1
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Vieira TCRG, Barros CA, Domingues R, Outeiro TF. PrP meets alpha-synuclein: Molecular mechanisms and implications for disease. J Neurochem 2024; 168:1625-1639. [PMID: 37855859 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15992] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of prions has challenged dogmas and has revolutionized our understanding of protein-misfolding diseases. The concept of self-propagation via protein conformational changes, originally discovered for the prion protein (PrP), also applies to other proteins that exhibit similar behavior, such as alpha-synuclein (aSyn), a central player in Parkinson's disease and in other synucleinopathies. aSyn pathology appears to spread from one cell to another during disease progression, and involves the misfolding and aggregation of aSyn. How the transfer of aSyn between cells occurs is still being studied, but one important hypothesis involves receptor-mediated transport. Interestingly, recent studies indicate that the cellular prion protein (PrPC) may play a crucial role in this process. PrPC has been shown to act as a receptor/sensor for protein aggregates in different neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the interaction between aSyn and PrPC and discuss its role in synucleinopathies. We examine the properties of PrP and aSyn, including their structure, function, and aggregation. Additionally, we discuss the current understanding of PrPC's role as a receptor/sensor for aSyn aggregates and identify remaining unanswered questions in this area of research. Ultimately, we posit that exploring the interaction between aSyn and PrPC may offer potential treatment options for synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuane C R G Vieira
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Caroline A Barros
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato Domingues
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
- Scientific Employee with an Honorary Contract at Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
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2
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Li R, Li H, Feng X, Zhao R, Cheng Y. Study on the Influence of mRNA, the Genetic Language, on Protein Folding Rates. Front Genet 2021; 12:635250. [PMID: 33889178 PMCID: PMC8056030 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.635250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many works have reported that protein folding rates are influenced by the characteristics of amino acid sequences and protein structures. However, few reports on the problem of whether the corresponding mRNA sequences are related to the protein folding rates can be found. An mRNA sequence is regarded as a kind of genetic language, and its vocabulary and phraseology must provide influential information regarding the protein folding rate. In the present work, linear regressions on the parameters of the vocabulary and phraseology of mRNA sequences and the corresponding protein folding rates were analyzed. The results indicated that D2 (the adjacent base-related information redundancy) values and the GC content values of the corresponding mRNA sequences exhibit significant negative relations with the protein folding rates, but D1 (the single base information redundancy) values exhibit significant positive relations with the protein folding rates. In addition, the results show that the relationships between the parameters of the genetic language and the corresponding protein folding rates are obviously different for different protein groups. Some useful parameters that are related to protein folding rates were found. The results indicate that when predicting protein folding rates, the information from protein structures and their amino acid sequences is insufficient, and some information for regulating the protein folding rates must be derived from the mRNA sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifang Li
- College of Physics and Electronic Information, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, China
| | - Hong Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xue Feng
- College of Physics and Electronic Information, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, China
| | - Ruifeng Zhao
- College of Physics and Electronic Information, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yongxia Cheng
- College of Physics and Electronic Information, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot, China
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3
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Billant O, Friocourt G, Roux P, Voisset C. p53, A Victim of the Prion Fashion. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:E269. [PMID: 33450819 PMCID: PMC7828285 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Identified in the late 1970s as an oncogene, a driving force leading to tumor development, p53 turned out to be a key tumor suppressor gene. Now p53 is considered a master gene regulating the transcription of over 3000 target genes and controlling a remarkable number of cellular functions. The elevated prevalence of p53 mutations in human cancers has led to a recurring questioning about the roles of mutant p53 proteins and their functional consequences. Both mutants and isoforms of p53 have been attributed dominant-negative and gain of function properties among which is the ability to form amyloid aggregates and behave in a prion-like manner. This report challenges the ongoing "prion p53" hypothesis by reviewing evidence of p53 behavior in light of our current knowledge regarding amyloid proteins, prionoids and prions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gaëlle Friocourt
- Inserm, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, EFS, UMR 1078, GGB, F-29200 Brest, France;
| | - Pierre Roux
- CRBM, CNRS, UMR5234, 34293 Montpellier, France;
| | - Cécile Voisset
- Inserm, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, EFS, UMR 1078, GGB, F-29200 Brest, France;
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4
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Del Rio JA, Ferrer I. Potential of Microfluidics and Lab-on-Chip Platforms to Improve Understanding of " prion-like" Protein Assembly and Behavior. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:570692. [PMID: 33015021 PMCID: PMC7506036 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.570692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human aging is accompanied by a relevant increase in age-associated chronic pathologies, including neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. The appearance and evolution of numerous neurodegenerative diseases is paralleled by the appearance of intracellular and extracellular accumulation of misfolded proteins in affected brains. In addition, recent evidence suggests that most of these amyloid proteins can behave and propagate among neural cells similarly to infective prions. In order to improve understanding of the seeding and spreading processes of these "prion-like" amyloids, microfluidics and 3D lab-on-chip approaches have been developed as highly valuable tools. These techniques allow us to monitor changes in cellular and molecular processes responsible for amyloid seeding and cell spreading and their parallel effects in neural physiology. Their compatibility with new optical and biochemical techniques and their relative availability have increased interest in them and in their use in numerous laboratories. In addition, recent advances in stem cell research in combination with microfluidic platforms have opened new humanized in vitro models for myriad neurodegenerative diseases affecting different cellular targets of the vascular, muscular, and nervous systems, and glial cells. These new platforms help reduce the use of animal experimentation. They are more reproducible and represent a potential alternative to classical approaches to understanding neurodegeneration. In this review, we summarize recent progress in neurobiological research in "prion-like" protein using microfluidic and 3D lab-on-chip approaches. These approaches are driven by various fields, including chemistry, biochemistry, and cell biology, and they serve to facilitate the development of more precise human brain models for basic mechanistic studies of cell-to-cell interactions and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Del Rio
