1
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Hoq MR, Fernandez A, Vago FS, Hallinan GI, Bharath SR, Li D, Ozcan KA, Garringer HJ, Jiang W, Vidal R, Ghetti B. Cryo-EM structures of cotton wool plaques' amyloid β and of tau filaments in dominantly inherited Alzheimer disease. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:20. [PMID: 39147931 PMCID: PMC11327195 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02786-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Cotton wool plaques (CWPs) have been described as features of the neuropathologic phenotype of dominantly inherited Alzheimer disease (DIAD) caused by some missense and deletion mutations in the presenilin 1 (PSEN1) gene. CWPs are round, eosinophilic amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques that lack an amyloid core and are recognizable, but not fluorescent, in Thioflavin S (ThS) preparations. Amino-terminally truncated and post-translationally modified Aβ peptide species are the main component of CWPs. Tau immunopositive neurites may be present in CWPs. In addition, neurofibrillary tangles coexist with CWPs. Herein, we report the structure of Aβ and tau filaments isolated from brain tissue of individuals affected by DIAD caused by the PSEN1 V261I and A431E mutations, with the CWP neuropathologic phenotype. CWPs are predominantly composed of type I Aβ filaments present in two novel arrangements, type Ic and type Id; additionally, CWPs contain type I and type Ib Aβ filaments. Tau filaments have the AD fold, which has been previously reported in sporadic AD and DIAD. The formation of type Ic and type Id Aβ filaments may be the basis for the phenotype of CWPs. Our data are relevant for the development of PET imaging methodologies to best detect CWPs in DIAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Rejaul Hoq
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Anllely Fernandez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Dr., MSB A136, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Frank S Vago
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Grace I Hallinan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Dr., MSB A136, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Sakshibeedu R Bharath
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Daoyi Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Kadir A Ozcan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Holly J Garringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Dr., MSB A136, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Markey Center for Structural Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA.
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Dr., MSB A136, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Dr., MSB A136, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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2
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Mehra S, Bourkas ME, Kaczmarczyk L, Stuart E, Arshad H, Griffin JK, Frost KL, Walsh DJ, Supattapone S, Booth SA, Jackson WS, Watts JC. Convergent generation of atypical prions in knockin mouse models of genetic prion disease. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e176344. [PMID: 39087478 PMCID: PMC11291267 DOI: 10.1172/jci176344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Most cases of human prion disease arise due to spontaneous misfolding of WT or mutant prion protein, yet recapitulating this event in animal models has proven challenging. It remains unclear whether spontaneous prion generation can occur within the mouse lifespan in the absence of protein overexpression and how disease-causing mutations affect prion strain properties. To address these issues, we generated knockin mice that express the misfolding-prone bank vole prion protein (BVPrP). While mice expressing WT BVPrP (I109 variant) remained free from neurological disease, a subset of mice expressing BVPrP with mutations (D178N or E200K) causing genetic prion disease developed progressive neurological illness. Brains from spontaneously ill knockin mice contained prion disease-specific neuropathological changes as well as atypical protease-resistant BVPrP. Moreover, brain extracts from spontaneously ill D178N- or E200K-mutant BVPrP-knockin mice exhibited prion seeding activity and transmitted disease to mice expressing WT BVPrP. Surprisingly, the properties of the D178N- and E200K-mutant prions appeared identical before and after transmission, suggesting that both mutations guide the formation of a similar atypical prion strain. These findings imply that knockin mice expressing mutant BVPrP spontaneously develop a bona fide prion disease and that mutations causing prion diseases may share a uniform initial mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Mehra
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and
| | - Matthew E.C. Bourkas
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lech Kaczmarczyk
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Erica Stuart
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and
| | - Hamza Arshad
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Kathy L. Frost
- One Health Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Surachai Supattapone
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and
- Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Stephanie A. Booth
- One Health Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Walker S. Jackson
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Joel C. Watts
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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3
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Nguyen BA, Singh V, Afrin S, Singh P, Pekala M, Ahmed Y, Pedretti R, Canepa J, Lemoff A, Kluve-Beckerman B, Wydorski PM, Chhapra F, Saelices L. Cryo-EM confirms a common fibril fold in the heart of four patients with ATTRwt amyloidosis. Commun Biol 2024; 7:905. [PMID: 39068302 PMCID: PMC11283564 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06588-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
ATTR amyloidosis results from the conversion of transthyretin into amyloid fibrils that deposit in tissues causing organ failure and death. This conversion is facilitated by mutations in ATTRv amyloidosis, or aging in ATTRwt amyloidosis. ATTRv amyloidosis exhibits extreme phenotypic variability, whereas ATTRwt amyloidosis presentation is consistent and predictable. Previously, we found unique structural variabilities in cardiac amyloid fibrils from polyneuropathic ATTRv-I84S patients. In contrast, cardiac fibrils from five genotypically different patients with cardiomyopathy or mixed phenotypes are structurally homogeneous. To understand fibril structure's impact on phenotype, it is necessary to study the fibrils from multiple patients sharing genotype and phenotype. Here we show the cryo-electron microscopy structures of fibrils extracted from four cardiomyopathic ATTRwt amyloidosis patients. Our study confirms that they share identical conformations with minimal structural variability, consistent with their homogenous clinical presentation. Our study contributes to the understanding of ATTR amyloidosis biopathology and calls for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binh An Nguyen
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Virender Singh
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shumaila Afrin
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Preeti Singh
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maja Pekala
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yasmin Ahmed
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rose Pedretti
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob Canepa
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Andrew Lemoff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Barbara Kluve-Beckerman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Pawel M Wydorski
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Farzeen Chhapra
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA.
