. The JDP DnaJC7 binds tau and reduces its intracellular aggregation. However, it is unknown whether this is specific to DnaJC7 or if other JDPs might be similarly involved. We used proteomics within a cell model to determine that DnaJC7 co-purified with insoluble tau and colocalized with intracellular aggregates. We individually knocked out every possible JDP and tested the effect on intracellular aggregation and seeding. DnaJC7 knockout decreased aggregate clearance and increased intracellular tau seeding. This depended on the ability of the J domain (JD) of DnaJC7 to bind to Hsp70, as JD mutations that block binding to Hsp70 abrogated the protective activity. Disease-associated mutations in the JD and substrate binding site of DnaJC7 also abrogated its protective activity. DnaJC7 thus specifically regulates tau aggregation in cooperation with Hsp70.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie A Perez
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - David W Sanders
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Ayde Mendoza-Oliva
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Barbara E Stopschinski
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Vishruth Mullapudi
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
- Department of Biochemistry, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
- Department of Neurology, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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16
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Mullapudi V, Vaquer-Alicea J, Bommareddy V, Vega AR, Ryder BD, White CL, Diamond MI, Joachimiak LA. Network of hotspot interactions cluster tau amyloid folds. Nat Commun 2023; 14:895. [PMID: 36797278 PMCID: PMC9935906 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36572-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryogenic electron microscopy has revealed unprecedented molecular insight into the conformations of β-sheet-rich protein amyloids linked to neurodegenerative diseases. It remains unknown how a protein can adopt a diversity of folds and form multiple distinct fibrillar structures. Here we develop an in silico alanine scan method to estimate the relative energetic contribution of each amino acid in an amyloid assembly. We apply our method to twenty-seven ex vivo and in vitro fibril structural polymorphs of the microtubule-associated protein tau. We uncover networks of energetically important interactions involving amyloid-forming motifs that stabilize the different fibril folds. We evaluate our predictions in cellular and in vitro aggregation assays. Using a machine learning approach, we classify the structures based on residue energetics to identify distinguishing and unifying features. Our energetic profiling suggests that minimal sequence elements control the stability of tau fibrils, allowing future design of protein sequences that fold into unique structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishruth Mullapudi
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Vaibhav Bommareddy
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Anthony R Vega
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Bryan D Ryder
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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17
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Saha I, Yuste-Checa P, Da Silva Padilha M, Guo Q, Körner R, Holthusen H, Trinkaus VA, Dudanova I, Fernández-Busnadiego R, Baumeister W, Sanders DW, Gautam S, Diamond MI, Hartl FU, Hipp MS. The AAA+ chaperone VCP disaggregates Tau fibrils and generates aggregate seeds in a cellular system. Nat Commun 2023; 14:560. [PMID: 36732333 PMCID: PMC9894937 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36058-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid-like aggregates of the microtubule-associated protein Tau are associated with several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. The existence of cellular machinery for the removal of such aggregates has remained unclear, as specialized disaggregase chaperones are thought to be absent in mammalian cells. Here we show in cell culture and in neurons that the hexameric ATPase valosin-containing protein (VCP) is recruited to ubiquitylated Tau fibrils, resulting in their efficient disaggregation. Aggregate clearance depends on the functional cooperation of VCP with heat shock 70 kDa protein (Hsp70) and the ubiquitin-proteasome machinery. While inhibition of VCP activity stabilizes large Tau aggregates, disaggregation by VCP generates seeding-active Tau species as byproduct. These findings identify VCP as a core component of the machinery for the removal of neurodegenerative disease aggregates and suggest that its activity can be associated with enhanced aggregate spreading in tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itika Saha
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Patricia Yuste-Checa
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Miguel Da Silva Padilha
- Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Center for Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Qiang Guo
- Department of Structural Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Roman Körner
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Hauke Holthusen
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Victoria A Trinkaus
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Structural Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Irina Dudanova
- Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Center for Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Rubén Fernández-Busnadiego
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.,Department of Structural Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37099, Göttingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Baumeister
- Department of Structural Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - David W Sanders
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, 75390, TX, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Saurabh Gautam
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.,Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, 55216, Ingelheim, Germany.,ViraTherapeutics GmbH, 6063, Rum, Austria
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, 75390, TX, USA
| | - F Ulrich Hartl
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany. .,Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA. .,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany.
| | - Mark S Hipp
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany. .,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany. .,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan, 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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18
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LaCroix MS, Mirbaha H, Shang P, Zandee S, Foong C, Prat A, White CL, Stuve O, Diamond MI. Tau seeding in cases of multiple sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:146. [PMID: 36221144 PMCID: PMC9552360 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01444-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system that in many cases leads to progressive MS, a neurodegenerative disease. Progressive MS is untreatable and relentless, and its cause is unknown. Prior studies of MS have documented neuronal accumulation of phosphorylated tau protein, which characterizes another heterogeneous group of neurogenerative disorders, the tauopathies. Known causes of tauopathy are myriad, and include point mutations within the tau gene, amyloid beta accumulation, repeated head trauma, and viral infection. We and others have proposed that tau has essential features of a prion. It forms intracellular assemblies that can exit a cell, enter a secondary cell, and serve as templates for their own replication in a process termed "seeding." We have previously developed specialized "biosensor" cell systems to detect and quantify tau seeds in brain tissues. We hypothesized that progressive MS is a tauopathy, potentially triggered by inflammation. We tested for and detected tau seeding in frozen brain tissue of 6/8 subjects with multiple sclerosis. We then evaluated multiple brain regions from a single subject for whom we had detailed clinical history. We observed seeding outside of MS plaques that was enriched by immunopurification with two anti-tau antibodies (HJ8.5 and MD3.1). Immunohistochemistry with AT8 and MD3.1 confirmed prior reports of tau accumulation in MS. Although larger studies are required, our data suggest that progressive MS may be considered a secondary tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S LaCroix
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, NL10.120, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, NL10.120, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.,Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ping Shang
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Stephanie Zandee
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Neuroimmunology Research Laboratory, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada.,Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Chan Foong
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Alexandre Prat
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Neuroimmunology Research Laboratory, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada.,Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Olaf Stuve
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Neurology Section, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, NL10.120, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. .,Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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19
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Mirbaha H, Chen D, Mullapudi V, Terpack SJ, White CL, Joachimiak LA, Diamond MI. Seed-competent tau monomer initiates pathology in a tauopathy mouse model. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102163. [PMID: 35750209 PMCID: PMC9307951 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau aggregation into ordered assemblies causes neurodegenerative tauopathies. We previously reported that tau monomer exists in either inert (Mi) or seed-competent (Ms) conformational ensembles and that Ms encodes strains, that is, unique, self-replicating, biologically active assemblies. It is unknown if disease begins with Ms formation followed by fibril assembly or if Ms derives from fibrils and is therefore an epiphenomenon. Here, we studied a tauopathy mouse model (PS19) that expresses full-length mutant human (1N4R) tau (P301S). Insoluble tau seeding activity appeared at 2 months of age and insoluble tau protein assemblies by immunoblot at 3 months. Tau monomer from mice aged 1 to 6 weeks, purified using size-exclusion chromatography, contained soluble seeding activity at 4 weeks, before insoluble material or larger assemblies were observed, with assemblies ranging from n = 1 to 3 tau units. By 5 to 6 weeks, large soluble assemblies had formed. This indicated that the first detectable pathological forms of tau were in fact Ms. We next examined posttranslational modifications of tau monomer from 1 to 6 weeks. We detected no phosphorylation unique to Ms in PS19 or human Alzheimer’s disease brains. We conclude that tauopathy begins with formation of the Ms monomer, whose activity is phosphorylation independent. Ms then self assembles to form oligomers before it forms insoluble fibrils. The conversion of tau monomer from Mi to Ms thus constitutes the first detectable step in the initiation of tauopathy in this mouse model, with obvious implications for the origins of tauopathy in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75225
| | - Dailu Chen
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75225
| | - Vishruth Mullapudi
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75225
| | - Sandi Jo Terpack
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75225
| | - Charles L White
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75225; Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75225
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75225
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75225.
