Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated mutations decrease the thermal stability of distinctly metallated species of human copper/zinc superoxide dismutase

Preparation, characterization, bioactivity and degradation behavior in vitro of copper-doped calcium polyphosphate as a candidate material for bone tissue engineering

In this study, copper, as one of the essential trace elements in the human body, was introduced into calcium polyphosphate (CPP) to prepare a novel scaffold in bone tissue engineering: copper-doped calcium polyphosphate (CCPP) scaffolds.

Relationship between mutant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 maturation and inclusion formation in cell models

A common property of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), harboring mutations associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a high propensity to misfold and form abnormal aggregates. The aggregation of mutant SOD1 has been demonstrated in vitro, with purified proteins, in mouse models, in human tissues, and in cultured cell models. In vitro translation studies have determined that SOD1 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutations is slower to mature, and thus perhaps vulnerable to off-pathway folding that could generate aggregates. The aggregation of mutant SOD1 in living cells can be monitored by tagging the protein with fluorescent fluorophores. In this study, we have taken advantage of the Dendra2 fluorophore technology in which excitation can be used to switch the output color from green to red, thereby clearly creating a time stamp that distinguishes pre-existing and newly made proteins. In cells that transiently over-express the Ala 4 to Val variant of SOD1-Dendra2, we observed that newly made mutant SOD1 was rapidly captured by pathologic intracellular inclusions. In cell models of mutant SOD1 aggregation over-expressing untagged A4V-SOD1, we observed that immature forms of the protein, lacking a Cu co-factor and a normal intramolecular disulfide, persist for extended periods. Our findings fit with a model in which immature forms of mutant A4V-SOD1, including newly made protein, are prone to misfolding and aggregation.

Susceptibility of Mutant SOD1 to Form a Destabilized Monomer Predicts Cellular Aggregation and Toxicity but Not In vitro Aggregation Propensity

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the rapid and progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons in the spinal cord, brain stem and motor cortex. The first gene linked to ALS was the gene encoding the free radical scavenging enzyme superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) that currently has over 180, mostly missense, ALS-associated mutations identified. SOD1-associated fALS patients show remarkably broad mean survival times (<1 year to ~17 years death post-diagnosis) that are mutation dependent. A hallmark of SOD1-associated ALS is the deposition of SOD1 into large insoluble aggregates in motor neurons. This is thought to be a consequence of mutation induced structural destabilization and/or oxidative damage leading to the misfolding and aggregation of SOD1 into a neurotoxic species. Here we aim to understand the relationship between SOD1 variant toxicity, structural stability, and aggregation propensity using a combination of cell culture and purified protein assays. Cell based assays indicated that aggregation of SOD1 variants correlate closely to cellular toxicity. However, the relationship between cellular toxicity and disease severity was less clear. We next utilized mass spectrometry to interrogate the structural consequences of metal loss and disulfide reduction on fALS-associated SOD1 variant structure. All variants showed evidence of unfolded, intermediate, and compact conformations, with SOD1^G37R, SOD1^G93A and SOD1^V148G having the greatest abundance of intermediate and unfolded SOD1. SOD1^G37R was an informative outlier as it had a high propensity to unfold and form oligomeric aggregates, but it did not aggregate to the same extent as SOD1^G93A and SOD1^V148G in in vitro aggregation assays. Furthermore, seeding the aggregation of DTT/EDTA-treated SOD1^G37R with preformed SOD1^G93A fibrils elicited minimal aggregation response, suggesting that the arginine substitution at position-37 blocks the templating of SOD1 onto preformed fibrils. We propose that this difference may be explained by multiple strains of SOD1 aggregate and this may also help explain the slow disease progression observed in patients with SOD1^G37R.

Conformational Disorder of the Most Immature Cu, Zn-Superoxide Dismutase Leading to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Misfolding of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is a pathological change in the familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by mutations in the SOD1 gene. SOD1 is an enzyme that matures through the binding of copper and zinc ions and the formation of an intramolecular disulfide bond. Pathogenic mutations are proposed to retard the post-translational maturation, decrease the structural stability, and hence trigger the misfolding of SOD1 proteins. Despite this, a misfolded and potentially pathogenic conformation of immature SOD1 remains obscure. Here, we show significant and distinct conformational changes of apoSOD1 that occur only upon reduction of the intramolecular disulfide bond in solution. In particular, loop regions in SOD1 lose their restraint and become significantly disordered upon dissociation of metal ions and reduction of the disulfide bond. Such drastic changes in the solution structure of SOD1 may trigger misfolding and fibrillar aggregation observed as pathological changes in the familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Arresting amyloid with coulomb's law: acetylation of ALS-linked SOD1 by aspirin impedes aggregation

Although the magnitude of a protein's net charge (Z) can control its rate of self-assembly into amyloid, and its interactions with cellular membranes, the net charge of a protein is not viewed as a druggable parameter. This article demonstrates that aspirin (the quintessential acylating pharmacon) can inhibit the amyloidogenesis of superoxide dismutase (SOD1) by increasing the intrinsic net negative charge of the polypeptide, i.e., by acetylation (neutralization) of multiple lysines. The protective effects of acetylation were diminished (but not abolished) in 100 mM NaCl and were statistically significant: a total of 432 thioflavin-T amyloid assays were performed for all studied proteins. The acetylation of as few as three lysines by aspirin in A4V apo-SOD1-a variant that causes familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-delayed amyloid nucleation by 38% and slowed amyloid propagation by twofold. Lysines in wild-type- and ALS-variant apo-SOD1 could also be peracetylated with aspirin after fibrillization, resulting in supercharged fibrils, with increases in formal net charge of ∼2 million units. Peracetylated SOD1 amyloid defibrillized at temperatures below unacetylated fibrils, and below the melting temperature of native Cu2,Zn2-SOD1 (e.g., fibril Tm = 84.49°C for acetylated D90A apo-SOD1 fibrils). Targeting the net charge of native or misfolded proteins with small molecules-analogous to how an enzyme's Km or Vmax are medicinally targeted-holds promise as a strategy in the design of therapies for diseases linked to protein self-assembly.