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4
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Woerman AL, Bartz JC. Effect of host and strain factors on α-synuclein prion pathogenesis. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:538-550. [PMID: 38806297 PMCID: PMC11236502 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolding of proteins into pathogenic conformations that self-template to spread disease. Although this mechanism is largely associated with the prion protein (PrP) in classical prion diseases, a growing literature indicates that other proteins, including α-synuclein, rely on a similar disease mechanism. Notably, α-synuclein misfolds into distinct conformations, or strains, that cause discrete clinical disorders including multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Because the recognized similarities between PrP and α-synuclein are increasing, this review article draws from research on PrP to identify the host and strain factors that impact disease pathogenesis, predominantly in rodent models, and focuses on key considerations for future research on α-synuclein prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Woerman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Prion Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Jason C Bartz
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Prion Research Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
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5
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Glynn C, Rodriguez JA, Hyman BT. The structural line between prion and "prion-like": Insights from prion protein and tau. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102857. [PMID: 38489865 PMCID: PMC11162956 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The concept of 'prion-like' behavior has emerged in the study of diseases involving protein misfolding where fibrillar structures, called amyloids, self-propagate and induce disease in a fashion similar to prions. From a biological standpoint, in order to be considered 'prion-like,' a protein must traverse cells and tissues and further propagate via a templated conformational change. Since 2017, cryo-electron microscopy structures from patient-derived 'prion-like' amyloids, in particular tau, have been presented and revealed structural similarities shared across amyloids. Since 2021, cryo-EM structures from prions of known infectivity have been added to the ex vivo amyloid structure family. In this review, we discuss current proposals for the 'prion-like' mechanisms of spread for tau and prion protein as well as discuss different influencers on structures of aggregates from tauopathies and prion diseases. Lastly, we discuss some of the current hypotheses for what may distinguish structures that are 'prion-like' from transmissible prion structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calina Glynn
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jose A Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, STROBE, NSF Science and Technology Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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6
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Lee CH, Saw JE, Chen EHL, Wang CH, Uchihashi T, Chen RPY. The Positively Charged Cluster in the N-terminal Disordered Region may Affect Prion Protein Misfolding: Cryo-EM Structure of Hamster PrP(23-144) Fibrils. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168576. [PMID: 38641239 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Prions, the misfolding form of prion proteins, are contagious proteinaceous macromolecules. Recent studies have shown that infectious prion fibrils formed in the brain and non-infectious fibrils formed from recombinant prion protein in a partially denaturing condition have distinct structures. The amyloid core of the in vitro-prepared non-infectious fibrils starts at about residue 160, while that of infectious prion fibrils formed in the brain involves a longer sequence (residues ∼90-230) of structural conversion. The C-terminal truncated prion protein PrP(23-144) can form infectious fibrils under certain conditions and cause disease in animals. In this study, we used cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to resolve the structure of hamster sHaPrP(23-144) fibrils prepared at pH 3.7. This 2.88 Å cryo-EM structure has an amyloid core covering residues 94-144. It comprises two protofilaments, each containing five β-strands arranged as a long hairpin plus an N-terminal β-strand. This N-terminal β-strand resides in a positively charged cluster region (named PCC2; sequence 96-111), which interacts with the turn region of the opposite protofilaments' hairpin to stabilize the fibril structure. Interestingly, this sHaPrP(23-144) fibril structure differs from a recently reported structure formed by the human or mouse counterpart at pH 6.5. Moreover, sHaPrP(23-144) fibrils have many structural features in common with infectious prions. Whether this structure is infectious remains to be determined. More importantly, the sHaPrP(23-144) structure is different from the sHaPrP(108-144) fibrils prepared in the same fibrillization buffer, indicating that the N-terminal disordered region, possibly the positively charged cluster, influences the misfolding pathway of the prion protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Hsuan Lee
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Rd, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Ee Saw
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Rd, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Eric H-L Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Rd, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hsiung Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Rd, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Takayuki Uchihashi
- Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan; Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan; Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8787, Japan
| | - Rita P-Y Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Rd, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan; Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei 106, Taiwan; Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Rd, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
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7
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Zhang Y, Yan R, Zhang X, Ma J. Disease-Associated Q159X Mutant Prion Protein Is Sufficient to Cause Fatal Degenerative Disease in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04224-2. [PMID: 38743210 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04224-2] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
PRNP Q160X is one of the five dominantly inheritable nonsense mutations causing familial prion diseases. Till now, it remains unclear how this type of nonsense mutations causes familial prion diseases with unique clinical and pathological characteristics. Human prion protein (PrP) Q160X mutation is equivalent to Q159X in mouse PrP, which produces the mutant fragment PrP1-158. Through intracerebroventricular injection of recombinant adeno-associated virus in newborn mice, we successfully overexpressed mouse PrP1-158-FLAG in the central nervous system. Interestingly, high level PrP1-158-FLAG expression in the brain caused death in these mice with an average survival time of 60 ± 9.1 days. Toxicity correlated with levels of PrP1-158-FLAG but was independent of endogenous PrP. Histopathological analyses showed microgliosis and astrogliosis in mouse brains expressing PrP1-158-FLAG and most of PrP1-158-FLAG staining appeared intracellular. Biochemical characterization revealed that the majority of PrP1-158-FLAG were insoluble and a significant part of PrP1-158-FLAG appeared to contain an un-cleaved signal peptide that may contribute to its cytoplasmic localization. Importantly, an ~10-kDa proteinase K-resistant PrP fragment was detected, which was the same as those observed in patients suffering from this type of prion diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first animal study of familial prion disease caused by Q159X that recapitulates key features of human disease. It will be a valuable tool for investigating the pathogenic mechanisms underlying familial prion diseases caused by nonsense mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Runchuan Yan
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xiangyi Zhang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jiyan Ma
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China.
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8
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Orrú CD, Groveman BR, Hughson AG, Barrio T, Isiofia K, Race B, Ferreira NC, Gambetti P, Schneider DA, Masujin K, Miyazawa K, Ghetti B, Zanusso G, Caughey B. Sensitive detection of pathological seeds of α-synuclein, tau and prion protein on solid surfaces. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012175. [PMID: 38640117 PMCID: PMC11062561 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Prions or prion-like aggregates such as those composed of PrP, α-synuclein, and tau are key features of proteinopathies such as prion, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, respectively. Their presence on solid surfaces may be biohazardous under some circumstances. PrP prions bound to solids are detectable by ultrasensitive real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assays if the solids can be immersed in assay wells or the prions transferred to pads. Here we show that prion-like seeds can remain detectable on steel wires for at least a year, or even after enzymatic cleaning and sterilization. We also show that contamination of larger objects with pathological seeds of α-synuclein, tau, and PrP can be detected by simply assaying a sampling medium that has been transiently applied to the surface. Human α-synuclein seeds in dementia with Lewy bodies brain tissue were detected by α-synuclein RT-QuIC after drying of tissue dilutions with concentrations as low as 10-6 onto stainless steel. Tau RT-QuIC detected tau seeding activity on steel exposed to Alzheimer's disease brain tissue diluted as much as a billion fold. Prion RT-QuIC assays detected seeding activity on plates exposed to brain dilutions as extreme as 10-5-10-8 from prion-affected humans, sheep, cattle and cervids. Sampling medium collected from surgical instruments used in necropsies of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease-infected transgenic mice was positive down to 10-6 dilution. Sensitivity for prion detection was not sacrificed by omitting the recombinant PrP substrate from the sampling medium during its application to a surface and subsequent storage as long as the substrate was added prior to performing the assay reaction. Our findings demonstrate practical prototypic surface RT-QuIC protocols for the highly sensitive detection of pathologic seeds of α-synuclein, tau, and PrP on solid objects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina D. Orrú