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20
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Zwierzchowski-Zarate AN, Mendoza-Oliva A, Kashmer OM, Collazo-Lopez JE, White CL, Diamond MI. RNA induces unique tau strains and stabilizes Alzheimer's disease seeds. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102132. [PMID: 35700826 PMCID: PMC9364032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau aggregation underlies neurodegenerative tauopathies, and trans-cellular propagation of tau assemblies of unique structure, i.e. strains, may underlie the diversity of these disorders. Polyanions have been reported to induce tau aggregation in vitro, but the precise trigger to convert tau from an inert to a seed-competent form in disease states is unknown. RNA triggers tau fibril formation in vitro and has been observed to associate with neurofibrillary tangles in human brain. Here we have tested whether RNA exerts sequence-specific effects on tau assembly and strain formation. We found that three RNA homopolymers, polyA, polyU, and polyC, all bound tau, but only polyA RNA triggered seed and fibril formation. In addition, polyA:tau seeds and fibrils were sensitive to RNase. We also observed that the origin of the RNA influenced the ability of tau to adopt a structure that would form stable strains. Human RNA potently induced tau seed formation and created tau conformations that preferentially formed stable strains in a HEK293T cell model, whereas RNA from other sources, or heparin, produced strains that were not stably maintained in cultured cells. Finally, we found that soluble, but not insoluble seeds from Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain were also sensitive to RNase. We conclude that human RNA specifically induces formation of stable tau strains, and may trigger the formation of dominant pathological assemblies that propagate in AD, and possibly other tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy N Zwierzchowski-Zarate
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Aydé Mendoza-Oliva
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Josue E Collazo-Lopez
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Charles L White
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA.
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21
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Kolay S, Vega AR, Dodd DA, Perez VA, Kashmer OM, White CL, Diamond MI. The dual fates of exogenous tau seeds: lysosomal clearance vs. cytoplasmic amplification. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102014. [PMID: 35525272 PMCID: PMC9163595 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau assembly movement from the extracellular to intracellular space may underlie transcellular propagation of neurodegenerative tauopathies. This begins with tau binding to cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans, which triggers macropinocytosis. Pathological tau assemblies are proposed then to exit the vesicular compartment as “seeds” for replication in the cytoplasm. Tau uptake is highly efficient, but only ∼1 to 10% of cells that endocytose aggregates exhibit seeding. Consequently, we studied fluorescently tagged full-length (FL) tau fibrils added to native U2OS cells or “biosensor” cells expressing FL tau or repeat domain. FL tau fibrils bound tubulin. Seeds triggered its aggregation in multiple locations simultaneously in the cytoplasm, generally independent of visible exogenous aggregates. Most exogenous tau trafficked to the lysosome, but fluorescence imaging revealed a small percentage that steadily accumulated in the cytosol. Intracellular expression of Gal3-mRuby, which binds intravesicular galactosides and forms puncta upon vesicle rupture, revealed no evidence of vesicle damage following tau exposure, and most seeded cells had no evidence of endolysosome rupture. However, live-cell imaging indicated that cells with pre-existing Gal3-positive puncta were seeded at a slightly higher rate than the general population, suggesting a potential predisposing role for vesicle instability. Clearance of tau seeds occurred rapidly in both vesicular and cytosolic fractions. The lysosome/autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin inhibited vesicular clearance, whereas the proteasome inhibitor MG132 inhibited cytosolic clearance. Tau seeds that enter the cell thus have at least two fates: lysosomal clearance that degrades most tau, and entry into the cytosol, where seeds amplify, and are cleared by the proteasome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Kolay
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Anthony R Vega
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Dana A Dodd
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Valerie A Perez
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Charles L White
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
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22
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Vega AR, Chkheidze R, Jarmale V, Shang P, Foong C, Diamond MI, White CL, Rajaram S. Deep learning reveals disease-specific signatures of white matter pathology in tauopathies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:170. [PMID: 34674762 PMCID: PMC8529809 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01271-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although pathology of tauopathies is characterized by abnormal tau protein aggregation in both gray and white matter regions of the brain, neuropathological investigations have generally focused on abnormalities in the cerebral cortex because the canonical aggregates that form the diagnostic criteria for these disorders predominate there. This corticocentric focus tends to deemphasize the relevance of the more complex white matter pathologies, which remain less well characterized and understood. We took a data-driven machine-learning approach to identify novel disease-specific morphologic signatures of white matter aggregates in three tauopathies: Alzheimer disease (AD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). We developed automated approaches using whole slide images of tau immunostained sections from 49 human autopsy brains (16 AD,13 CBD, 20 PSP) to identify cortex/white matter regions and individual tau aggregates, and compared tau-aggregate morphology across these diseases. Tau burden in the gray and white matter for individual subjects strongly correlated in a highly disease-specific fashion. We discovered previously unrecognized tau morphologies for AD, CBD and PSP that may be of importance in disease classification. Intriguingly, our models classified diseases equally well based on either white or gray matter tau staining. Our results suggest that tau pathology in white matter is informative, disease-specific, and linked to gray matter pathology. Machine learning has the potential to reveal latent information in histologic images that may represent previously unrecognized patterns of neuropathology, and additional studies of tau pathology in white matter could improve diagnostic accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R Vega
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - Rati Chkheidze
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Vipul Jarmale
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - Ping Shang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - Chan Foong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - Satwik Rajaram
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
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23
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Stopschinski BE, Del Tredici K, Estill-Terpack SJ, Ghebremdehin E, Yu FF, Braak H, Diamond MI. Anatomic survey of seeding in Alzheimer's disease brains reveals unexpected patterns. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:164. [PMID: 34635189 PMCID: PMC8507321 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01255-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases defined by progressive brain accumulation of tau aggregates. The most common tauopathy, sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), involves progressive tau deposition that can be divided into specific stages of neurofibrillary tangle pathology. This classification is consistent with experimental data which suggests that network-based propagation is mediated by cell–cell transfer of tau “seeds”, or assemblies, that serve as templates for their own replication. Until now, seeding assays of AD brain have largely been limited to areas previously defined by NFT pathology. We now expand this work to additional regions. We selected 20 individuals with AD pathology of NFT stages I, III, and V. We stained and classified 25 brain regions in each using the anti-phospho-tau monoclonal antibody AT8. We measured tau seeding in each of the 500 samples using a cell-based tau “biosensor” assay in which induction of intracellular tau aggregation is mediated by exogenous tau assemblies. We observed a progressive increase in tau seeding according to NFT stage. Seeding frequently preceded NFT pathology, e.g., in the basolateral subnucleus of the amygdala and the substantia nigra, pars compacta. We observed seeding in brain regions not previously known to develop tau pathology, e.g., the globus pallidus and internal capsule, where AT8 staining revealed mainly axonal accumulation of tau. AT8 staining in brain regions identified because of tau seeding also revealed pathology in a previously undescribed cell type: Bergmann glia of the cerebellar cortex. We also detected tau seeding in brain regions not previously examined, e.g., the intermediate reticular zone, dorsal raphe nucleus, amygdala, basal nucleus of Meynert, and olfactory bulb. In conclusion, tau histopathology and seeding are complementary analytical tools. Tau seeding assays reveal pathology in the absence of AT8 signal in some instances, and previously unrecognized sites of tau deposition. The variation in sites of seeding between individuals could underlie differences in the clinical presentation and course of AD.