Inhibition of Pathogenic Mutant SOD1 Aggregation in Cultured Motor Neuronal Cells by Prevention of Its SUMOylation on Lysine 75

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective death of motor neurons. Mutations in the SOD1 gene encoding the superoxide dismutase 1 are present in 15% of familial ALS cases and in 2% of sporadic cases. These mutations are associated with the formation of SOD1-positive aggregates. The mechanisms of aggregation remain unknown, but posttranslational modifications of SOD1 may be involved. Here, we report that NSC-34 motor neuronal cells expressing mutant SOD1 contained aggregates positive for small ubiquitin modifier-1 (SUMO-1), and in parallel a reduced level of free SUMO-1. CLEM (correlative light and electron microscopy) analysis showed nonorganized cytosolic aggregates for all mutations tested (SOD1A4V, SOD1V31A, and SOD1G93C). We next show that preventing the SUMOylation of mutant SOD1 by the substitution of lysine 75, the SUMOylation site of SOD1, significantly reduces the number of motor neuronal cells with aggregates. These results support the need for further research on the SUMOylation pathways, which may be a potential therapeutic target in ALS.

Aberrant zinc binding to immature conformers of metal-free copper-zinc superoxide dismutase triggers amorphous aggregation

Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is a Cu/Zn metalloenzyme that aggregates in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Correct metal insertion during SOD1 biosynthesis is critical to prevent misfolding; however Zn(2+) can bind to the copper-site leading to an aberrantly metallated protein. These effects of Zn(2+) misligation on SOD1 aggregation remain to be explored, even though Zn(2+) levels are upregulated in ALS motor neurons. Here we use complementary biophysical methods to investigate Zn(2+) binding and its effects on the aggregation of three immature metal-free SOD1 conformers that represent biogenesis intermediates: dimeric, monomeric and reduced monomeric SOD1. Using isothermal titration calorimetry we determined that Zn(2+) binds to all conformers both at the zinc- as well as to the copper-site; however Zn(2+) binding mechanisms to the zinc-site have distinct characteristics across immature conformers. We show that this 'zinc overload' of immature SOD1 promotes intermolecular interactions, as evidenced by dynamic light scattering and ThT fluorescence kinetic studies. Analysis of aged zinc-induced aggregates by energy-dispersive X-ray and electron energy-loss spectroscopy shows that aggregates integrate some Zn(2+). In addition, electron diffraction analysis identifies nano-scaled crystalline materials and amyloid fibril-like reflections. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that Zn(2+) diverts the SOD1 aggregation pathway from fibrils to amorphous aggregate, and electrophoretic analysis evidences an increase in insoluble materials. Overall, we provide evidence that aberrant zinc coordination to immature conformers broadens the population of SOD1 misfolded species at early aggregation stages and provide evidence for a high structural polymorphism and heterogeneity of SOD1 aggregates.

SOD1 misplacing and mitochondrial dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disease presenting as sporadic (sALS) or familial (fALS) forms. Even if the list of the genes underlining ALS greatly expanded, defects in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), encoding the copper/zinc SOD1, still remain a major cause of fALS and are likely involved also in apparently sporadic presentations. The pathogenesis of ALS is still unknown, but several lines of evidence indicate that the mitochondrial accumulation of mutant SOD1 is an important mechanism of mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to motor neuron pathology and death. The intramitochondrial localization of mutant SOD1 is debated. Mutant SOD1 might accumulate inside the intermembrane space (IMS), overriding the physiological retention regulated by the copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS). On the other hand, misfolded SOD1 might deposit onto the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM), clumping the transport across mitochondrial membranes and engaging mitochondrial-dependent cell apoptosis. The elucidation of the mechanisms ruling SOD1 localization and misplacing might shed light on peculiar ALS features such as cell selectivity and late onset. More importantly, these studies might disclose novel targets for therapeutic intervention in familial ALS as well as non-genetic forms. Finally, pharmacological or genetic manipulation aimed to prevent or counteract the intracellular shifting of mutant SOD1 could be effective for other neurodegenerative disorders featuring the toxic accumulation of misfolded proteins.

Copper-based pulsed dipolar ESR spectroscopy as a probe of protein conformation linked to disease states

We demonstrate the ability of pulsed dipolar electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy (PDS) to report on the conformation of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) through the sensitive measurement of dipolar interactions between inherent Cu(2+) ions. Although the extent and the anisotropy of the Cu ESR spectrum provides challenges for PDS, Ku-band (17.3 GHz) double electron-electron resonance and double-quantum coherence variants of PDS coupled with distance reconstruction methods recover Cu-Cu distances in good agreement with crystal structures. Moreover, Cu-PDS measurements expose distinct differences between the conformational properties of wild-type SOD1 and a single-residue variant (I149T) that leads to the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The I149T protein displays a broader Cu-Cu distance distribution within the SOD1 dimer compared to wild-type. In a nitroxide (NO)-labeled sample, distance distributions obtained from Cu-Cu, Cu-NO, and NO-NO separations reveal increased structural heterogeneity within the protein and a tendency for mutant dimers to associate. In contrast, perturbations caused by the ALS mutation are completely masked in the crystal structure of I149T. Thus, PDS readily detects alterations in metalloenzyme solution properties not easily deciphered by other methods and in doing so supports the notion that increased range of motion and associations of SOD1 ALS variants contribute to disease progression.

Metal-deficient SOD1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Mutations to the ubiquitous antioxidant enzyme Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) were the first established genetic cause of the fatal, adult-onset neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is widely accepted that these mutations do not cause ALS via a loss of antioxidant function, but elucidating the alternate toxic gain of function has proven to be elusive. Under physiological conditions, SOD1 binds one copper ion and one zinc ion per monomer to form a highly stable and functional homodimer, but there is now ample evidence to indicate aberrant persistence of SOD1 in an intermediate metal-deficient state may contribute to the protein’s involvement in ALS. This review briefly discusses some of the data to support a role for metal-deficient SOD1 in the development of ALS and some of the outcomes from drug development studies that have aimed to modify the symptoms of ALS by targeting the metal state of SOD1. The implications for the metal state of SOD1 in cases of sporadic ALS that do not involve mutant SOD1 are also discussed.