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity (LNII), Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Bradley R. Groveman
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity (LNII), Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Andrew G. Hughson
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity (LNII), Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Tomás Barrio
- UMR INRAE ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes, École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, France
| | - Kachi Isiofia
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity (LNII), Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Brent Race
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity (LNII), Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Natalia C. Ferreira
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity (LNII), Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Pierluigi Gambetti
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - David A. Schneider
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kentaro Masujin
- National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH), National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kohtaro Miyazawa
- National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH), National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Gianluigi Zanusso
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity (LNII), Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
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9
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Nguyen BA, Singh V, Afrin S, Singh P, Pekala M, Ahmed Y, Pedretti R, Canepa J, Lemoff A, Kluve-Beckerman B, Wydorski P, Chhapra F, Saelices L. Cryo-EM confirms a common fibril fold in the heart of four patients with ATTRwt amyloidosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.08.582936. [PMID: 38496656 PMCID: PMC10942412 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.08.582936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
ATTR amyloidosis results from the conversion of transthyretin into amyloid fibrils that deposit in tissues causing organ failure and death. This conversion is facilitated by mutations in ATTRv amyloidosis, or aging in ATTRwt amyloidosis. ATTRv amyloidosis exhibits extreme phenotypic variability, whereas ATTRwt amyloidosis presentation is consistent and predictable. Previously, we found an unprecedented structural variability in cardiac amyloid fibrils from polyneuropathic ATTRv-I84S patients. In contrast, cardiac fibrils from five genotypically-different patients with cardiomyopathy or mixed phenotypes are structurally homogeneous. To understand fibril structure's impact on phenotype, it is necessary to study the fibrils from multiple patients sharing genotype and phenotype. Here we show the cryo-electron microscopy structures of fibrils extracted from four cardiomyopathic ATTRwt amyloidosis patients. Our study confirms that they share identical conformations with minimal structural variability, consistent with their homogenous clinical presentation. Our study contributes to the understanding of ATTR amyloidosis biopathology and calls for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binh An Nguyen
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Virender Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shumaila Afrin
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Preeti Singh
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Maja Pekala
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yasmin Ahmed
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rose Pedretti
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob Canepa
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Andrew Lemoff
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Barbara Kluve-Beckerman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Pawel Wydorski
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Farzeen Chhapra
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lorena Saelices
- Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Biophysics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW), Dallas, TX, USA
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10
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Zerr I, Ladogana A, Mead S, Hermann P, Forloni G, Appleby BS. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other prion diseases. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2024; 10:14. [PMID: 38424082 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-024-00497-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Prion diseases share common clinical and pathological characteristics such as spongiform neuronal degeneration and deposition of an abnormal form of a host-derived protein, termed prion protein. The characteristic features of prion diseases are long incubation times, short clinical courses, extreme resistance of the transmissible agent to degradation and lack of nucleic acid involvement. Sporadic and genetic forms of prion diseases occur worldwide, of which genetic forms are associated with mutations in PRNP. Human to human transmission of these diseases has occurred due to iatrogenic exposure, and zoonotic forms of prion diseases are linked to bovine disease. Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis of these disorders. Clinical tools for diagnosis comprise brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid tests. Aggregation assays for detection of the abnormally folded prion protein have a clear potential to diagnose the disease in peripherally accessible biofluids. After decades of therapeutic nihilism, new treatment strategies and clinical trials are on the horizon. Although prion diseases are relatively rare disorders, understanding their pathogenesis and mechanisms of prion protein misfolding has significantly enhanced the field in research of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Zerr
- National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Anna Ladogana
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Simon Mead
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
| | - Peter Hermann
- National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gianluigi Forloni
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Brian S Appleby
- Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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11
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Bridges LR. RNA as a component of scrapie fibrils. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5011. [PMID: 38424114 PMCID: PMC10904389 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55278-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) maps of fibrils from the brains of mice and hamsters with five infectious scrapie strains have been published and deposited in the electron microscopy data bank (EMDB). As noted by the primary authors, the fibrils contain a second component other than protein. The aim of the present study was to identify the nature of this second component in the published maps using an in silico approach. Extra densities (EDs) containing this component were continuous, straight, axial, at right angles to protein rungs and within hydrogen-bonding distance of protein, consistent with a structural role. EDs co-located with strips of basic residues, notably lysines, and formed a conspicuous cladding over parts of the N-terminal lobe of the protein. A Y-shaped polymer consistent with RNA was found, in places forming a single chain and at one location forming a duplex, comprising two antiparallel chains, and raising the intriguing possibility of replicative behaviour. To reflect the monotonous nature of the protein interface, it is suggested that the RNA may be a short tandem repeat. Fibrils from brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerations also contain EDs and may be of a similar aetiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie R Bridges
- Neuropathology, Cellular Pathology, South West London Pathology, St George's Hospital, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
- Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK.
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12
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Zheng L, Shi S, Sun X, Lu M, Liao Y, Zhu S, Zhang H, Pan Z, Fang P, Zeng Z, Li H, Li Z, Xue W, Zhu F. MoDAFold: a strategy for predicting the structure of missense mutant protein based on AlphaFold2 and molecular dynamics. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae006. [PMID: 38305456 PMCID: PMC10835750 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein structure prediction is a longstanding issue crucial for identifying new drug targets and providing a mechanistic understanding of protein functions. To enhance the progress in this field, a spectrum of computational methodologies has been cultivated. AlphaFold2 has exhibited exceptional precision in predicting wild-type protein structures, with performance exceeding that of other methods. However, predicting the structures of missense mutant proteins using AlphaFold2 remains challenging due to the intricate and substantial structural alterations caused by minor sequence variations in the mutant proteins. Molecular dynamics (MD) has been validated for precisely capturing changes in amino acid interactions attributed to protein mutations. Therefore, for the first time, a strategy entitled 'MoDAFold' was proposed to improve the accuracy and reliability of missense mutant protein structure prediction by combining AlphaFold2 with MD. Multiple case studies have confirmed the superior performance of MoDAFold compared to other methods, particularly AlphaFold2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyan Zheng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Industry Solutions Research and Development, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Hangzhou 330110, China
| | - Shuiyang Shi
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiuna Sun
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Industry Solutions Research and Development, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Hangzhou 330110, China