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24
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Hitt BD, Vaquer-Alicea J, Manon VA, Beaver JD, Kashmer OM, Garcia JN, Diamond MI. Ultrasensitive tau biosensor cells detect no seeding in Alzheimer's disease CSF. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:99. [PMID: 34039426 PMCID: PMC8152020 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01185-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau protein forms self-replicating assemblies (seeds) that may underlie progression of pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Seeding in recombinant protein preparations and brain homogenates has been quantified with “biosensor” cell lines that express tau with a disease-associated mutation (P301S) fused to complementary fluorescent proteins. Quantification of induced aggregation in cells that score positive by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is accomplished by cell imaging or flow cytometry. Several groups have reported seeding activity in antemortem cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using various methods, but these findings are not yet widely replicated. To address this question, we created two improved FRET-based biosensor cell lines based on tau expression, termed version 2 low (v2L) and version 2 high (v2H). We determined that v2H cells are ~ 100-fold more sensitive to AD-derived tau seeds than our original lines, and coupled with immunoprecipitation reliably detect seeding from samples containing as little as 100 attomoles of recombinant tau fibrils or ~ 32 pg of total protein from AD brain homogenate. We tested antemortem CSF from 11 subjects with a clinical diagnosis of AD, 9 confirmed by validated CSF biomarkers. We used immunoprecipitation coupled with seed detection in v2H cells and detected no tau seeding in any sample. Thus we cannot confirm prior reports of tau seeding activity in the CSF of AD patients. This next generation of ultra-sensitive tau biosensors may nonetheless be useful to the research community to quantify tau pathology as sensitively and specifically as possible.
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25
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Chastagner P, Loria F, Vargas JY, Tois J, I Diamond M, Okafo G, Brou C, Zurzolo C. Fate and propagation of endogenously formed Tau aggregates in neuronal cells. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 12:e12025. [PMID: 33179866 PMCID: PMC7721367 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau accumulation in the form of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain is a hallmark of tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tau aggregates accumulate in brain regions in a defined spatiotemporal pattern and may induce the aggregation of native Tau in a prion-like manner. However, the underlying mechanisms of cell-to-cell spreading of Tau pathology are unknown and could involve encapsulation within exosomes, trans-synaptic passage, and tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). We have established a neuronal cell model to monitor both internalization of externally added fibrils, synthetic (K18) or Tau from AD brain extracts, and real-time conversion of microtubule-binding domain of Tau fused to a fluorescent marker into aggregates. We found that these endogenously formed deposits colabel with ubiquitin and p62 but are not recruited to macroautophagosomes, eventually escaping clearance. Furthermore, endogenous K18-seeded Tau aggregates spread to neighboring cells where they seed new deposits. Transfer of Tau aggregates depends on direct cell contact, and they are found inside TNTs connecting neuronal cells. We further demonstrate that contact-dependent transfer occurs in primary neurons and between neurons and astrocytes in organotypic cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frida Loria
- Unité de Trafic Membranaire et Pathogenèse, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Jessica Y Vargas
- Unité de Trafic Membranaire et Pathogenèse, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Josh Tois
- Unité de Trafic Membranaire et Pathogenèse, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Christel Brou
- Unité de Trafic Membranaire et Pathogenèse, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Chiara Zurzolo
- Unité de Trafic Membranaire et Pathogenèse, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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26
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Kolay S, Diamond MI. Alzheimer's disease risk modifier genes do not affect tau aggregate uptake, seeding or maintenance in cell models. FEBS Open Bio 2020; 10:1912-1920. [PMID: 32649026 PMCID: PMC7459407 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) afflicts millions of people worldwide and is caused by accumulated amyloid beta and tau pathology. Progression of tau pathology in AD may utilize prion mechanisms of propagation in which pathological tau aggregates released from one cell are taken up by neighboring or connected cells and act as templates for their own replication, a process termed ‘seeding’. We have used HEK293T cells to model various aspects of pathological tau propagation, including uptake of tau aggregates, induced seeding by exogenous aggregates, seeding caused by Lipofectamine‐mediated delivery to the cell interior, and stable maintenance of aggregates in dividing cells. The factors that regulate these processes are not well understood, and we hypothesized that AD risk modifier genes might play a role. We identified 22 genes strongly linked to AD via meta‐analysis of genome‐wide association study (GWAS). We used CRISPR/Cas9 to individually knock out each gene in HEK293T cells and verified disruption using genomic sequencing. We then tested the effect of gene knockout in tau aggregate uptake, naked and Lipofectamine‐mediated seeding, and aggregate maintenance in these cultured cell lines. GWAS gene knockouts had no effect in these models of tau pathology. With obvious caveats due to the model systems used, these results imply that the 22 AD risk modifier genes are unlikely to directly modulate tau uptake, seeding, or aggregate maintenance in a cell‐autonomous fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Kolay
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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27
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Haj‐Yahya M, Gopinath P, Rajasekhar K, Mirbaha H, Diamond MI, Lashuel HA. Site-Specific Hyperphosphorylation Inhibits, Rather than Promotes, Tau Fibrillization, Seeding Capacity, and Its Microtubule Binding. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:4059-4067. [PMID: 31863676 PMCID: PMC7065254 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201913001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The consistent observation of phosphorylated tau in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease has contributed to the emergence of a model where hyperphosphorylation triggers both tau disassociation from microtubules and its subsequent aggregation. Herein, we applied a total chemical synthetic approach to site-specifically phosphorylate the microtubule binding repeat domain of tau (K18) at single (pS356) or multiple (pS356/pS262 and pS356/pS262/pS258) residues. We show that hyperphosphorylation of K18 inhibits 1) its aggregation in vitro, 2) its seeding activity in cells, 3) its binding to microtubules, and 4) its ability to promote microtubule polymerization. The inhibition increased with increasing the number of phosphorylated sites, with phosphorylation at S262 having the strongest effect. Our results argue against the hyperphosphorylation hypothesis and underscore the importance of revisiting the role of site-specific hyperphosphorylation in regulating tau functions in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood Haj‐Yahya
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of NeurodegenerationBrain Mind InstituteFaculty of Life SciencesEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne1015LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Pushparathinam Gopinath
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of NeurodegenerationBrain Mind InstituteFaculty of Life SciencesEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne1015LausanneSwitzerland
- Current Address: Department of ChemistrySRM Institute of Science and TechnologyChennaiTamilNaduIndia
| | - Kolla Rajasekhar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of NeurodegenerationBrain Mind InstituteFaculty of Life SciencesEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne1015LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative DiseasesPeter O'Donnell Jr. Brain InstituteUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTX75390USA
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative DiseasesPeter O'Donnell Jr. Brain InstituteUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasTX75390USA
| | - Hilal A. Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of NeurodegenerationBrain Mind InstituteFaculty of Life SciencesEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne1015LausanneSwitzerland
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Haj‐Yahya M, Gopinath P, Rajasekhar K, Mirbaha H, Diamond MI, Lashuel HA. Site‐Specific Hyperphosphorylation Inhibits, Rather than Promotes, Tau Fibrillization, Seeding Capacity, and Its Microtubule Binding. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201913001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood Haj‐Yahya
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration Brain Mind Institute Faculty of Life Sciences Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Pushparathinam Gopinath
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration Brain Mind Institute Faculty of Life Sciences Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
- Current Address: Department of Chemistry SRM Institute of Science and Technology Chennai TamilNadu India
| | - Kolla Rajasekhar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration Brain Mind Institute Faculty of Life Sciences Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas TX 75390 USA