Structural investigation on the electrostatic loop of native and mutated SOD1 and their interaction with therapeutic compounds

The electrostatic loop of the native and mutated SOD1 protein with single point mutation in the loop is subjected to MD simulation. The structure and electrostatic properties of the native and mutated loops before/after interacting with small compounds are compared.

Insights into the role of the unusual disulfide bond in copper-zinc superoxide dismutase

The functional and structural significance of the intrasubunit disulfide bond in copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) was studied by characterizing mutant forms of human SOD1 (hSOD) and yeast SOD1 lacking the disulfide bond. We determined x-ray crystal structures of metal-bound and metal-deficient hC57S SOD1. C57S hSOD1 isolated from yeast contained four zinc ions per protein dimer and was structurally very similar to wild type. The addition of copper to this four-zinc protein gave properly reconstituted 2Cu,2Zn C57S hSOD, and its spectroscopic properties indicated that the coordination geometry of the copper was remarkably similar to that of holo wild type hSOD1. In contrast, the addition of copper and zinc ions to apo C57S human SOD1 failed to give proper reconstitution. Using pulse radiolysis, we determined SOD activities of yeast and human SOD1s lacking disulfide bonds and found that they were enzymatically active at ∼10% of the wild type rate. These results are contrary to earlier reports that the intrasubunit disulfide bonds in SOD1 are essential for SOD activity. Kinetic studies revealed further that the yeast mutant SOD1 had less ionic attraction for superoxide, possibly explaining the lower rates. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking the sod1 gene do not grow aerobically in the absence of lysine, but expression of C57S SOD1 increased growth to 30-50% of the growth of cells expressing wild type SOD1, supporting that C57S SOD1 retained a significant amount of activity.

Evaluation of borate bioactive glass scaffolds as a controlled delivery system for copper ions in stimulating osteogenesis and angiogenesis in bone healing

Biocompatible synthetic scaffolds with enhanced osteogenic and angiogenic capacity are of great interest for the repair of large (critical size) bone defects. In this study, we investigated an approach based on the controlled delivery of copper (Cu) ions from borate bioactive glass scaffolds for stimulating angiogenesis and osteogenesis in a rodent calvarial defect model. Borate glass scaffolds (pore size = 200-400 μm) doped with varying amounts of Cu (0-3.0 wt% CuO) were created using a polymer foam replication technique. When immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) in vitro, the scaffolds released Cu ions into the medium at a rate that was dependent on the amount of Cu in the glass and simultaneously converted to hydroxyapatite (HA). At the concentrations used, the Cu in the glass was not cytotoxic to human bone marrow derived stem cells (hBMSCs) cultured on the scaffolds and the alkaline phosphatase activity of the hBMSCs increased with increasing Cu in the glass. When implanted in rat calvarial defects for 8 weeks, the scaffolds doped with 3 wt% CuO showed a significantly better capacity to stimulate angiogenesis and regenerate bone when compared to the undoped glass scaffolds. Together, these results indicate that the controlled delivery of Cu ions from borate bioactive glass implants is a promising approach in healing bone defects.

The megavirus chilensis Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase: the first viral structure of a typical cellular copper chaperone-independent hyperstable dimeric enzyme

Giant viruses able to replicate in Acanthamoeba castellanii penetrate their host through phagocytosis. After capsid opening, a fusion between the internal membranes of the virion and the phagocytic vacuole triggers the transfer in the cytoplasm of the viral DNA together with the DNA repair enzymes and the transcription machinery present in the particles. In addition, the proteome analysis of purified mimivirus virions revealed the presence of many enzymes meant to resist oxidative stress and conserved in the Mimiviridae. Megavirus chilensis encodes a predicted copper, zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD), an enzyme known to detoxify reactive oxygen species released in the course of host defense reactions. While it was thought that the metal ions are required for the formation of the active-site lid and dimer stabilization, megavirus chilensis SOD forms a very stable metal-free dimer. We used electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis and activity measurements to show that the supplementation of the bacterial culture with copper and zinc during the recombinant expression of Mg277 is sufficient to restore a fully active holoenzyme. These results demonstrate that the viral enzyme's activation is independent of a chaperone both for disulfide bridge formation and for copper incorporation and suggest that its assembly may not be as regulated as that of its cellular counterparts. A SOD protein is encoded by a variety of DNA viruses but is absent from mimivirus. As in poxviruses, the enzyme might be dispensable when the virus infects Acanthamoeba cells but may allow megavirus chilensis to infect a broad range of eukaryotic hosts.

IMPORTANCE

Mimiviridae are giant viruses encoding more than 1,000 proteins. The virion particles are loaded with proteins used by the virus to resist the vacuole's oxidative stress. The megavirus chilensis virion contains a predicted copper, zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD). The corresponding gene is present in some megavirus chilensis relatives but is absent from mimivirus. This first crystallographic structure of a viral Cu,Zn-SOD highlights the features that it has in common with and its differences from cellular SODs. It corresponds to a very stable dimer of the apo form of the enzyme. We demonstrate that upon supplementation of the growth medium with Cu and Zn, the recombinant protein is fully active, suggesting that the virus's SOD activation is independent of a copper chaperone for SOD generally used by eukaryotic SODs.

