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Singh KS, Verma R, Singh N, Singh LR, Gupta A. Factors responsible for alpha-Synuclein aggregation. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2025; 211:271-292. [PMID: 39947752 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2025]
Abstract
Aggregation of α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is the hallmark of the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Apart from aggregates, α-Syn can exist in multiple abnormal forms such as oligomers, protofibrils, fibrils amorphous aggregates etc. These forms initiate aggressive, selective and progressive neuronal atrophy through various modes such as mitochondrial dysfunction, lysosomal malfunction, and disruption of calcium homeostasis in various α-Syn-related neurodegenerative disorders. Structurally α-Syn is divided into three domains: N-terminal region made by amino acids1-67 (amphipathic, lysine-rich and interacts with acidic lipid membranes), Non-amyloid-β component (NAC) region made by amino acids 67-95 (hydrophobic region, central to α-syn aggregation) and C-terminal region made by amino acids 96-140 (acidic and proline-rich region responsible for interaction with other proteins). α-Syn follows the pattern of a typical intrinsically disordered protein and lacks a proper folded conformation and exist majorly in a random coil form, though on lipid binding the protein assumes an α-helical structure. The central random coil region of α-Syn is involved in fibril formation transforming into β-sheet rich secondary structures which is a characteristic of amyloids. This chapter entails an elaborate explanation of factors influencing the structure, function and aggregation of α-Syn. Major factors being abnormally high physiological expression of the protein, mutations, posttranslational modifications and also interactions with small molecules such as osmolytes in the cellular milieu. Studying the factors responsible for misfolding and aggregation of α-Syn along with the mechanism involved is crucial to understanding their implications in Parkinson's disease, and will yield valuable insights into disease mechanisms, potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rahul Verma
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Nagendra Singh
- Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Akshita Gupta
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
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Constantino-Jonapa LA, Espinoza-Palacios Y, Escalona-Montaño AR, Hernández-Ruiz P, Amezcua-Guerra LM, Amedei A, Aguirre-García MM. Contribution of Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) to Chronic Inflammatory and Degenerative Diseases. Biomedicines 2023; 11:431. [PMID: 36830968 PMCID: PMC9952918 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite produced by the gut microbiota and has been mainly associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in humans. There are factors that affect one's TMAO level, such as diet, drugs, age, and hormones, among others. Gut dysbiosis in the host has been studied recently as a new approach to understanding chronic inflammatory and degenerative diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and Alzheimer's disease. These disease types as well as COVID-19 are known to modulate host immunity. Diabetic and obese patients have been observed to have an increase in their level of TMAO, which has a direct correlation with CVDs. This metabolite is attributed to enhancing the inflammatory pathways through cholesterol and bile acid dysregulation, promoting foam cell formation. Additionally, TMAO activates the transcription factor NF-κB, which, in turn, triggers cytokine production. The result can be an exaggerated inflammatory response capable of inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress, which is responsible for various diseases. Due to the deleterious effects that this metabolite causes in its host, it is important to search for new therapeutic agents that allow a reduction in the TMAO levels of patients and that, thus, allow patients to be able to avoid a severe cardiovascular event. The present review discussed the synthesis of TMAO and its contribution to the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A. Constantino-Jonapa
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
| | - Yoshua Espinoza-Palacios
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
| | - Alma R. Escalona-Montaño
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
| | - Paulina Hernández-Ruiz
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
| | - Luis M. Amezcua-Guerra
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Interdisciplinary Internal Medicine Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - María M. Aguirre-García
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico
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TMAO to the rescue of pathogenic protein variants. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2022; 1866:130214. [PMID: 35902028 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2022.130214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a chemical chaperone found in various organisms including humans. Various studies unveiled that it is an excellent protein-stabilizing agent, and induces folding of unstructured proteins. It is also well established that it can counteract the deleterious effects of urea, salt, and hydrostatic pressure on macromolecular integrity. There is also existence of large body of data regarding its ability to restore functional deficiency of various mutant proteins or pathogenic variants by correcting misfolding defects and inhibiting the formation of high-order toxic protein oligomers. Since an important class of human disease called "protein conformational disorders" is due to protein misfolding and/or formation of high-order oligomers, TMAO stands as a promising molecule for the therapeutic intervention of such diseases. The present review has been designed to gather a comprehensive knowledge of the TMAO's effect on the functional restoration of various mutants, identify its shortcomings and explore its potentiality as a lead molecule. Future prospects have also been suitably incorporated.
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Loo RL, Chan Q, Nicholson JK, Holmes E. Balancing the Equation: A Natural History of Trimethylamine and Trimethylamine- N-oxide. J Proteome Res 2022; 21:560-589. [PMID: 35142516 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Trimethylamine (TMA) and its N-oxide (TMAO) are ubiquitous in prokaryote and eukaryote organisms as well as in the environment, reflecting their fundamental importance in evolutionary biology, and their diverse biochemical functions. Both metabolites have multiple biological roles including cell-signaling. Much attention has focused on the significance of serum and urinary TMAO in cardiovascular disease risk, yet this is only one of the many facets of a deeper TMA-TMAO partnership that reflects the significance of these metabolites in multiple biological processes spanning animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi. We report on analytical methods for measuring TMA and TMAO and attempt to critically synthesize and map the global functions of TMA and TMAO in a systems biology framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruey Leng Loo
- Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, 5 Robin Warren Drive, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia.,The Australian National Phenome Centre, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, 5 Robin Warren Drive, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Queenie Chan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy K Nicholson
- Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, 5 Robin Warren Drive, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia.,The Australian National Phenome Centre, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, 5 Robin Warren Drive, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia.,Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, Level 1, Faculty Building, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2NA, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Holmes
- Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, 5 Robin Warren Drive, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia.,The Australian National Phenome Centre, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, 5 Robin Warren Drive, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia.,Nutrition Research, Department of Metabolism, Nutrition and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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