| | - Marc I. Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas TX 75390 USA
| | - Hilal A. Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration Brain Mind Institute Faculty of Life Sciences Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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Stopschinski BE, Thomas TL, Nadji S, Darvish E, Fan L, Holmes BB, Modi AR, Finnell JG, Kashmer OM, Estill-Terpack S, Mirbaha H, Luu HS, Diamond MI. A synthetic heparinoid blocks Tau aggregate cell uptake and amplification. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:2974-2983. [PMID: 31974166 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau aggregation underlies neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. We and others have proposed that transcellular propagation of pathology is mediated by Tau prions, which are ordered protein assemblies that faithfully replicate in vivo and cause specific biological effects. The prion model predicts the release of aggregates from a first-order cell and subsequent uptake into a second-order cell. The assemblies then serve as templates for their own replication, a process termed "seeding." We have previously observed that heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the cell surface mediate the cellular uptake of Tau aggregates. This interaction is blocked by heparin, a sulfated glycosaminoglycan. Indeed, heparin-like molecules, or heparinoids, have previously been proposed as a treatment for PrP prion disorders. However, heparin is not ideal for managing chronic neurodegeneration, because it is difficult to synthesize in defined sizes, may have poor brain penetration because of its negative charge, and is a powerful anticoagulant. Therefore, we sought to generate an oligosaccharide that would bind Tau and block its cellular uptake and seeding, without exhibiting anticoagulation activity. We created a compound, SN7-13, from pentasaccharide units and tested it in a range of assays that measured direct binding of Tau to glycosaminoglycans and inhibition of Tau uptake and seeding in cells. SN7-13 does not inhibit coagulation, binds Tau with low nanomolar affinity, and inhibits cellular Tau aggregate propagation similarly to standard porcine heparin. This synthetic heparinoid could facilitate the development of agents to treat tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara E Stopschinski
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390; Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Talitha L Thomas
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Sourena Nadji
- PharmaRen Discovery LLC, Berkeley, Missouri 63134-3115
| | - Eric Darvish
- PharmaRen Discovery LLC, Berkeley, Missouri 63134-3115
| | - Linfeng Fan
- Shanghai Acana Pharmtech Co. Ltd., Berkeley, Missouri 63134-3115
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Anuja R Modi
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Jordan G Finnell
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Sandi Estill-Terpack
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Hung S Luu
- Department of Pathology, Children's Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.
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Chen D, Drombosky KW, Hou Z, Sari L, Kashmer OM, Ryder BD, Perez VA, Woodard DR, Lin MM, Diamond MI, Joachimiak LA. Tau local structure shields an amyloid-forming motif and controls aggregation propensity. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2493. [PMID: 31175300 PMCID: PMC6555816 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10355-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by intracellular amyloid deposits of tau protein. Missense mutations in the tau gene (MAPT) correlate with aggregation propensity and cause dominantly inherited tauopathies, but their biophysical mechanism driving amyloid formation is poorly understood. Many disease-associated mutations localize within tau's repeat domain at inter-repeat interfaces proximal to amyloidogenic sequences, such as 306VQIVYK311. We use cross-linking mass spectrometry, recombinant protein and synthetic peptide systems, in silico modeling, and cell models to conclude that the aggregation-prone 306VQIVYK311 motif forms metastable compact structures with its upstream sequence that modulates aggregation propensity. We report that disease-associated mutations, isomerization of a critical proline, or alternative splicing are all sufficient to destabilize this local structure and trigger spontaneous aggregation. These findings provide a biophysical framework to explain the basis of early conformational changes that may underlie genetic and sporadic tau pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dailu Chen
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Kenneth W Drombosky
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Hou
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Levent Sari
- Green Center for Molecular, Computational and Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Bryan D Ryder
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Valerie A Perez
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - DaNae R Woodard
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Milo M Lin
- Green Center for Molecular, Computational and Systems Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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Abstract
Most common neurodegenerative diseases feature deposition of protein amyloids and degeneration of brain networks. Amyloids are ordered protein assemblies that can act as templates for their own replication through monomer addition. Evidence suggests that this characteristic may underlie the progression of pathology in neurodegenerative diseases. Many different amyloid proteins, including Aβ, tau, and α-synuclein, exhibit properties similar to those of infectious prion protein in experimental systems: discrete and self-replicating amyloid structures, transcellular propagation of aggregation, and transmissible neuropathology. This review discusses the contribution of prion phenomena and transcellular propagation to the progression of pathology in common neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. It reviews fundamental events such as cell entry, amplification, and transcellular movement. It also discusses amyloid strains, which produce distinct patterns of neuropathology and spread through the nervous system. These concepts may impact the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA;
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA;
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Abstract
Tauopathies have diverse presentation, progression, and neuropathology. They are linked to tau prion strains, self-replicating assemblies of unique quaternary conformation, whose origin is unknown. Strains can be propagated indefinitely in cultured cells, and induce unique patterns of transmissible neuropathology upon inoculation into mice. DS9 and DS10 cell lines propagate different synthetic strains that derive from recombinant tau. We previously observed that tau monomer adopts two conformational states: one that is inert (Mi) and one that is seed-competent (Ms) (Mirbaha et al., 2018). We have now found that Ms itself is comprised of multiple stable ensembles that encode unique strains. DS9 monomer inoculated into naive cells encoded only DS9, whereas DS10 monomer encoded multiple sub-strains. Sub-strains each induced distinct pathology upon inoculation into a tauopathy mouse model (PS19). Ms purified from an Alzeimer's disease brain encoded a single strain. Conversely, Ms from a corticobasal degeneration brain encoded three sub-strains, in which monomer from any one re-established all three upon inoculation into cells. Seed competent tau monomer thus adopts multiple, stable seed-competent conformations, each of which encodes a limited number of strains. This provides insight into the emergence of distinct tauopathies, and may improve diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apurwa M Sharma
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States.,Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St Louis, St. Louis, United States
| | - Talitha L Thomas
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - DaNae R Woodard
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
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Yamasaki TR, Holmes BB, Furman JL, Dhavale DD, Su BW, Song ES, Cairns NJ, Kotzbauer PT, Diamond MI. Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy have distinct α-synuclein seed characteristics. J Biol Chem 2018; 294:1045-1058. [PMID: 30478174 PMCID: PMC6341389 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are distinct clinical syndromes characterized by the pathological accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) protein fibrils in neurons and glial cells. These disorders and other neurodegenerative diseases may progress via prion-like mechanisms. The prion model of propagation predicts the existence of "strains" that link pathological aggregate structure and neuropathology. Prion strains are aggregated conformers that stably propagate in vivo and cause disease with defined incubation times and patterns of neuropathology. Indeed, tau prions have been well defined, and research suggests that both α-syn and β-amyloid may also form strains. However, there is a lack of studies characterizing PD- versus MSA-derived α-syn strains or demonstrating stable propagation of these unique conformers between cells or animals. To fill this gap, we used an assay based on FRET that exploits a HEK293T "biosensor" cell line stably expressing α-syn (A53T)-CFP/YFP fusion proteins to detect α-syn seeds in brain extracts from PD and MSA patients. Both soluble and insoluble fractions of MSA extracts had robust seeding activity, whereas only the insoluble fractions of PD extracts displayed seeding activity. The morphology of MSA-seeded inclusions differed from PD-seeded inclusions. These differences persisted upon propagation of aggregation to second-generation biosensor cells. We conclude that PD and MSA feature α-syn conformers with very distinct biochemical properties that can be transmitted to α-syn monomers in a cell system. These findings are consistent with the idea that distinct α-syn strains underlie PD and MSA and offer possible directions for synucleinopathy diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tritia R Yamasaki