Aggregation propensities of superoxide dismutase G93 hotspot mutants mirror ALS clinical phenotypes

Protein framework alterations in heritable Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) mutants cause misassembly and aggregation in cells affected by the motor neuron disease ALS. However, the mechanistic relationship between superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutations and human disease is controversial, with many hypotheses postulated for the propensity of specific SOD mutants to cause ALS. Here, we experimentally identify distinguishing attributes of ALS mutant SOD proteins that correlate with clinical severity by applying solution biophysical techniques to six ALS mutants at human SOD hotspot glycine 93. A small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) assay and other structural methods assessed aggregation propensity by defining the size and shape of fibrillar SOD aggregates after mild biochemical perturbations. Inductively coupled plasma MS quantified metal ion binding stoichiometry, and pulsed dipolar ESR spectroscopy evaluated the Cu(2+) binding site and defined cross-dimer copper-copper distance distributions. Importantly, we find that copper deficiency in these mutants promotes aggregation in a manner strikingly consistent with their clinical severities. G93 mutants seem to properly incorporate metal ions under physiological conditions when assisted by the copper chaperone but release copper under destabilizing conditions more readily than the WT enzyme. Altered intradimer flexibility in ALS mutants may cause differential metal retention and promote distinct aggregation trends observed for mutant proteins in vitro and in ALS patients. Combined biophysical and structural results test and link copper retention to the framework destabilization hypothesis as a unifying general mechanism for both SOD aggregation and ALS disease progression, with implications for disease severity and therapeutic intervention strategies.

Polyanion binding accelerates the formation of stable and low-toxic aggregates of ALS-linked SOD1 mutant A4V

The toxic property thus far shared by both ALS-linked SOD1 variants and wild-type SOD1 is an increased propensity to aggregation. However, whether SOD1 oligomers or aggregates are toxic to cells remains to be well defined. Moreover, how the toxic SOD1 species are removed from intra- and extracellular environments also needs to be further explored. The DNA binding has been shown to be capable of accelerating the aggregatio\n of wild-type and oxidized SOD1 forms under acidic and neutral conditions. In this study, we explore the binding of DNA and heparin, two types of essential life polyanions, to A4V, an ALS-linked SOD1 mutant, under acidic conditions, and its consequences. The polyanion binding alters the A4V conformation, neutralizes its local positive charges, and increases its local concentrations along the polyanion chain, which are sufficient to lead to acceleration of the pH-dependent A4V aggregation. The accelerated aggregation, which is ascribed to the polyanion binding-mediated removal or shortening of the lag phase in aggregation, contributes to the formation of amorphous A4V nanoparticles. The prolonged incubation with polyanions not only results in the complete conversion of likely soluble toxic A4V oligomers into non- and low-toxic SDS-resistant aggregates, but also increases their stability. Although this is only an initial step toward reducing the toxicity of SOD1 mutants, the accelerating role of polyanions in protein aggregation might become one of the rapid pathways that remove toxic forms of SOD1 mutants from intra- and extracellular environments.

Protein charge ladders reveal that the net charge of ALS-linked superoxide dismutase can be different in sign and magnitude from predicted values

This article utilized "protein charge ladders"-chemical derivatives of proteins with similar structure, but systematically altered net charge-to quantify how missense mutations that cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affect the net negative charge (Z) of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) as a function of subcellular pH and Zn(2+) stoichiometry. Capillary electrophoresis revealed that the net charge of ALS-variant SOD1 can be different in sign and in magnitude-by up to 7.4 units per dimer at lysosomal pH-than values predicted from standard pKa values of amino acids and formal oxidation states of metal ions. At pH 7.4, the G85R, D90A, and G93R substitutions diminished the net negative charge of dimeric SOD1 by up to +2.29 units more than predicted; E100K lowered net charge by less than predicted. The binding of a single Zn(2+) to mutant SOD1 lowered its net charge by an additional +2.33 ± 0.01 to +3.18 ± 0.02 units, however, each protein regulated net charge when binding a second, third, or fourth Zn(2+) (ΔZ < 0.44 ± 0.07 per additional Zn(2+) ). Both metalated and apo-SOD1 regulated net charge across subcellular pH, without inverting from negative to positive at the theoretical pI. Differential scanning calorimetry, hydrogen-deuterium exchange, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry confirmed that the structure, stability, and metal content of mutant proteins were not significantly affected by lysine acetylation. Measured values of net charge should be used when correlating the biophysical properties of a specific ALS-variant SOD1 protein with its observed aggregation propensity or clinical phenotype.

Metal-deficient aggregates and diminished copper found in cells expressing SOD1 mutations that cause ALS

Disruptions in metal ion homeostasis have been described in association with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for a number of years but the precise mechanism of involvement is poorly understood. Metal ions are especially important to familial ALS cases caused by mutations in the metalloenzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1). To investigate the role of metals in aggregation of mutant SOD1, we have examined the localization of metal ions in a cell culture model of overexpression. Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) were transfected to overexpress SOD1 fused to yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) to readily identify the transfected cells and the intracellular aggregates that develop in the cells expressing mutant or wild-type (WT) SOD1. The concentration and distribution of iron, copper, and zinc were determined for four SOD1 mutants (A4V, G37R, H80R, and D125H) as well as a WT SOD1 using X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM). Results demonstrated that the SOD1 aggregates were metal-deficient within the cells, which is consistent with recent in vitro studies. In addition, all SOD1 mutants showed significantly decreased copper content compared to the WT SOD1 cells, regardless of the mutant's ability to bind copper. These results suggest that SOD1 overexpression creates an unmet demand on the cell for copper. This is particularly true for the SOD1 mutants where copper delivery may also be impaired. Hence, the SOD1 mutants are less stable than WT SOD1 and if copper is limited, aggregate formation of the metal-deficient, mutant SOD1 protein occurs.