| | - Mingkun Lu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Industry Solutions Research and Development, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Hangzhou 330110, China
| | - Yang Liao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Sisi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-cancer Chinese Medicines, School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Hongning Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ziqi Pan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Pan Fang
- Industry Solutions Research and Development, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Hangzhou 330110, China
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou 330110, China
| | - Zhenyu Zeng
- Industry Solutions Research and Development, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Hangzhou 330110, China
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou 330110, China
| | - Honglin Li
- School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zhaorong Li
- Industry Solutions Research and Development, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Hangzhou 330110, China
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou 330110, China
| | - Weiwei Xue
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Industry Solutions Research and Development, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Hangzhou 330110, China
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou 330110, China
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13
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Huo Y, Zhao C, Wang Y, Wang S, Mu T, Du W. Roles of Apigenin and Nepetin in the Assembly Behavior and Cytotoxicity of Prion Neuropeptide PrP106-126. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:245-257. [PMID: 38133816 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Development of potential inhibitors to prevent prion protein (PrP) fibrillation is a therapeutic strategy for prion diseases. The prion neuropeptide PrP106-126, a research model of abnormal PrP (PrPSc), presents similar physicochemical and biochemical characters to PrPSc, which is also a target of potential inhibitors against prion deposition. Many flavones have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, and they are applied in treating prion disorder and other amyloidosis as well. However, the inhibition mechanism of flavones on PrP106-126 fibrillation is still unclear. In the current work, apigenin and nepetin were used to suppress the aggregation of PrP106-126 and to alleviate the peptide-induced cytotoxicity. The results showed that apigenin and nepetin impeded the fibril formation of PrP106-126 and depolymerized the preformed fibrils. They were bound to PrP106-126 predominantly by hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, both flavones upregulated cell viability and decreased membrane leakage through reducing peptide oligomerization. The differences in inhibition and cell protection between the two small molecules were presumably attributed to the substitution of hydroxyl and methoxy groups in nepetin, which demonstrated the significant structure-function relationship of flavones with prion neuropeptide and the prospect of flavonoids as drug candidates against prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Huo
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Cong Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Shao Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Tiancheng Mu
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Weihong Du
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
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14
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Leisi EV, Moiseenko AV, Kudryavtseva SS, Pozdyshev DV, Muronetz VI, Kurochkina LP. Bacteriophage-encoded chaperonins stimulate prion protein fibrillation in an ATP-dependent manner. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2024; 1872:140965. [PMID: 37739110 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of the various prion diseases is based on the conformational conversion of the prion protein from its physiological cellular form to the insoluble scrapie isoform. Several chaperones, including the Hsp60 family of group I chaperonins, are known to contribute to this transformation, but data on their effects are scarce and conflicting. In this work, two GroEL-like phage chaperonins, the single-ring OBP and the double-ring EL, were found to stimulate monomeric prion protein fibrillation in an ATP-dependent manner. The resulting fibrils were characterised by thioflavin T fluorescence, electron microscopy, proteinase K digestion assay and other methods. In the presence of ATP, chaperonins were found to promote the conversion of prion protein monomers into short amyloid fibrils with their further aggregation into less toxic large clusters. Fibrils generated with the assistance of phage chaperonins differ in morphology and properties from those formed spontaneously from monomeric prion in the presence of denaturants at acidic pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniia V Leisi
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 73, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey V Moiseenko
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 12, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sofia S Kudryavtseva
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 40, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis V Pozdyshev
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 40, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir I Muronetz
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 40, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Butlerov Chemical Institute, Kazan Federal University, Kremlevskaya 18, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Lidia P Kurochkina
- Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Bld 40, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
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15
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Mishra S. Emerging Trends in Cryo-EM-based Structural Studies of Neuropathological Amyloids. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168361. [PMID: 37949311 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies, synucleinopathies, Aβ amyloidosis, TDP-43 proteinopathies, and prion diseases- these neurodegenerative diseases have in common the formation of amyloid filaments rich in cross-β sheets. Cryo-electron microscopy now permits the visualization of amyloid assemblies at atomic resolution, ushering a wide range of structural studies on several of these poorly understood amyloidogenic proteins. Amyloids are polymorphic with minor modulations in reaction environment affecting the overall architecture of their assembly, making amyloids an extremely challenging venture for structure-based therapeutic intervention. In 2017, the first cryo-EM structure of tau filaments from an Alzheimer's disease-affected brain established that in vitro assemblies might not necessarily reflect the native amyloid fold. Since then, brain-derived amyloid structures for several proteins across many neurodegenerative diseases have uncovered the disease-relevant amyloid folds. It has now been shown for tauopathies, synucleinopathies and TDP-43 proteinopathies, that distinct amyloid folds of the same protein might be related to different diseases. Salient features of each of these brain-derived folds are discussed in detail. It was also recently observed that seeded aggregation does not necessarily replicate the brain-derived structural fold. Owing to high throughput structure determination, some of these native amyloid folds have also been successfully replicated in vitro. In vitro replication of disease-relevant filaments will aid development of imaging ligands and defibrillating drugs. Towards this direction, recent high-resolution structures of tau filaments with positron emission tomography tracers and a defibrillating drug are also discussed. This review summarizes and celebrates the recent advancements in structural understanding of neuropathological amyloid filaments using cryo-EM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Mishra
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Biological Sciences Division, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, Karnataka, India.
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16
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Tao J, Zeng Y, Dai B, Liu Y, Pan X, Wang LQ, Chen J, Zhou Y, Lu Z, Xie L, Liang Y. Excess PrP C inhibits muscle cell differentiation via miRNA-enhanced liquid-liquid phase separation implicated in myopathy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8131. [PMID: 38065962 PMCID: PMC10709375 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43826-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is required for skeletal muscle function. Here, we report that a higher level of PrPC accumulates in the cytoplasm of the skeletal muscle of six myopathy patients compared to controls. PrPC inhibits skeletal muscle cell autophagy, and blocks myoblast differentiation. PrPC selectively binds to a subset of miRNAs during myoblast differentiation, and the colocalization of PrPC and miR-214-3p was observed in the skeletal muscle of six myopathy patients with excessive PrPC. We demonstrate that PrPC is overexpressed in skeletal muscle cells under pathological conditions, inhibits muscle cell differentiation by physically interacting with a subset of miRNAs, and selectively recruits these miRNAs into its phase-separated condensate in living myoblasts, which in turn enhances liquid-liquid phase separation of PrPC, promotes pathological aggregation of PrP, and results in the inhibition of autophagy-related protein 5-dependent autophagy and muscle bundle formation in myopathy patients characterized by incomplete muscle regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Tao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yanping Zeng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Bin Dai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yin Liu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Xiaohan Pan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Li-Qiang Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
- Wuhan University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Zuneng Lu
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Liwei Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Yi Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
- Wuhan University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518057, China.