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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5
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Freitas FC, Lima AN, Contessoto VDG, Whitford PC, Oliveira RJD. Drift-diffusion (DrDiff) framework determines kinetics and thermodynamics of two-state folding trajectory and tunes diffusion models. J Chem Phys 2019; 151:114106. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5113499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Campos Freitas
- Laboratório de Biofísica Teórica, Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e Educação, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Angelica Nakagawa Lima
- Laboratório de Biofísica Teórica, Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e Educação, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia Computacional e Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil
| | - Vinícius de Godoi Contessoto
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
- Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory - LNBR, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials - CNPEM, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Paul C. Whitford
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Ronaldo Junio de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Biofísica Teórica, Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e Educação, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
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6
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Michael AV, Greenlee JJ, Harm TA, Moore SJ, Zhang M, Lind MS, Greenlee MHW, Smith JD. In Situ Temporospatial Characterization of the Glial Response to Prion Infection. Vet Pathol 2019; 57:90-107. [PMID: 31331254 DOI: 10.1177/0300985819861708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) display marked activation of astrocytes and microglia that precedes neuronal loss. Investigation of clinical parallels between TSEs and other neurodegenerative protein misfolding diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, has revealed similar patterns of neuroinflammatory responses to the accumulation of self-propagating amyloids. The contribution of glial activation to the progression of protein misfolding diseases is incompletely understood, with evidence for mediation of both protective and deleterious effects. Glial populations are heterogeneously distributed throughout the brain and capable of dynamic transitions along a spectrum of functional activation states between pro- and antiinflammatory polarization extremes. Using a murine model of Rocky Mountain Laboratory scrapie, the neuroinflammatory response to prion infection was characterized by evaluating glial activation across 15 brain regions over time and correlating it to traditional markers of prion neuropathology, including vacuolation and PrPSc deposition. Quantitative immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate glial expression of iNOS and Arg1, markers of classical and alternative glial activation, respectively. The results indicate progressive upregulation of iNOS in microglia and a mixed astrocytic profile featuring iNOS expression in white matter tracts and detection of Arg1-positive populations throughout the brain. These data establish a temporospatial lesion profile for this prion infection model and demonstrate evidence of multiple glial activation states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyona V Michael
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Justin J Greenlee
- US Department of Agriculture, Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Tyler A Harm
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - S Jo Moore
- US Department of Agriculture, Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Statistics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Melissa S Lind
- US Department of Agriculture, Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA, USA.,BluePearl Pet Hospital, Des Moines, IA, USA
| | - M Heather West Greenlee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Jodi D Smith
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
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7
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Abstract
Prion (PrPC) is an endogenous protein found mainly in the nervous system, and its misfolded isoform (PrPSc) is associated with a group of neurodegenerative disorders known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or simply prion diseases. The PrPSc isoform shows an intriguing ability to self-perpetuate, acting as template for PrPC misfolding and consequent aggregation. Aggregation in vitro and in vivo follows a fibrillation processes that is associated with neurodegeneration. Therefore, it is important to investigate and understand the molecular mechanisms involved in this process; such understanding also allows investigation of the action of possible candidate molecules to inhibit this process. Here, we highlight useful in vitro methodologies and analyses that were developed using PrP as a protein model but that, as other amyloid proteins also exhibit the same behavior, may be applied to understand other "prion-like" diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
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8
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Qin K, Zhao L, Solanki A, Busch C, Mastrianni J. Anle138b prevents PrP plaque accumulation in Tg(PrP-A116V) mice but does not mitigate clinical disease. J Gen Virol 2019; 100:1027-1037. [PMID: 31045489 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Anle138b is an anti-aggregating compound previously shown to delay the onset of scrapie, a transmissible prion disease, although its in vivo efficacy against other prion disease subtypes has not been fully assessed. TgGSS mice that model Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) via expression of mouse PrPA116V accumulate PrP amyloid plaques in their brains and develop progressive ataxia leading to death in ~160 days. When allowed to feed on food pellets containing anle138b from weaning until death, the brains of TgGSS mice displayed significant reductions in PrP plaque burden, insoluble PrP, and proteinase K-resistant PrPSc at end stage, compared with TgGSS mice allowed to feed on placebo food pellets. Despite these effects on biological markers of disease, there was no difference in the onset of symptoms or the age at death between the two treatment groups. In contrast, scrapie-inoculated wild-type mice treated with anle138b survived nearly twice as long (254 days) as scrapie-inoculated mice fed placebo (~136 days). They also displayed greater reductions in insoluble and PK-resistant PrPSc than TgGSS mice. Although these results support an anti-aggregating effect of anle138b, the discordance in clinical efficacy noted between the two prion disease models tested underscores the pathophysiological differences between them and highlights the need to consider differences in susceptibilities among prion subtypes when assessing potential therapies for prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kefeng Qin