Insights into SOD1-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from NMR studies of Ni(2+)- and other metal-ion-substituted wild-type copper-zinc superoxide dismutases

The dimeric Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is a particularly interesting system for biological inorganic chemical studies because substitutions of the native Cu and/or Zn ions by a nonnative metal ion cause minimal structural changes and result in high enzymatic activity for those derivatives with Cu remaining in the Cu site. The pioneering NMR studies of the magnetically coupled derivative Cu2Co2SOD1 by Ivano Bertini and coworkers are of particular importance in this regard. In addition to Co(2+), Ni(2+) is a versatile metal ion for substitution into SOD1, showing very little disturbance of the structure in Cu2Ni2SOD1 and acting as a very good mimic of the native Cu ion in Ni2Zn2SOD1. The NMR studies presented here were inspired by and are indebted to Ivano Bertini's paramagnetic NMR pursuits of metalloproteins. We report Ni(2+) binding to apo wild-type SOD1 and a time-dependent Ni(2+) migration from the Zn site to the Cu site, and the preparation and characterization of Ni2Ni2SOD1, which shows coordination properties similar to those of Cu2Cu2SOD1, namely, an anion-binding property different from that of the wild type and a possibly broken bridging His. Mutations in the human SOD1 gene can cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and mutant SOD1 proteins with significantly altered metal-binding behaviors are implicated in causing the disease. We conclude by discussing the effects of the ALS mutations on the remarkable stabilities and metal-binding properties of wild-type SOD1 proteins and the implications concerning the causes of SOD1-linked ALS.

Mechanisms of mutant SOD1 induced mitochondrial toxicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), mitochondrial dysfunction is recognized as one of the key elements contributing to the pathology. Mitochondria are the major source of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increased production of ROS as well as oxidative damage of proteins and lipids have been demonstrated in many models of ALS. Moreover, these changes were also observed in tissues of ALS patients indicative of important role for oxidative stress in the disease pathology. However, the origin of oxidative stress in ALS has remained unclear. ALS linked mutant Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) has been shown to significantly associate with mitochondria, especially in the spinal cord. In animal models, increased recruitment of mutant SOD1 (mutSOD1) to mitochondria appears already before the disease onset, suggestive of causative role for the manifestation of pathology. Recently, substantial in vitro and in vivo evidence has accumulated demonstrating that localization of mutSOD1 to the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS) inevitably leads to impairment of mitochondrial functions. However, the exact mechanisms of the selectivity and toxicity have remained obscure. Here we discuss the current knowledge on the role of mutSOD1 in mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS from the novel perspective emphasizing the misregulation of dismutase activity in IMS as a major mechanism for the toxicity.

Solid-state NMR studies of metal-free SOD1 fibrillar structures

Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is present in the protein aggregates deposited in motor neurons of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that can be either sporadic (ca. 90%) or familial (fALS). The most widely studied forms of fALS are caused by mutations in the sequence of SOD1. Ex mortuo SOD1 aggregates are usually found to be amorphous. In vitro SOD1, in its immature reduced and apo state, forms fibrillar aggregates. Previous literature data have suggested that a monomeric SOD1 construct, lacking loops IV and VII, (apoSODΔIV-VII), shares the same fibrillization properties of apoSOD1, both proteins having the common structural feature of the central β-barrel. In this work, we show that structural information can be obtained at a site-specific level from solid-state NMR. The residues that are sequentially assignable are found to be located at the putative nucleation site for fibrillar species formation in apoSOD, as detected by other experimental techniques.

TorsinA rescues ER-associated stress and locomotive defects in C. elegans models of ALS

Molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases converge at the interface of pathways impacting cellular stress, protein homeostasis and aging. Targeting the intrinsic capacities of neuroprotective proteins to restore neuronal function and/or attenuate degeneration represents a potential means toward therapeutic intervention. The product of the human DYT1 gene, torsinA, is a member of the functionally diverse AAA+ family of proteins and exhibits robust molecular-chaperone-like activity, both in vitro and in vivo. Although mutations in DYT1 are associated with a rare form of heritable generalized dystonia, the native function of torsinA seems to be cytoprotective in maintaining the cellular threshold to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Here we explore the potential for torsinA to serve as a buffer to attenuate the cellular consequences of misfolded-protein stress as it pertains to the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The selective vulnerability of motor neurons to degeneration in ALS mouse models harboring mutations in superoxide dismutase (SOD1) has been found to correlate with regional-specific ER stress in brains. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a system to model ER stress, we generated transgenic nematodes overexpressing either wild-type or mutant human SOD1 to evaluate their relative impact on ER stress induction in vivo. These studies revealed a mutant-SOD1-specific increase in ER stress that was further exacerbated by changes in temperature, all of which was robustly attenuated by co-expression of torsinA. Moreover, through complementary behavioral analysis, torsinA was able to restore normal neuronal function in mutant G85R SOD1 animals. Furthermore, torsinA targeted mutant SOD1 for degradation via the proteasome, representing mechanistic insight on the activity that torsinA has on aggregate-prone proteins. These results expand our understanding of proteostatic mechanisms influencing neuronal dysfunction in ALS, while simultaneously highlighting the potential for torsinA as a novel target for therapeutic development.

Structural and functional analysis of human SOD1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with familial inheritance (fALS) in 5% to 10% of cases; 25% of those are caused by mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) protein. More than 100 mutations in the SOD1 gene have been associated with fALS, altering the geometry of the active site, protein folding and the interaction between monomers. We performed a functional analysis of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in 124 fALS SOD1 mutants. Eleven different algorithms were used to estimate the functional impact of the replacement of one amino acid on protein structure: SNPs&GO, PolyPhen-2, SNAP, PMUT, Sift, PhD-SNP, nsSNPAnalyzer, TANGO, WALTZ, LIMBO and FoldX. For the structural analysis, theoretical models of 124 SNPs of SOD1 were created by comparative modeling using the MHOLline workflow, which includes Modeller and Procheck. Models were aligned with the native protein by the TM-align algorithm. A human-curated database was developed using the server side include in Java, JMOL. The results of this functional analysis indicate that the majority of the 124 natural mutants are harmful to the protein structure and thus corroborate the correlation between the reported mutations and fALS. In the structural analysis, all models showed conformational changes when compared to wild-type SOD1, and the degree of structural alignment varied between them. The SOD1 database converge structural and functional analyses of SOD1; it is a vast resource for the molecular analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which allows the user to expand his knowledge on the molecular basis of the disease. The SOD1 database is available at http://bioinfogroup.com/database.