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17
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Legname G. Copper coordination modulates prion conversion and infectivity in mammalian prion proteins. Prion 2023; 17:1-6. [PMID: 36597284 PMCID: PMC9815218 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2022.2163835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals the cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) is a ubiquitous protein involved in many relevant functions in the central nervous system. In addition to its physiological functions PrPC plays a central role in a group of invariably fatal neurodegenerative disorders collectively called prion diseases. In fact, the protein is a substrate in a process in which it converts into an infectious and pathological form denoted as prion. The protein has a unique primary structure where the unstructured N-terminal moiety possesses characteristic sequences wherein histidines are able to coordinate metal ions, in particular copper ions. These sequences are called octarepeats for their characteristic length. Moreover, a non-octarepeat fifth-copper binding site is present where copper coordination seems to control infectivity. In this review, I will argue that these sequences may play a significant role in modulating prion conversion and replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy,CONTACT Giuseppe Legname Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste34136, Italy
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18
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Li XN, Gao Y, Li Y, Yin JX, Yi CW, Yuan HY, Huang JJ, Wang LQ, Chen J, Liang Y. Arg177 and Asp159 from dog prion protein slow liquid-liquid phase separation and inhibit amyloid formation of human prion protein. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105329. [PMID: 37805139 PMCID: PMC10641668 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of transmissible neurodegenerative diseases primarily caused by the conformational conversion of prion protein (PrP) from α-helix-dominant cellular prion protein (PrPC) to β-sheet-rich pathological aggregated form of PrPSc in many mammalian species. Dogs exhibit resistance to prion diseases, but the mechanism behind the phenomenon remains poorly understood. Compared with human PrP and mouse PrP, dog PrP has two unique amino acid residues, Arg177 and Asp159. Because PrPC contains a low-complexity and intrinsically disordered region in its N-terminal domain, it undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in vitro and forms protein condensates. However, little is known about whether these two unique residues modulate the formation of PrPC condensates. Here, using confocal microscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assays, thioflavin T binding assays, and transmission electron microscopy, we report that Arg177 and Asp159 from the dog PrP slow the LLPS of full-length human PrPC, shifting the equilibrium phase boundary to higher protein concentrations and inhibit amyloid formation of the human protein. In sharp contrast, His177 and Asn159 from the human PrP enhance the LLPS of full-length dog PrPC, shifting the equilibrium phase boundary to lower protein concentrations, and promote fibril formation of the canid protein. Collectively, these results demonstrate how LLPS and amyloid formation of PrP are inhibited by a single residue Arg177 or Asp159 associated with prion disease resistance, and how LLPS and fibril formation of PrP are promoted by a single residue His177 or Asn159. Therefore, Arg177/His177 and Asp159/Asn159 are key residues in modulating PrPC liquid-phase condensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Ning Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin-Xu Yin
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuan-Wei Yi
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Han-Ye Yuan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun-Jie Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Li-Qiang Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Wuhan University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Wuhan University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.
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19
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Scheres SHW, Ryskeldi-Falcon B, Goedert M. Molecular pathology of neurodegenerative diseases by cryo-EM of amyloids. Nature 2023; 621:701-710. [PMID: 37758888 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06437-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal assembly of tau, α-synuclein, TDP-43 and amyloid-β proteins into amyloid filaments defines most human neurodegenerative diseases. Genetics provides a direct link between filament formation and the causes of disease. Developments in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have made it possible to determine the atomic structures of amyloids from postmortem human brains. Here we review the structures of brain-derived amyloid filaments that have been determined so far and discuss their impact on research into neurodegeneration. Whereas a given protein can adopt many different filament structures, specific amyloid folds define distinct diseases. Amyloid structures thus provide a description of neuropathology at the atomic level and a basis for studying disease. Future research should focus on model systems that replicate the structures observed in disease to better understand the molecular mechanisms of disease and develop improved diagnostics and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjors H W Scheres
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | - Michel Goedert
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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20
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Bridges LR. Replicating RNA as a component of scrapie fibrils. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.17.553578. [PMID: 37645951 PMCID: PMC10462133 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.17.553578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Recently, electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) maps of fibrils from the brains of mice and hamsters with five infectious scrapie strains have been published1-5 and deposited in the electron microscopy data bank (EMDB)6. This represents long-awaited near-atomic level structural evidence, widely expected to confirm the protein-only prion hypothesis7,8. Instead, the maps reveal a second component, other than protein. The aim of the present study was to identify the nature of this second component, in the published maps1-5, using an in silico approach. Extra densities (EDs) containing this component were continuous, straight, axial, at right angles to protein rungs and within hydrogen-bonding distance of protein, consistent with a role as guide and support in fibril construction. EDs co-located with strips of basic residues, notably lysines, and formed a conspicuous cladding over parts of the N-terminal lobe of the protein. In one ED, there was evidence of a Y-shaped polymer forming two antiparallel chains, consistent with replicating RNA. Although the protein-only prion hypothesis7 is still popular, convincing counter-evidence for an essential role of RNA as a cofactor has amassed in the last 20 years8. The present findings go beyond this in providing evidence for RNA as the genetic element of scrapie. To reflect the monotonous nature of the protein interface, it is suggested that the RNA may be a tandem repeat. This is against the protein-only prion hypothesis and in favour of a more orthodox agent, more akin to a virus. Fibrils from brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerations also contain EDs9 and may be of a similar aetiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie R Bridges
- Neuropathology, Cellular Pathology, South West London Pathology, St George's Hospital, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK and Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
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21
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Concha-Marambio L, Wang F, Armijo E, Gorski D, Ramirez F, Scowcroft A, Pritzkow S, Soto C. Development of a methodology for large-scale production of prions for biological and structural studies. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1184029. [PMID: 37635939 PMCID: PMC10449461 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1184029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of infectious neurodegenerative diseases produced by the conversion of the normal prion protein (PrPC) into the disease-associated form (PrPSc). Extensive evidence indicate that the main or sole component of the infectious agent is PrPSc, which can replicate in affected individuals in the absence of nucleic acids. However, the mechanism of PrPC-to-PrPSc conversion remains elusive, which has been attributed to the lack of sufficient structural information of infectious PrPSc and a reliable system to study prion replication in vitro. In this article we adapted the Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) technology for rapid and efficient generation of highly infectious prions in large-scale. Murine prions of the RML strain were efficiently propagated in volumes up to 1,000-fold larger than conventional PMCA. The large-scale PMCA (LS-PMCA) procedure enabled to produce highly infectious prions, which maintain the strain properties of the seed used to begin the reaction. LS-PMCA was shown to work with various species and strains of prions, including mouse RML and 301C strains, hamster Hyper prion, cervid CWD prions, including a rare Norwegian CWD prion, and human CJD prions. We further improved the LS-PMCA into a bioreactor format that can operate under industry-mimicking conditions for continuous and unlimited production of PrPSc without the need to keep adding brain-derived prions. In our estimation, this bioreactor can produce in 1d an amount of prions equivalent to that present in 25 infected animals at the terminal stage of the disease. Our LS-PMCA technology may provide a valuable tool to produce large quantities of well-defined and homogeneous infectious prions for biological and structural studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Concha-Marambio