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536,
| | | | | | | | - Bryant W Su
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536
| | - Eun-Suk Song
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536
| | - Nigel J Cairns
- the Departments of Neurology and.,Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, and
| | | | - Marc I Diamond
- the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
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35
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Mirbaha H, Chen D, Morazova OA, Ruff KM, Sharma AM, Liu X, Goodarzi M, Pappu RV, Colby DW, Mirzaei H, Joachimiak LA, Diamond MI. Inert and seed-competent tau monomers suggest structural origins of aggregation. eLife 2018; 7:36584. [PMID: 29988016 PMCID: PMC6039173 DOI: 10.7554/elife.36584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies feature progressive accumulation of tau amyloids. Pathology may begin when these amplify from a protein template, or seed, whose structure is unknown. We have purified and characterized distinct forms of tau monomer—inert (Mi) and seed-competent (Ms). Recombinant Ms triggered intracellular tau aggregation, induced tau fibrillization in vitro, and self-assembled. Ms from Alzheimer’s disease also seeded aggregation and self-assembled in vitro to form seed-competent multimers. We used crosslinking with mass spectrometry to probe structural differences in Mi vs. Ms. Crosslinks informed models of local peptide structure within the repeat domain which suggest relative inaccessibility of residues that drive aggregation (VQIINK/VQIVYK) in Mi, and exposure in Ms. Limited proteolysis supported this idea. Although tau monomer has been considered to be natively unstructured, our findings belie this assumption and suggest that initiation of pathological aggregation could begin with conversion of tau monomer from an inert to a seed-competent form. When doctors perform autopsies to look at the brain tissue of people with Alzheimer’s disease, they find toxic buildups of certain proteins – in particular, a protein called tau – in structures called ‘aggregates’. People with more severe dementia have more tau aggregates in their brain. Aggregates form when individual proteins stick together in repetitive patterns, much like the way a single Lego block might attach to another identical one. Like all proteins, tau is built from a string of amino acids that folds into a specific shape. Normally folded tau proteins do not form aggregates. It was not clear that an individual tau protein had two distinct forms—structures associated with health (“good”) or disease (“bad”). Mirbaha et al. have now studied the folding pattern of purified tau proteins with a sophisticated technology called mass spectrometry. This technique can measure changes in tiny amounts of protein. Some of the purified proteins had been extracted from human brains (from people with and without Alzheimer’s). To detect which of the proteins were toxic, Mirbaha et al. also grew simple human cells in a dish that were designed to react specifically to the bad forms of tau. This allowed the good and bad forms of tau to be isolated. Mirbaha et al. discovered that in the good form of tau the parts of the protein that allow it to stick to itself are hidden, folded inside. By contrast, the bad form of tau exposes the parts that allow it to aggregate, enabling the protein to build upon itself to form a large, toxic assembly. The shape-shifting concept established by Mirbaha et al. might apply to other proteins that form toxic aggregates. This could help us to better understand how many other neurodegenerative diseases develop and progress. Recognizing that the shapes that tau forms can be categorized as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ may also help to develop new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Drugs could be designed to stabilize the good form of tau, or to help remove the bad form from the brain. Furthermore, if the shape-shift described by Mirbaha et al. can be measured early enough in patients, it may allow treatments for Alzheimer’s before people have developed any detectable symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Dailu Chen
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Olga A Morazova
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, United States
| | - Kiersten M Ruff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States
| | - Apurwa M Sharma
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Mohammad Goodarzi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Rohit V Pappu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, United States
| | - David W Colby
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, United States
| | - Hamid Mirzaei
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Lukasz A Joachimiak
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
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Stopschinski BE, Holmes BB, Miller GM, Manon VA, Vaquer-Alicea J, Prueitt WL, Hsieh-Wilson LC, Diamond MI. Specific glycosaminoglycan chain length and sulfation patterns are required for cell uptake of tau versus α-synuclein and β-amyloid aggregates. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:10826-10840. [PMID: 29752409 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.000378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcellular propagation of protein aggregate "seeds" has been proposed to mediate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases in tauopathies and α-synucleinopathies. We previously reported that tau and α-synuclein aggregates bind heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on the cell surface, promoting cellular uptake and intracellular seeding. However, the specificity and binding mode of these protein aggregates to HSPGs remain unknown. Here, we measured direct interaction with modified heparins to determine the size and sulfation requirements for tau, α-synuclein, and β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregate binding to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Varying the GAG length and sulfation patterns, we next conducted competition studies with heparin derivatives in cell-based assays. Tau aggregates required a precise GAG architecture with defined sulfate moieties in the N- and 6-O-positions, whereas the binding of α-synuclein and Aβ aggregates was less stringent. To determine the genes required for aggregate uptake, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to individually knock out the major genes of the HSPG synthesis pathway in HEK293T cells. Knockouts of the extension enzymes exostosin 1 (EXT1), exostosin 2 (EXT2), and exostosin-like 3 (EXTL3), as well as N-sulfotransferase (NDST1) or 6-O-sulfotransferase (HS6ST2) significantly reduced tau uptake, consistent with our biochemical findings, and knockouts of EXT1, EXT2, EXTL3, or NDST1, but not HS6ST2 reduced α-synuclein uptake. In summary, tau aggregates display specific interactions with HSPGs that depend on GAG length and sulfate moiety position, whereas α-synuclein and Aβ aggregates exhibit more flexible interactions with HSPGs. These principles may inform the development of mechanism-based therapies to block transcellular propagation of amyloid protein-based pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara E Stopschinski
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.,the Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.,the Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, and
| | - Gregory M Miller
- the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Victor A Manon
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - William L Prueitt
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Linda C Hsieh-Wilson
- the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Marc I Diamond
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390,
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Posey AE, Ruff KM, Harmon TS, Crick SL, Li A, Diamond MI, Pappu RV. Profilin reduces aggregation and phase separation of huntingtin N-terminal fragments by preferentially binding to soluble monomers and oligomers. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:3734-3746. [PMID: 29358329 PMCID: PMC5846159 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.000357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntingtin N-terminal fragments (Htt-NTFs) with expanded polyglutamine tracts form a range of neurotoxic aggregates that are associated with Huntington's disease. Here, we show that aggregation of Htt-NTFs, irrespective of polyglutamine length, yields at least three phases (designated M, S, and F) that are delineated by sharp concentration thresholds and distinct aggregate sizes and morphologies. We found that monomers and oligomers make up the soluble M phase, ∼25-nm spheres dominate in the soluble S phase, and long, linear fibrils make up the insoluble F phase. Previous studies showed that profilin, an abundant cellular protein, reduces Htt-NTF aggregation and toxicity in cells. We confirm that profilin achieves its cellular effects through direct binding to the C-terminal proline-rich region of Htt-NTFs. We show that profilin preferentially binds to Htt-NTF M-phase species and destabilizes aggregation and phase separation by shifting the concentration boundaries for phase separation to higher values through a process known as polyphasic linkage. Our experiments, aided by coarse-grained computer simulations and theoretical analysis, suggest that preferential binding of profilin to the M-phase species of Htt-NTFs is enhanced through a combination of specific interactions between profilin and polyproline segments and auxiliary interactions between profilin and polyglutamine tracts. Polyphasic linkage may be a general strategy that cells utilize to regulate phase behavior of aggregation-prone proteins. Accordingly, detailed knowledge of phase behavior and an understanding of how ligands modulate phase boundaries may pave the way for developing new therapeutics against a variety of aggregation-prone proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammon E Posey