Deamidation of asparagine to aspartate destabilizes Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase, accelerates fibrillization, and mirrors ALS-linked mutations

The reactivity of asparagine residues in Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) to deamidate to aspartate remains uncharacterized; its occurrence in SOD1 has not been investigated, and the biophysical effects of deamidation on SOD1 are unknown. Deamidation is, nonetheless, chemically equivalent to Asn-to-Asp missense mutations in SOD1 that cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study utilized computational methods to identify three asparagine residues in wild-type (WT) SOD1 (i.e., N26, N131, and N139) that are predicted to undergo significant deamidation (i.e., to >20%) on time scales comparable to the long lifetime (>1 year) of SOD1 in large motor neurons. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to successively substitute these asparagines with aspartate (to mimic deamidation) according to their predicted deamidation rate, yielding: N26D, N26D/N131D, and N26D/N131D/N139D SOD1. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that the thermostability of N26D/N131D/N139D SOD1 is lower than WT SOD1 by ~2-8 °C (depending upon the state of metalation) and <3 °C lower than the ALS mutant N139D SOD1. The triply deamidated analog also aggregated into amyloid fibrils faster than WT SOD1 by ~2-fold (p < 0.008**) and at a rate identical to ALS mutant N139D SOD1 (p > 0.2). A total of 534 separate amyloid assays were performed to generate statistically significant comparisons of aggregation rates among WT and N/D SOD1 proteins. Capillary electrophoresis and mass spectrometry demonstrated that ~23% of N26 is deamidated to aspartate (iso-aspartate was undetectable) in a preparation of WT human SOD1 (isolated from erythrocytes) that has been used for decades by researchers as an analytical standard. The deamidation of asparagine--an analytically elusive, sub-Dalton modification--represents a plausible and overlooked mechanism by which WT SOD1 is converted to a neurotoxic isoform that has a similar structure, instability, and aggregation propensity as ALS mutant N139D SOD1.

Early steps in thermal unfolding of superoxide dismutase 1 are similar to the conformational changes associated with the ALS-associated A4V mutation

There are over 100 mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) that result in a subset of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) cases. The hypothesis that dissociation of the dimer, misfolding of the monomer and subsequent aggregation of mutant SOD1 leads to fALS has been gaining support as an explanation for how these disparate missense mutations cause the same disease. These forms are only responsible for a fraction of the ALS cases; however, the rest are sporadic. Starting with a folded apo monomer, the species considered most likely to be involved in misfolding, we used high-temperature all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to explore the events of the wild-type protein unfolding through the denatured state. All simulations showed early loss of structure along the β5-β6 edge of the β-sandwich, supporting earlier findings of instability in this region. Transition state structures identified from the simulations are in good agreement with experiment, providing detailed, validated molecular models for this elusive state. Furthermore, we compare the process of thermal unfolding investigated here to that of the lethal A4V mutant-induced unfolding at physiological temperature and find that the pathways are very similar.

Ligand binding and aggregation of pathogenic SOD1

Mutations in the gene encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase-1 cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Superoxide dismutase-1 mutations decrease protein stability and promote aggregation. The mutant monomer is thought to be an intermediate in the pathway from the superoxide dismutase-1 dimer to aggregate. Here we find that the monomeric copper-apo, zinc-holo protein is structurally perturbed and the apo-protein aggregates without reattainment of the monomer-dimer equilibrium. Intervention to stabilize the superoxide dismutase-1 dimer and inhibit aggregation is regarded as a potential therapeutic strategy. We describe protein-ligand interactions for two compounds, Isoproterenol and 5-fluorouridine, highlighted as superoxide dismutase-1 stabilizers. We find both compounds interact with superoxide dismutase-1 at a key region identified at the core of the superoxide dismutase-1 fibrillar aggregates, β-barrel loop II-strand 3, rather than the proposed dimer interface site. This illustrates the need for direct structural observations when developing compounds for protein-targeted therapeutics.

Expression of wild-type human superoxide dismutase-1 in mice causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is mutations in the gene encoding superoxide dismutase-1. There is evolving circumstantial evidence that the wild-type protein can also be neurotoxic and that it may more generally be involved in the pathogenesis of ALS. To test this proposition more directly, we generated mice that express wild-type human superoxide dismutase-1 at a rate close to that of mutant superoxide dismutase-1 in the commonly studied G93A transgenic model. These mice developed an ALS-like syndrome and became terminally ill after around 370 days. The loss of spinal ventral neurons was similar to that in the G93A and other mutant superoxide dismutase-1 models, and large amounts of aggregated superoxide dismutase-1 were found in spinal cords, but also in the brain. The findings show that wild-type human superoxide dismutase-1 has the ability to cause ALS in mice, and they support the hypothesis of a more general involvement of the protein in the disease in humans.

Targeting of monomer/misfolded SOD1 as a therapeutic strategy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

There is increasing evidence that toxicity of mutant superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is linked to its propensity to misfold and to aggregate. Immunotargeting of differently folded states of SOD1 has provided therapeutic benefit in mutant SOD1 transgenic mice. The specific region(s) of the SOD1 protein to which these immunization approaches target are, however, unknown. In contrast, we have previously shown, using a specific antibody [SOD1 exposed dimer interface (SEDI) antibody], that the dimer interface of SOD1 is abnormally exposed both in mutant SOD1 transgenic mice and in familial ALS cases associated with mutations in the SOD1 gene (fALS1). Here, we show the beneficial effects of an active immunization strategy using the SEDI antigenic peptide displayed on a branched peptide dendrimer to target monomer/misfolded in SOD1(G37R) and SOD1(G93A) mutant SOD1 transgenic mice. Immunization delayed disease onset and extended disease duration, with survival times increased by an average of 40 d in SOD1(G37R) mice. Importantly, this immunization strategy favored a Th2 immune response, thereby precluding deleterious neuroinflammatory effects. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of immunization correlated with a reduction in accumulation of both monomer/misfolded and oligomeric SOD1 species in the spinal cord, the intended targets of the immunization strategy. Our results support that SOD1 misfolding/aggregation plays a central role in SOD1-linked ALS pathogenesis and identifies monomeric/misfolded SOD1 as a therapeutic target for SOD1-related ALS.