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
- Amprion Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Enrique Armijo
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Damian Gorski
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Frank Ramirez
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Andrew Scowcroft
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sandra Pritzkow
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Claudio Soto
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Brain Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
- Amprion Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
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22
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Arshad H, Patel Z, Amano G, Li LY, Al-Azzawi ZAM, Supattapone S, Schmitt-Ulms G, Watts JC. A single protective polymorphism in the prion protein blocks cross-species prion replication in cultured cells. J Neurochem 2023; 165:230-245. [PMID: 36511154 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The bank vole (BV) prion protein (PrP) can function as a universal acceptor of prions. However, the molecular details of BVPrP's promiscuity for replicating a diverse range of prion strains remain obscure. To develop a cultured cell paradigm capable of interrogating the unique properties of BVPrP, we generated monoclonal lines of CAD5 cells lacking endogenous PrP but stably expressing either hamster (Ha), mouse (Mo), or BVPrP (M109 or I109 polymorphic variants) and then challenged them with various strains of mouse or hamster prions. Cells expressing BVPrP were susceptible to both mouse and hamster prions, whereas cells expressing MoPrP or HaPrP could only be infected with species-matched prions. Propagation of mouse and hamster prions in cells expressing BVPrP resulted in strain adaptation in several instances, as evidenced by alterations in conformational stability, glycosylation, susceptibility to anti-prion small molecules, and the inability of BVPrP-adapted mouse prion strains to infect cells expressing MoPrP. Interestingly, cells expressing BVPrP containing the G127V prion gene variant, identified in individuals resistant to kuru, were unable to become infected with prions. Moreover, the G127V polymorphic variant impeded the spontaneous aggregation of recombinant BVPrP. These results demonstrate that BVPrP can facilitate cross-species prion replication in cultured cells and that a single amino acid change can override the prion-permissive nature of BVPrP. This cellular paradigm will be useful for dissecting the molecular features of BVPrP that allow it to function as a universal prion acceptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Arshad
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zeel Patel
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Genki Amano
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Le Yao Li
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zaid A M Al-Azzawi
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Surachai Supattapone
- Department of Biochemistry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
- Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joel C Watts
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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23
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Prion Propagation is Dependent on Key Amino Acids in Charge Cluster 2 within the Prion Protein. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167925. [PMID: 36535427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167925] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
To dissect the N-terminal residues within the cellular prion protein (PrPC) that are critical for efficient prion propagation, we generated a library of point, double, or triple alanine replacements within residues 23-111 of PrP, stably expressed them in cells silenced for endogenous mouse PrPC and challenged the reconstituted cells with four common but biologically diverse mouse prion strains. Amino acids (aa) 105-111 of Charge Cluster 2 (CC2), which is disordered in PrPC, were found to be required for propagation of all four prion strains; other residues had no effect or exhibited strain-specific effects. Replacements in CC2, including aa105-111, dominantly inhibited prion propagation in the presence of endogenous wild type PrPC whilst other changes were not inhibitory. Single alanine replacements within aa105-111 identified leucine 108 and valine 111 or the cluster of lysine 105, threonine 106 and asparagine 107 as critical for prion propagation. These residues mediate specific ordering of unstructured CC2 into β-sheets in the infectious prion fibrils from Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) and ME7 mouse prion strains.
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24
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So RWL, Watts JC. α-Synuclein Conformational Strains as Drivers of Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Mol Biol 2023:168011. [PMID: 36792008 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The synucleinopathies, which include Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy, are a class of human neurodegenerative disorders unified by the presence of α-synuclein aggregates in the brain. Considerable clinical and pathological heterogeneity exists within and among the individual synucleinopathies. A potential explanation for this variability is the existence of distinct conformational strains of α-synuclein aggregates that cause different disease manifestations. Like prion strains, α-synuclein strains can be delineated based on their structural architecture, with structural differences among α-synuclein aggregates leading to unique biochemical attributes and neuropathological properties in humans and animal models. Bolstered by recent high-resolution structural data from patient brain-derived material, it has now been firmly established that there are conformational differences among α-synuclein aggregates from different human synucleinopathies. Moreover, recombinant α-synuclein can be polymerized into several structurally distinct aggregates that exhibit unique pathological properties. In this review, we outline the evidence supporting the existence of α-synuclein strains and highlight how they can act as drivers of phenotypic heterogeneity in the human synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaella W L So
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. https://twitter.com/xsakuraphie
| | - Joel C Watts
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. https://twitter.com/JoelWattsLab
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25
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Hoq MR, Bharath SR, Hallinan GI, Fernandez A, Vago FS, Ozcan KA, Li D, Garringer HJ, Vidal R, Ghetti B, Jiang W. Cross-β helical filaments of Tau and TMEM106B in Gray and White Matter of Multiple System Tauopathy with presenile Dementia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.09.523314. [PMID: 36711790 PMCID: PMC9882095 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.09.523314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Background The Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (MAPT) is one of the proteins that are central to neurodegenerative diseases. The nature of intracellular tau aggregates is determined by the cell types whether neuronal or glial, the participating tau isoforms, and the structure of the amyloid filament. The transmembrane protein 106B (TMEM106B) has recently emerged as another significant player in neurodegeneration and aging. In the central nervous system, the composition of the gray and white matter differs considerably. The gray matter consists of nerve cell bodies, dendrites, unmyelinated axons, synaptic terminals, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes (satellite cells) and microglia. The white matter differs from the gray for the presence of axonal tracts as the only neuronal component and for the absence of nerve cell bodies, dendrites and synaptic terminals. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies have unveiled the structure of tau and TMEM106B, from the cerebral cortex, in several neurodegenerative diseases; however, whether tau and TMEM106B filaments from the gray and white matter share a common fold requires additional investigation. Methods We isolated tau and TMEM106B from the cerebral cortex and white matter of the frontal lobes of two individuals affected by multiple system tauopathy with presenile dementia (MSTD), a disease caused by the MAPT intron 10 mutation +3. We used immunostaining, biochemical, genetics and cryo-EM methods to characterize tau and TMEM106B. Results We determined that tau filaments in the gray and the white matter of MSTD individuals can induce tau aggregation and have identical AGD type 2 folds. TMEM106B amyloid filaments were also found in the gray and white matter of MSTD; the filament folds were identical in the two anatomical regions. Conclusions Our findings show for the first time that in MSTD two types of amyloid filaments extracted from the gray matter have identical folds to those extracted from the white matter. Whether in this genetic disorder there is a relationship in the pathogenesis of the tau and TMEM106B filaments, remains to be determined. Furthermore, additional studies are needed for other proteins and other neurodegenerative diseases to establish whether filaments extracted from the gray and white matter would have identical folds.