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biological Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Kiersten M Ruff
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biological Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Tyler S Harmon
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biological Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Scott L Crick
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biological Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Aimin Li
- the Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63108
| | - Marc I Diamond
- the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, and
| | - Rohit V Pappu
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biological Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130,
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38
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DeVos SL, Miller RL, Schoch KM, Holmes BB, Kebodeaux CS, Wegener AJ, Chen G, Shen T, Tran H, Nichols B, Zanardi TA, Kordasiewicz HB, Swayze EE, Bennett CF, Diamond MI, Miller TM. Tau reduction prevents neuronal loss and reverses pathological tau deposition and seeding in mice with tauopathy. Sci Transl Med 2018; 9:9/374/eaag0481. [PMID: 28123067 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aag0481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 297] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau directly correlates with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and other primary tauopathies. One therapeutic strategy may be to reduce total tau expression. We identified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that selectively decreased human tau mRNA and protein in mice expressing mutant P301S human tau. After reduction of human tau in this mouse model of tauopathy, fewer tau inclusions developed, and preexisting phosphorylated tau and Thioflavin S pathology were reversed. The resolution of tau pathology was accompanied by the prevention of hippocampal volume loss, neuronal death, and nesting deficits. In addition, mouse survival was extended, and pathological tau seeding was reversed. In nonhuman primates, tau ASOs distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord and reduced tau mRNA and protein in the brain, spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid. These data support investigation of a tau-lowering therapy in human patients who have tau-positive inclusions even after pathological tau deposition has begun.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L DeVos
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Rebecca L Miller
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kathleen M Schoch
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Carey S Kebodeaux
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Amy J Wegener
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tao Shen
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Hien Tran
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 90201, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Timothy M Miller
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Eskandari-Sedighi G, Daude N, Gapeshina H, Sanders DW, Kamali-Jamil R, Yang J, Shi B, Wille H, Ghetti B, Diamond MI, Janus C, Westaway D. The CNS in inbred transgenic models of 4-repeat Tauopathy develops consistent tau seeding capacity yet focal and diverse patterns of protein deposition. Mol Neurodegener 2017; 12:72. [PMID: 28978354 PMCID: PMC5628424 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-017-0215-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MAPT mutations cause neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia but, strikingly, patients with the same mutation may have different clinical phenotypes. METHODS Given heterogeneities observed in a transgenic (Tg) mouse line expressing low levels of human (2 N, 4R) P301L Tau, we backcrossed founder stocks of mice to C57BL/6Tac, 129/SvEvTac and FVB/NJ inbred backgrounds to discern the role of genetic versus environmental effects on disease-related phenotypes. RESULTS Three inbred derivatives of a TgTauP301L founder line had similar quality and steady-state quantity of Tau production, accumulation of abnormally phosphorylated 64-68 kDa Tau species from 90 days of age onwards and neuronal loss in aged Tg mice. Variegation was not seen in the pattern of transgene expression and seeding properties in a fluorescence-based cellular assay indicated a single "strain" of misfolded Tau. However, in other regards, the aged Tg mice were heterogeneous; there was incomplete penetrance for Tau deposition despite maintained transgene expression in aged animals and, for animals with Tau deposits, distinctions were noted even within each subline. Three classes of rostral deposition in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum accounted for 75% of pathology-positive mice yet the mean ages of mice scored as class I, II or III were not significantly different and, hence, did not fit with a predictable progression from one class to another defined by chronological age. Two other patterns of Tau deposition designated as classes IV and V, occurred in caudal structures. Other pathology-positive Tg mice of similar age not falling within classes I-V presented with focal accumulations in additional caudal neuroanatomical areas including the locus coeruleus. Electron microscopy revealed that brains of Classes I, II and IV animals all exhibit straight filaments, but with coiled filaments and occasional twisted filaments apparent in Class I. Most strikingly, Class I, II and IV animals presented with distinct western blot signatures after trypsin digestion of sarkosyl-insoluble Tau. CONCLUSIONS Qualitative variations in the neuroanatomy of Tau deposition in genetically constrained slow models of primary Tauopathy establish that non-synchronous, focal events contribute to the pathogenic process. Phenotypic diversity in these models suggests a potential parallel to the phenotypic variation seen in P301L patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Eskandari-Sedighi
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, 204 Brain and Aging Research Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M8, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Nathalie Daude
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, 204 Brain and Aging Research Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Hristina Gapeshina
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, 204 Brain and Aging Research Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - David W Sanders
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - Razieh Kamali-Jamil
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, 204 Brain and Aging Research Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M8, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jing Yang
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, 204 Brain and Aging Research Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Beipei Shi
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, 204 Brain and Aging Research Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Holger Wille
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, 204 Brain and Aging Research Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M8, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA
| | - Christopher Janus
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David Westaway
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, 204 Brain and Aging Research Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M8, Canada. .,Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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40
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Kaufman SK, Thomas TL, Del Tredici K, Braak H, Diamond MI. Characterization of tau prion seeding activity and strains from formaldehyde-fixed tissue. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2017; 5:41. [PMID: 28587664 PMCID: PMC5461712 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-017-0442-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) feature progressive intraneuronal deposition of aggregated tau protein. The cause is unknown, but in experimental systems trans-cellular propagation of tau pathology resembles prion pathogenesis. Tau aggregate inoculation into mice produces transmissible pathology, and tau forms distinct strains, i.e. conformers that faithfully replicate and create predictable patterns of pathology in vivo. The prion model predicts that tau seed formation will anticipate neurofibrillary tau pathology. To test this idea requires simultaneous assessment of seed titer and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of brain tissue, but it is unknown whether tau seed titer can be determined in formaldehyde-fixed tissue. We have previously created a cellular biosensor system that uses flow cytometry to quantify induced tau aggregation and thus determine seed titer. In unfixed tissue from PS19 tauopathy mice that express 1 N,4R tau (P301S), we have measured tau seeding activity that precedes the first observable histopathology by many months. Additionally, in fresh frozen tissue from human AD subjects at early to mid-neurofibrillary tangle stages (NFT I-IV), we have observed tau seeding activity in cortical regions predicted to lack neurofibrillary pathology. However, we could not directly compare the same regions by IHC and seeding activity in either case. We now describe a protocol to extract and measure tau seeding activity from small volumes (.04 mm3) of formaldehyde-fixed tissue immediately adjacent to that used for IHC. We validated this method with the PS19 transgenic mouse model, and easily observed seeding well before the development of phospho-tau pathology. We also accurately isolated two tau strains, DS9 and DS10, from fixed brain tissues in mice. Finally, we have observed robust seeding activity in fixed AD brain, but not controls. The successful coupling of classical IHC with seeding and strain detection should enable detailed study of banked brain tissue in AD and other tauopathies.