Silica as a matrix for encapsulating proteins: surface effects on protein structure assessed by circular dichroism spectroscopy

The encapsulation of biomolecules in solid materials that retain the native properties of the molecule is a desired feature for the development of biosensors and biocatalysts. In the current study, protein entrapment in silica-based materials is explored using the sol-gel technique. This work surveys the effects of silica confinement on the structure of several model polypeptides, including apomyoglobin, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, polyglutamine, polylysine, and type I antifreeze protein. Changes in the secondary structure of each protein following encapsulation are monitored by circular dichroism spectroscopy. In many cases, silica confinement reduces the fraction of properly-folded protein relative to solution, but addition of a secondary solute or modification of the silica surface leads to an increase in structure. Refinement of the glass surface by addition of a monosubstituted alkoxysilane during sol-gel processing is shown to be a valuable tool for testing the effects of surface chemistry on protein structure. Because silica entrapment prevents protein aggregation by isolating individual protein molecules in the pores of the glass material, one may monitor aggregation-prone polypeptides under solvent conditions that are prohibited in solution, as demonstrated with polyglutamine and a disease-related variant of superoxide dismutase.

Mutant superoxide dismutase-1 indistinguishable from wild-type causes ALS

A reason for screening amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients for mutations in the superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) gene is the opportunity to find novel mutations with properties that can give information on pathogenesis. A novel c.352C>G (L117V) SOD1 mutation was found in two Syrian ALS families living in Europe. The disease showed unusually low penetrance and slow progression. In erythrocytes, the total SOD1 activity, as well as specific activity of the mutant protein, was equal in carriers of the mutation and family controls lacking SOD1 mutations. The structural stabilities of the L117V mutant and wild-type SOD1 under denaturing conditions were likewise equal, but considerably lower than that of murine SOD1. As analyzed with an ELISA specific for misfolded SOD1 species, no differences were found in the content of misfolded SOD1 protein between extracts of fibroblasts from wild-type controls and from an L117V patient. In contrast, elevated levels of misfolded SOD1 protein were found in fibroblasts from ALS patients carrying seven other mutations in the SOD1 gene. We conclude that mutations in SOD1 that result in a fully stable protein are associated with low disease penetrance for ALS and may be found in cases of apparently sporadic ALS. Wild-type human SOD1 is moderately stable, and was found here to be within the stability range of ALS-causing SOD1 variants, lending support to the hypothesis that wild-type SOD1 could be more generally involved in ALS pathogenesis.

Intermolecular transmission of superoxide dismutase 1 misfolding in living cells

Human wild-type superoxide dismutase-1 (wtSOD1) is known to coaggregate with mutant SOD1 in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS), in double transgenic models of FALS, and in cell culture systems, but the structural determinants of this process are unclear. Here we molecularly dissect the effects of intracellular and cell-free obligately misfolded SOD1 mutant proteins on natively structured wild-type SOD1. Expression of the enzymatically inactive, natural familial ALS SOD1 mutations G127X and G85R in human mesenchymal and neural cell lines induces misfolding of wild-type natively structured SOD1, as indicated by: acquisition of immunoreactivity with SOD1 misfolding-specific monoclonal antibodies; markedly enhanced protease sensitivity suggestive of structural loosening; and nonnative disulfide-linked oligomer and multimer formation. Expression of G127X and G85R in mouse cell lines did not induce misfolding of murine wtSOD1, and a species restriction element for human wtSOD1 conversion was mapped to a region of sequence divergence in loop II and β-strand 3 of the SOD1 β-barrel (residues 24-36), then further refined surprisingly to a single tryptophan residue at codon 32 (W32) in human SOD1. Time course experiments enabled by W32 restriction revealed that G127X and misfolded wtSOD1 can induce misfolding of cell-endogenous wtSOD1. Finally, aggregated recombinant G127X is capable of inducing misfolding and protease sensitivity of recombinant human wtSOD1 in a cell-free system containing reducing and chelating agents; cell-free wtSOD1 conversion was also restricted by W32. These observations demonstrate that misfolded SOD1 can induce misfolding of natively structured wtSOD1 in a physiological intracellular milieu, consistent with a direct protein-protein interaction.

ALS-causing SOD1 mutations promote production of copper-deficient misfolded species

Point mutations scattered throughout the sequence of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause a subset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. SOD1 is a homodimer in which each subunit binds one copper atom and one zinc atom. Inclusions containing misfolded SOD1 are seen in motor neurons of SOD1-associated ALS cases. The mechanism by which these diverse mutations cause misfolding and converge on the same disease is still not well understood. Previously, we developed several time-resolved techniques to monitor structural changes in SOD1 as it unfolds in guanidine hydrochloride. By measuring the rates of Cu and Zn release using an absorbance-based assay, dimer dissociation through chemical cross-linking, and β-barrel conformation changes by tryptophan fluorescence, we established that wild-type SOD1 unfolds by a branched pathway involving a Zn-deficient monomer as the dominant intermediate of the major pathway, and with various metal-loaded and Cu-deficient dimers populated along the minor pathway. We have now compared the unfolding pathway of wild-type SOD1 with those of A4V, G37R, G85R, G93A, and I113T ALS-associated mutant SOD1. The kinetics of unfolding of the mutants were generally much faster than those of wild type. However, all of the mutants utilize the minority pathway to a greater extent than the wild-type protein, leading to greater populations of Cu-deficient intermediates and decreases in Zn-deficient intermediates relative to the wild-type protein. The greater propensity of the mutants to populate Cu-deficient states potentially implicates these species as a pathogenic form of SOD1 in SOD1-associated ALS and provides a novel target for therapeutic intervention.