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26
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Block AJ, York TC, Benedict R, Ma J, Bartz JC. Prion protein amino acid sequence influences formation of authentic synthetic PrP Sc. Sci Rep 2023; 13:441. [PMID: 36624174 PMCID: PMC9829857 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26300-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic prions, generated de novo from minimal, non-infectious components, cause bona fide prion disease in animals. Transmission of synthetic prions to hosts expressing syngeneic PrPC results in extended, variable incubation periods and incomplete attack rates. In contrast, murine synthetic prions (MSP) generated via PMCA with minimal cofactors readily infected mice and hamsters and rapidly adapted to both species. To investigate if hamster synthetic prions (HSP) generated under the same conditions as the MSP are also highly infectious, we inoculated hamsters with HSP generated with either hamster wild type or mutant (ΔG54, ΔG54/M139I, M139I/I205M) recombinant PrP. None of the inoculated hamsters developed clinical signs of prion disease, however, brain homogenate from HSPWT- and HSPΔG54-infected hamsters contained PrPSc, indicating subclinical infection. Serial passage in hamsters resulted in clinical disease at second passage accompanied by changes in incubation period and PrPSc conformational stability between second and third passage. These data suggest the HSP, in contrast to the MSP, are not comprised of PrPSc, and instead generate authentic PrPSc via deformed templating. Differences in infectivity between the MSP and HSP suggest that, under similar generation conditions, the amino acid sequence of PrP influences generation of authentic PrPSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J. Block
- grid.254748.80000 0004 1936 8876Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178 USA
| | - Taylor C. York
- grid.254748.80000 0004 1936 8876Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178 USA
| | - Romilly Benedict
- grid.17088.360000 0001 2150 1785Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI USA
| | - Jiyan Ma
- grid.251017.00000 0004 0406 2057Van Andel Institute, Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Grand Rapids, MI USA
| | - Jason C. Bartz
- grid.254748.80000 0004 1936 8876Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178 USA
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27
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Nafe R, Arendt CT, Hattingen E. Human prion diseases and the prion protein - what is the current state of knowledge? Transl Neurosci 2023; 14:20220315. [PMID: 37854584 PMCID: PMC10579786 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2022-0315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases and the prion protein are only partially understood so far in many aspects. This explains the continued research on this topic, calling for an overview on the current state of knowledge. The main objective of the present review article is to provide a comprehensive up-to-date presentation of all major features of human prion diseases bridging the gap between basic research and clinical aspects. Starting with the prion protein, current insights concerning its physiological functions and the process of pathological conversion will be highlighted. Diagnostic, molecular, and clinical aspects of all human prion diseases will be discussed, including information concerning rare diseases like prion-associated amyloidoses and Huntington disease-like 1, as well as the question about a potential human threat due to the transmission of prions from prion diseases of other species such as chronic wasting disease. Finally, recent attempts to develop future therapeutic strategies will be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinhold Nafe
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinics of Johann Wolfgang-Goethe University, Schleusenweg 2-16, 60528Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christophe T. Arendt
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinics of Johann Wolfgang-Goethe University, Schleusenweg 2-16, 60528Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Elke Hattingen
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinics of Johann Wolfgang-Goethe University, Schleusenweg 2-16, 60528Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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28
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Crary JF. Neurodegeneration: 2023 update. FREE NEUROPATHOLOGY 2023; 4:4-13. [PMID: 37694160 PMCID: PMC10484115 DOI: 10.17879/freeneuropathology-2023-4899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
This paper reviews ten highly impactful studies published in the previous year selected by the author from the neurodegenerative neuropathology literature. As in previous years, the focus is to highlight human tissue-based experimentation most relevant to neuropathologists. A concerted effort was made to balance the selected studies across disease categories, approaches, and methodologies to capture the breadth of the research landscape. Studies include an integrated proteomic and transcriptomic study of Alzheimer disease (AD) and new consensus diagnostic neuropathological criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy. A number of studies looking at TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) are highlighted. One examined interaction between AD and limbic age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) and yet another demonstrated how TDP-43 represses cryptic exon inclusion in UNC13A, suggesting a novel pathogenic mechanism. Most surprisingly, three cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies showed that TMEM106B filaments form the core of TDP-43-positive inclusions. Cryo-EM revealed a prion protein amyloid structure from aggregates in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease. There was an elegant functional genomic study cataloging microglial gene expression in the human brain. A study shed light on how APOE influences chronic traumatic encephalopathy. A pathoanatomical study tested the dual hit hypothesis of Lewy body progression throughout the nervous system. And finally, deep learning continues to show its promise with application of a weakly supervised multiple instance learning paradigm to assess aging post-mortem brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Crary
- Department of Pathology, Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Department of Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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29
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Mollica L, Giachin G. Recognition Mechanisms between a Nanobody and Disordered Epitopes of the Human Prion Protein: An Integrative Molecular Dynamics Study. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 63:531-545. [PMID: 36580661 PMCID: PMC9875307 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy using antibodies to target the aggregation of flexible proteins holds promise for therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding. Prions or PrPSc, the causal agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), represent a model target for immunotherapies as TSE are prototypical protein misfolding diseases. The X-ray crystal structure of the wild-type (WT) human prion protein (HuPrP) bound to a camelid antibody fragment, denoted as Nanobody 484 (Nb484), has been previously solved. Nb484 was found to inhibit prion aggregation in vitro through a unique mechanism of structural stabilization of two disordered epitopes, that is, the palindromic motif (residues 113-120) and the β2-α2 loop region (residues 164-185). The study of the structural basis for antibody recognition of flexible proteins requires appropriate sampling techniques for the identification of conformational states occurring in disordered epitopes. To elucidate the Nb484-HuPrP recognition mechanisms, here we applied molecular dynamics (MD) simulations complemented with available NMR and X-ray crystallography data collected on the WT HuPrP to describe the conformational spaces occurring on HuPrP prior to Nb484 binding. We observe the experimentally determined binding competent conformations within the ensembles of pre-existing conformational states in solution before binding. We also described the Nb484 recognition mechanisms in two HuPrP carrying a polymorphism (E219K) and a TSE-causing mutation (V210I). Our hybrid approaches allow the identification of dynamic conformational landscapes existing on HuPrP and highly characterized by molecular disorder to identify physiologically relevant and druggable transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Mollica
- Department
of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Segrate, 20090 Milan, Italy,
| | - Gabriele Giachin
- Department
of Chemical Sciences (DiSC), University
of Padua, 35131 Padova, Italy,
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30
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Hoyt F, Alam P, Artikis E, Schwartz CL, Hughson AG, Race B, Baune C, Raymond GJ, Baron GS, Kraus A, Caughey B. Cryo-EM of prion strains from the same genotype of host identifies conformational determinants. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010947. [PMID: 36342968 PMCID: PMC9671466 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion strains in a given type of mammalian host are distinguished by differences in clinical presentation, neuropathological lesions, survival time, and characteristics of the infecting prion protein (PrP) assemblies. Near-atomic structures of prions from two host species with different PrP sequences have been determined but comparisons of distinct prion strains of the same amino acid sequence are needed to identify purely conformational determinants of prion strain characteristics. Here we report a 3.2 Å resolution cryogenic electron microscopy-based structure of the 22L prion strain purified from the brains of mice engineered to express only PrP lacking glycophosphatidylinositol anchors [anchorless (a) 22L]. Comparison of this near-atomic structure to our recently determined structure of the aRML strain propagated in the same inbred mouse reveals that these two mouse prion strains have distinct conformational templates for growth via incorporation of PrP molecules of the same sequence. Both a22L and aRML are assembled as stacks of PrP molecules forming parallel in-register intermolecular β-sheets and intervening loops, with single monomers spanning the ordered fibril core. Each monomer shares an N-terminal steric zipper, three major arches, and an overall V-shape, but the details of these and other conformational features differ markedly. Thus, variations in shared conformational motifs within a parallel in-register β-stack fibril architecture provide a structural basis for prion strain differentiation within a single host genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forrest Hoyt