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41
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Stopschinski BE, Diamond MI. The prion model for progression and diversity of neurodegenerative diseases. Lancet Neurol 2017; 16:323-332. [PMID: 28238712 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(17)30037-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The neuropathology of different neurodegenerative diseases begins in different brain regions, and involves distinct brain networks. Evidence indicates that transcellular propagation of protein aggregation, which is the basis of prion disease, might underlie the progression of pathology in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. The prion model predicts specific patterns of neuronal vulnerability and network involvement on the basis of the conformation of pathological proteins. Indeed, evidence indicates that self-propagating aggregate conformers, or so-called strains, are associated with distinct neuropathological syndromes. The extension of this hypothesis to our understanding of common neurodegenerative disorders can suggest new therapeutic approaches, such as immunotherapy and small molecules, to block transcellular propagation, and new diagnostic tools to detect early evidence of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara E Stopschinski
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75225, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75225, USA.
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42
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Abstract
It is now established that numerous amyloid proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including tau and α-synuclein, have essential characteristics of prions, including the ability to create transmissible cellular pathology in vivo. We have developed cellular bioassays that report on the various features of prion activity using genetic engineering and quantitative fluorescence-based detection systems. We have exploited these biosensors to measure the binding and uptake of tau seeds into cells in culture and to quantify seeding activity in brain samples. These cell models have also been used to propagate tau prion strains indefinitely in culture. In this review, we illustrate the utility of cellular biosensors to gain mechanistic insight into prion transmission and to study neurodegenerative diseases in a reductionist fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon B Holmes
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.,Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
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43
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Abstract
Transcellular propagation of protein aggregates-or seeds-is increasingly implicated as a mechanism for disease progression in many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and the related tauopathies. While neuropathology generally originates in one discrete brain region, pathology progresses as disease severity advances, often along discrete neural networks. The stereotypical spread of tau pathology suggests that cell-to-cell transfer of toxic protein aggregates could underlie disease progression, and recent studies implicate seeding as a proximal marker of disease, as compared to standard histological and biochemical analyses. Commonly used metrics for protein aggregation detection, however, lack sensitivity, are not quantitative, and/or undergo subjective classification. Here, we describe a FRET and flow cytometry cell-based assay that allows for rapid and quantitative detection of protein aggregates from human and rodent biological specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Furman
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dallas, TX, USA.
- University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hilned Blvd., NL 10.120K, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Dallas, TX, USA
- University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hilned Blvd., NL 10.120K, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
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44
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Furman JL, Vaquer-Alicea J, White CL, Cairns NJ, Nelson PT, Diamond MI. Widespread tau seeding activity at early Braak stages. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 133:91-100. [PMID: 27878366 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1644-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Transcellular propagation of tau aggregates may underlie the progression of pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Braak staging (B1, B2, B3) is based on phospho-tau accumulation within connected brain regions: entorhinal cortex (B1); hippocampus/limbic system (B2); and frontal and parietal lobes (B3). We previously developed a specific and sensitive assay that uses flow cytometry to quantify tissue seeding activity based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in cells that stably express tau reporter proteins. In a tauopathy mouse model, we have detected seeding activity far in advance of histopathological changes. It remains unknown whether individuals with AD also develop seeding activity prior to accumulation of phospho-tau. We measured tau seeding activity across four brain regions (hippocampus, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and cerebellum) in 104 fresh-frozen human AD brain samples from all Braak stages. We observed widespread seeding activity, notably in regions predicted to be free of phospho-tau deposition, and in detergent-insoluble fractions that lacked tau detectable by ELISA. Seeding activity correlated positively with Braak stage and negatively with MMSE. Our results are consistent with early transcellular propagation of tau seeds that triggers subsequent development of neuropathology. The FRET-based seeding assay may also complement standard neuropathological classification of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Furman
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nigel J Cairns
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Peter T Nelson
- Department of Pathology, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., NL10.120, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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45
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Abstract
Prions derived from the prion protein (PrP) were first characterized as infectious agents that transmit pathology between individuals. However, the majority of cases of neurodegeneration caused by PrP prions occur sporadically. Proteins that self-assemble as cross-beta sheet amyloids are a defining pathological feature of infectious prion disorders and all major age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. In fact, multiple non-infectious proteins exhibit properties of template-driven self-assembly that are strikingly similar to PrP. Evidence suggests that like PrP, many proteins form aggregates that propagate between cells and convert cognate monomer into ordered assemblies. We now recognize that numerous proteins assemble into macromolecular complexes as part of normal physiology, some of which are self-amplifying. This review highlights similarities among infectious and non-infectious neurodegenerative diseases associated with prions, emphasizing the normal and pathogenic roles of higher-order protein assemblies. We propose that studies of the structural and cellular biology of pathological versus physiological aggregates will be mutually informative.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Sanders
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Sarah K Kaufman
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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Abstract
Increasing evidence supports transcellular propagation of toxic protein aggregates, or proteopathic seeds, as a mechanism for the initiation and progression of pathology in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and the related tauopathies. The potentially critical role of tau seeds in disease progression strongly supports the need for a sensitive assay that readily detects seeding activity in biological samples. By combining the specificity of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), the sensitivity of flow cytometry, and the stability of a monoclonal cell line, an ultra-sensitive seeding assay has been engineered and is compatible with seed detection from recombinant or biological samples, including human and mouse brain homogenates. The assay employs monoclonal HEK 293T cells that stably express the aggregation-prone repeat domain (RD) of tau harboring the disease-associated P301S mutation fused to either CFP or YFP, which produce a FRET signal upon protein aggregation. The uptake of proteopathic tau seeds (but not other proteins) into the biosensor cells stimulates aggregation of RD-CFP and RD-YFP, and flow cytometry sensitively and quantitatively monitors this aggregation-induced FRET. The assay detects femtomolar concentrations (monomer equivalent) of recombinant tau seeds, has a dynamic range spanning three orders of magnitude, and is compatible with brain homogenates from tauopathy transgenic mice and human tauopathy subjects. With slight modifications, the assay can also detect seeding activity of other proteopathic seeds, such as α-synuclein, and is also compatible with primary neuronal cultures. The ease, sensitivity, and broad applicability of FRET flow cytometry makes it useful to study a wide range of protein aggregation disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Furman
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center;
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
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47