Copper and zinc metallation status of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis transgenic mice

Mutations in the metalloenzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause one form of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and metals are suspected to play a pivotal role in ALS pathology. To learn more about metals in ALS, we determined the metallation states of human wild-type or mutant (G37R, G93A, and H46R/H48Q) SOD1 proteins from SOD1-ALS transgenic mice spinal cords. SOD1 was gently extracted from spinal cord and separated into insoluble (aggregated) and soluble (supernatant) fractions, and then metallation states were determined by HPLC inductively coupled plasma MS. Insoluble SOD1-rich fractions were not enriched in copper and zinc. However, the soluble mutant and WT SOD1s were highly metallated except for the metal-binding-region mutant H46R/H48Q, which did not bind any copper. Due to the stability conferred by high metallation of G37R and G93A, it is unlikely that these soluble SOD1s are prone to aggregation in vivo, supporting the hypothesis that immature nascent SOD1 is the substrate for aggregation. We also investigated the effect of SOD1 overexpression and disease on metal homeostasis in spinal cord cross-sections of SOD1-ALS mice using synchrotron-based x-ray fluorescence microscopy. In each mouse genotype, except for the H46R/H48Q mouse, we found a redistribution of copper between gray and white matters correlated to areas of high SOD1. Interestingly, a disease-specific increase of zinc was observed in the white matter for all mutant SOD1 mice. Together these data provide a picture of copper and zinc in the cell as well as highlight the importance of these metals in understanding SOD1-ALS pathology.

Nonamyloid aggregates arising from mature copper/zinc superoxide dismutases resemble those observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) where aggregation of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is implicated in pathogenesis. We report here that fully metallated (holo) SOD1 under physiologically relevant solution conditions can undergo changes in metallation and/or dimerization over time and form aggregates that do not exhibit classical characteristics of amyloid. The relevance of the observed aggregation to disease is demonstrated by structural and tinctorial analyses, including the novel observation of binding of an anti-SOD1 antibody that specifically recognizes aggregates in ALS patients and mice models. ALS-associated SOD1 mutations can promote aggregation but are not essential. The SOD1 aggregation is characterized by a lag phase, which is diminished by self- or cross-seeding and by heterogeneous nucleation. We interpret these findings in terms of an expanded aggregation mechanism consistent with other in vitro and in vivo findings that point to multiple pathways for the formation of toxic aggregates by different forms of SOD1.

Disulfide-reduced ALS variants of Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase exhibit increased populations of unfolded species

Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is a dimeric metal-binding enzyme responsible for the dismutation of toxic superoxide to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen in cells. Mutations at dozens of sites in SOD1 induce amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal gain-of-function neurodegenerative disease whose molecular basis is unknown. To obtain insights into effects of the mutations on the folded and unfolded populations of immature monomeric forms whose aggregation or self-association may be responsible for ALS, the thermodynamic and kinetic folding properties of a set of disulfide-reduced and disulfide-oxidized Zn-free and Zn-bound stable monomeric SOD1 variants were compared to properties of the wild-type (WT) protein. The most striking effect of the mutations on the monomer stability was observed for the disulfide-reduced metal-free variants. Whereas the WT and S134N monomers are >95% folded at neutral pH and 37 degrees C, A4V, L38V, G93A, and L106V ranged from 50% to approximately 90% unfolded. The reduction of the disulfide bond was also found to reduce the apparent Zn affinity of the WT monomer by 750-fold, into the nanomolar range, where it may be unable to compete for free Zn in the cell. With the exception of the S134N metal-binding variant, the Zn affinity of disulfide-oxidized SOD1 monomers showed little sensitivity to amino acid replacements. These results suggest a model for SOD1 aggregation where the constant synthesis of ALS variants of SOD1 on ribosomes provides a pool of species in which the increased population of the unfolded state may favor aggregation over productive folding to the native dimeric state.

Improving binding specificity of pharmacological chaperones that target mutant superoxide dismutase-1 linked to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using computational methods

We recently described a set of drug-like molecules obtained from an in silico screen that stabilize mutant superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) linked to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) against unfolding and aggregation but exhibited poor binding specificity toward SOD-1 in presence of blood plasma. A reasonable but not a conclusive model for the binding of these molecules was proposed on the basis of restricted docking calculations and site-directed mutagenesis of key residues at the dimer interface. A set of hydrogen bonding constraints obtained from these experiments were used to guide docking calculations with compound library around the dimer interface. A series of chemically unrelated hits were predicted, which were experimentally tested for their ability to block aggregation. At least six of the new molecules exhibited high specificity of binding toward SOD-1 in the presence of blood plasma. These molecules represent a new class of molecules for further development into clinical candidates.

Structural discovery of small molecule binding sites in Cu-Zn human superoxide dismutase familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutants provides insights for lead optimization

Dominant inheritance of point mutations in CuZn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is the best characterized subset of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) and accounts for some 20% of the known familial cases. We report the discovery and visualization via cocrystallography of two ligand-binding pockets in human SOD1 and its pathogenic mutants that have opened up the real possibility of undertaking lead compound discovery using a fragment-based approach for therapeutic purposes for SOD1 associated motor neuron disease.

Oxidative stress in ALS: key role in motor neuron injury and therapeutic target

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by death of motor neurons leading to muscle wasting, paralysis, and death, usually within 2-3 years of symptom onset. The causes of ALS are not completely understood, and the neurodegenerative processes involved in disease progression are diverse and complex. There is substantial evidence implicating oxidative stress as a central mechanism by which motor neuron death occurs, including elevated markers of oxidative damage in ALS patient spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid and mutations in the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) causing approximately 20% of familial ALS cases. However, the precise mechanism(s) by which mutant SOD1 leads to motor neuron degeneration has not been defined with certainty, and the ultimate trigger for increased oxidative stress in non-SOD1 cases remains unclear. Although some antioxidants have shown potential beneficial effects in animal models, human clinical trials of antioxidant therapies have so far been disappointing. Here, the evidence implicating oxidative stress in ALS pathogenesis is reviewed, along with how oxidative damage triggers or exacerbates other neurodegenerative processes, and we review the trials of a variety of antioxidants as potential therapies for ALS.