- Research Technologies Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Parvez Alam
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Efrosini Artikis
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Cindi L. Schwartz
- Research Technologies Branch, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Andrew G. Hughson
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Brent Race
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Chase Baune
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Gregory J. Raymond
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Gerald S. Baron
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Allison Kraus
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
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31
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Raspadori A, Vignali V, Murello A, Giachin G, Samorì B, Tanaka M, Bustamante C, Zuccheri G, Legname G. Evidence of Orientation-Dependent Early States of Prion Protein Misfolded Structures from Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:1358. [PMID: 36138837 PMCID: PMC9495685 DOI: 10.3390/biology11091358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the presence of oligomers and amyloid fibrils. These are the result of protein aggregation processes of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into amyloidal forms denoted as prions or PrPSc. We employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) for single molecule pulling (single molecule force spectroscopy, SMFS) experiments on the recombinant truncated murine prion protein (PrP) domain to characterize its conformations and potential initial oligomerization processes. Our AFM-SMFS results point to a complex scenario of structural heterogeneity of PrP at the monomeric and dimer level, like other amyloid proteins involved in similar pathologies. By applying this technique, we revealed that the PrP C-terminal domain unfolds in a two-state process. We used two dimeric constructs with different PrP reciprocal orientations: one construct with two sequential PrP in the N- to C-terminal orientation (N-C dimer) and a second one in the C- to C-terminal orientation (C-C dimer). The analysis revealed that the different behavior in terms of unfolding force, whereby the dimer placed C-C dimer unfolds at a higher force compared to the N-C orientation. We propose that the C-C dimer orientation may represent a building block of amyloid fibril formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Raspadori
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Valentina Vignali
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Murello
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giachin
- Department of Chemical Sciences (DiSC), University of Padua, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Bruno Samorì
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Motomasa Tanaka
- Laboratory for Protein Conformation Diseases, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako 351-0198, Saitama, Japan
| | - Carlos Bustamante
- QB3 Institute, University of California, 642 Stanley Hall #3220, Berkeley, CA 94720-3220, USA
| | - Giampaolo Zuccheri
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- S3 Center of the Institute of Nanoscience of the Italian National Research Council (CNR), 41125 Modena, Italy
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research on Health Science and Technologies, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
- ELETTRA Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A, Basovizza, 34139 Trieste, Italy
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Otaki H, Taguchi Y, Nishida N. Conformation-Dependent Influences of Hydrophobic Amino Acids in Two In-Register Parallel β-Sheet Amyloids, an α-Synuclein Amyloid and a Local Structural Model of PrP Sc. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:31271-31288. [PMID: 36092583 PMCID: PMC9453792 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Prions are unconventional pathogens that encode the pathogenic information in conformations of the constituent abnormal isoform of prion protein (PrPSc), independently of the nucleotide genome. Therefore, conformational diversity of PrPSc underlies the existence of many prion strains and species barriers of prions, although the conformational information is extremely limited. Interestingly, differences between polymorphic or species-specific residues responsible for the species/strain barriers are often caused by conservative replacements between hydrophobic amino acids. This implies that subtle differences among hydrophobic amino acids are significant for PrPSc structures. Here we analyzed the influence of different hydrophobic residues on the structures of an in-register parallel β-sheet amyloid of α-synuclein (αSyn) using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and applied the knowledge from the αSyn amyloid to modeling a local structure of human PrPSc encompassing residues 107-143. We found that mutations equivalent to polymorphisms that cause transmission barriers substantially affect the stabilities of the local structures; for example, the G127V mutation, which makes the host resistant to various human prion diseases, greatly destabilized the local structure of the model amyloid. Our study indicates that subtle differences among hydrophobic side chains can considerably affect the interaction network, including hydrogen bonds, and demonstrates specifically how and in what structures hydrophobic residues can exert unique effects on in-register parallel β-sheet amyloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Otaki
- Center
for Bioinformatics and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical
Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
| | - Yuzuru Taguchi
- Department
of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical
Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nishida
- Department
of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical
Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
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33
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Ma J, Zhang J, Yan R. Recombinant Mammalian Prions: The “Correctly” Misfolded Prion Protein Conformers. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091940. [PMID: 36146746 PMCID: PMC9504972 DOI: 10.3390/v14091940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Generating a prion with exogenously produced recombinant prion protein is widely accepted as the ultimate proof of the prion hypothesis. Over the years, a plethora of misfolded recPrP conformers have been generated, but despite their seeding capability, many of them have failed to elicit a fatal neurodegenerative disorder in wild-type animals like a naturally occurring prion. The application of the protein misfolding cyclic amplification technique and the inclusion of non-protein cofactors in the reaction mixture have led to the generation of authentic recombinant prions that fully recapitulate the characteristics of native prions. Together, these studies reveal that recPrP can stably exist in a variety of misfolded conformations and when inoculated into wild-type animals, misfolded recPrP conformers cause a wide range of outcomes, from being completely innocuous to lethal. Since all these recPrP conformers possess seeding capabilities, these results clearly suggest that seeding activity alone is not equivalent to prion activity. Instead, authentic prions are those PrP conformers that are not only heritable (the ability to seed the conversion of normal PrP) but also pathogenic (the ability to cause fatal neurodegeneration). The knowledge gained from the studies of the recombinant prion is important for us to understand the pathogenesis of prion disease and the roles of misfolded proteins in other neurodegenerative disorders.
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Manka SW, Wenborn A, Collinge J, Wadsworth JDF. Prion strains viewed through the lens of cryo-EM. Cell Tissue Res 2022; 392:167-178. [PMID: 36028585 PMCID: PMC10113314 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03676-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian prions are lethal transmissible pathogens that cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases in humans and animals. They consist of fibrils of misfolded, host-encoded prion protein (PrP) which propagate through templated protein polymerisation. Prion strains produce distinct clinicopathological phenotypes in the same host and appear to be encoded by distinct misfolded PrP conformations and assembly states. Despite fundamental advances in our understanding of prion biology, key knowledge gaps remain. These include precise delineation of prion replication mechanisms, detailed explanation of the molecular basis of prion strains and inter-species transmission barriers, and the structural definition of neurotoxic PrP species. Central to addressing these questions is the determination of prion structure. While high-resolution definition of ex vivo prion fibrils once seemed unlikely, recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and computational methods for 3D reconstruction of amyloids have now made this possible. Recently, near-atomic resolution structures of highly infectious, ex vivo prion fibrils from hamster 263K and mouse RML prion strains were reported. The fibrils have a comparable parallel in-register intermolecular β-sheet (PIRIBS) architecture that now provides a structural foundation for understanding prion strain diversity in mammals. Here, we review these new findings and discuss directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szymon W Manka
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Adam Wenborn
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - John Collinge
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK.
| | - Jonathan D F Wadsworth
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK.
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