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Schindler SE, McCall JG, Yan P, Hyrc KL, Li M, Tucker CL, Lee JM, Bruchas MR, Diamond MI. Photo-activatable Cre recombinase regulates gene expression in vivo. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13627. [PMID: 26350769 PMCID: PMC4563371 DOI: 10.1038/srep13627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Techniques allowing precise spatial and temporal control of gene expression in the brain are needed. Herein we describe optogenetic approaches using a photo-activatable Cre recombinase (PA-Cre) to stably modify gene expression in the mouse brain. Blue light illumination for 12 hours via optical fibers activated PA-Cre in the hippocampus, a deep brain structure. Two-photon illumination through a thinned skull window for 100 minutes activated PA-Cre within a sub-millimeter region of cortex. Light activation of PA-Cre may allow permanent gene modification with improved spatiotemporal precision compared to standard methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne E Schindler
- Department of Neurology and the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, St. Louis, MO
| | - Jordan G McCall
- Department of Anesthesiology and the Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, St. Louis, MO.,Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Ping Yan
- Department of Neurology and the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, St. Louis, MO
| | - Krzystof L Hyrc
- Department of Neurology and the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, St. Louis, MO
| | - Mingjie Li
- Department of Neurology and the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, St. Louis, MO
| | - Chandra L Tucker
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Jin-Moo Lee
- Department of Neurology and the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, St. Louis, MO
| | - Michael R Bruchas
- Department of Anesthesiology and the Washington University Pain Center, St. Louis, MO.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, St. Louis, MO
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
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48
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Funk KE, Mirbaha H, Jiang H, Holtzman DM, Diamond MI. Distinct Therapeutic Mechanisms of Tau Antibodies: Promoting Microglial Clearance Versus Blocking Neuronal Uptake. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:21652-62. [PMID: 26126828 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.657924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by accumulation of Tau amyloids, and include Alzheimer disease and certain frontotemporal dementias. Trans-neuronal propagation of amyloid mediated by extracellular Tau may underlie disease progression. Consistent with this, active and passive vaccination studies in mouse models reduce pathology, although by unknown mechanisms. We previously reported that intracerebroventricular administration of three anti-Tau monoclonal antibodies (HJ8.5, HJ9.3, and HJ9.4) reduces pathology in a model overexpressing full-length mutant (P301S) human Tau. We now study effects of these three antibodies and a negative control antibody (HJ3.4) on Tau aggregate uptake into BV2 microglial-like cells and primary neurons. Antibody-independent Tau uptake into BV2 cells was blocked by heparin, consistent with a previously described role for heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Two therapeutic antibodies (HJ8.5 and HJ9.4) promoted uptake of full-length Tau fibrils into microglia via Fc receptors. Surprisingly, HJ9.3 promoted uptake of fibrils composed of the Tau repeat domain or Alzheimer disease-derived Tau aggregates, but failed to influence full-length recombinant Tau fibrils. Size fractionation of aggregates showed that antibodies preferentially promote uptake of larger oligomers (n ≥ ∼ 20-mer) versus smaller oligomers (n ∼ 10-mer) or monomer. No antibody inhibited uptake of full-length recombinant fibrils into primary neurons, but HJ9.3 blocked neuronal uptake of Tau repeat domain fibrils and Alzheimer disease-derived Tau. Antibodies thus have multiple potential mechanisms, including clearance via microglia and blockade of neuronal uptake. However these effects are epitope- and aggregate size-dependent. Establishing specific mechanisms of antibody activity in vitro may help in design and optimization of agents that are more effective in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E Funk
- From the Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110 and
| | - Hilda Mirbaha
- the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Hong Jiang
- From the Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110 and
| | - David M Holtzman
- From the Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63110 and
| | - Marc I Diamond
- the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
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49
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Mirbaha H, Holmes BB, Sanders DW, Bieschke J, Diamond MI. Tau Trimers Are the Minimal Propagation Unit Spontaneously Internalized to Seed Intracellular Aggregation. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:14893-903. [PMID: 25887395 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.652693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau amyloid assemblies propagate aggregation from the outside to the inside of a cell, which may mediate progression of the tauopathies. The critical size of Tau assemblies, or "seeds," responsible for this activity is currently unknown, but this could be important for the design of effective therapies. We studied recombinant Tau repeat domain (RD) and Tau assemblies purified from Alzheimer disease (AD) brain composed largely of full-length Tau. Large RD fibrils were first sonicated to create a range of assembly sizes. We confirmed our ability to resolve stable assemblies ranging from n = 1 to >100 units of Tau using size exclusion chromatography, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, cross-linking followed by Western blot, and mass spectrometry. All recombinant Tau assemblies bound heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the cell surface, which are required for Tau uptake and seeding, because they were equivalently sensitive to inhibition by heparin and chlorate. However, cells only internalized RD assemblies of n ≥ 3 units. We next analyzed Tau assemblies from AD or control brains. AD brains contained aggregated species, whereas normal brains had predominantly monomer, and no evidence of large assemblies. HEK293 cells and primary neurons spontaneously internalized Tau of n ≥ 3 units from AD brain in a heparin- and chlorate-sensitive manner. Only n ≥ 3-unit assemblies from AD brain spontaneously seeded intracellular Tau aggregation in HEK293 cells. These results indicate that a clear minimum size (n = 3) of Tau seed exists for spontaneous propagation of Tau aggregation from the outside to the inside of a cell, whereas many larger sizes of soluble aggregates trigger uptake and seeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilda Mirbaha
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390 and
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390 and
| | - David W Sanders
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390 and
| | - Jan Bieschke
- the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Marc I Diamond
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390 and
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50
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Diamond MI, Cai S, Boudreau A, Carey CJ, Lyle N, Pappu RV, Swamidass SJ, Bissell M, Piwnica-Worms H, Shao J. Subcellular localization and Ser-137 phosphorylation regulate tumor-suppressive activity of profilin-1. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:9075-86. [PMID: 25681442 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.619874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The actin-binding protein profilin-1 (Pfn1) inhibits tumor growth and yet is also required for cell proliferation and survival, an apparent paradox. We previously identified Ser-137 of Pfn1 as a phosphorylation site within the poly-l-proline (PLP) binding pocket. Here we confirm that Ser-137 phosphorylation disrupts Pfn1 binding to its PLP-containing ligands with little effect on actin binding. We find in mouse xenografts of breast cancer cells that mimicking Ser-137 phosphorylation abolishes cell cycle arrest and apoptotic sensitization by Pfn1 and confers a growth advantage to tumors. This indicates a previously unrecognized role of PLP binding in Pfn1 antitumor effects. Spatial restriction of Pfn1 to the nucleus or cytoplasm indicates that inhibition of tumor cell growth by Pfn1 requires its nuclear localization, and this activity is abolished by a phosphomimetic mutation on Ser-137. In contrast, cytoplasmic Pfn1 lacks inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth but rescues morphological and proliferative defects of PFN1 null mouse chondrocytes. These results help reconcile seemingly opposed cellular effects of Pfn1, provide new insights into the antitumor mechanism of Pfn1, and implicate Ser-137 phosphorylation as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc I Diamond
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Shirong Cai
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77230
| | - Aaron Boudreau
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Clifton J Carey
- Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Nicholas Lyle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Rohit V Pappu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - S Joshua Swamidass
- Division of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Mina Bissell
- Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, and
| | - Helen Piwnica-Worms
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77230
| | - Jieya Shao
- Breast Oncology Program, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
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