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Lili Zhao
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Ani Solanki
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Crystal Busch
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - James Mastrianni
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
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9
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Araman C, 't Hart BA. Neurodegeneration meets immunology - A chemical biology perspective. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:1911-1924. [PMID: 30910473 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Araman
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry and the Institute for Chemical Immunology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - B A 't Hart
- University of Groningen, Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University Medical Centre, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department Anatomy and Neuroscience, Free University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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10
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Abstract
The description of prions as causal agents of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE), is nowadays accepted as an important breakthrough in biology as revealed the existence of a completely new group of pathogens and a new way of transmission for biological information. A common feature of many neurodegenerative disorders is the presence of protein aggregates in the nervous system and as evidences highlighting the similarities of these proteins with TSE-causing prions increase, the line separating the infectious prions from other protein aggregates becomes thinner than previously thought. However, instead of encompassing all these amyloidogenic proteins under the umbrella term "prion", new terminology has raised including the terms prion-like, prionoid, quasi-prion or propagon. The International Prion Conference held in Santiago de Compostela in 2018, offered the perfect forum to discuss this topic and maybe set the basis for an agreed terminology. For that, a round table was organized with several experts on the field to discuss whether Aβ, tau, α-synuclein and others are prions, prion-like proteins, or should be named otherwise. This commentary intends to summarize the topics discussed at the round table and shed some light on this controverted topic, drawing together the opinions of many experts participating at the session.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasier Eraña
- a Atlas Molecular Pharma , Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia , Derio , Spain.,b CIC bioGUNE , Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia , Derio , Spain
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11
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Alibhai JD, Diack AB, Manson JC. Unravelling the glial response in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. FASEB J 2018; 32:5766-5777. [PMID: 30376380 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801360r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, incurable neurodegenerative disease targeting specific neuronal populations within the brain while neighboring neurons appear unaffected. The focus for defining mechanisms has therefore been on the pathogenesis in affected neuronal populations and developing intervention strategies to prevent their cell death. However, there is growing recognition of the importance of glial cells in the development of pathology. Determining exactly how glial cells are involved in the disease process and the susceptibility of the aging brain provides unprecedented challenges. The present review examines recent studies attempting to unravel the glial response during the course of disease and how this action may dictate the outcome of neurodegeneration. The importance of regional heterogeneity of glial cells within the CNS during healthy aging and disease is examined to understand how the glial cells may contribute to neuronal susceptibility or resilience during the neurodegenerative process.-Alibhai, J. D., Diack, A. B., Manson, J. C. Unravelling the glial response in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Alibhai
- National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Research and Surveillance Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; and
| | - Abigail B Diack
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom
| | - Jean C Manson
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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12
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Abstract
Several studies have indicated that certain misfolded amyloids composed of tau, β-amyloid or α-synuclein can be transferred from cell to cell, suggesting the contribution of mechanisms reminiscent of those by which infective prions spread through the brain. This process of a 'prion-like' spreading between cells is also relevant as a novel putative therapeutic target that could block the spreading of proteinaceous aggregates throughout the brain which may underlie the progressive nature of neurodegenerative diseases. The relevance of β-amyloid oligomers and cellular prion protein (PrPC) binding has been a focus of interest in Alzheimer's disease (AD). At the molecular level, β-amyloid/PrPC interaction takes place in two differently charged clusters of PrPC. In addition to β-amyloid, participation of PrPC in α-synuclein binding and brain spreading also appears to be relevant in α-synucleopathies. This review summarizes current knowledge about PrPC as a putative receptor for amyloid proteins and the physiological consequences of these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Senior Consultant Neuropathology, Service of Pathology, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Cofactors influence the biological properties of infectious recombinant prions. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 135:179-199. [PMID: 29094186 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1782-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are caused by a misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrP) to a pathogenic isoform named PrPSc. Prions exist as strains, which are characterized by specific pathological and biochemical properties likely encoded in the three-dimensional structure of PrPSc. However, whether cofactors determine these different PrPSc conformations and how this relates to their specific biological properties is largely unknown. To understand how different cofactors modulate prion strain generation and selection, Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification was used to create a diversity of infectious recombinant prion strains by propagation in the presence of brain homogenate. Brain homogenate is known to contain these mentioned cofactors, whose identity is only partially known, and which facilitate conversion of PrPC to PrPSc. We thus obtained a mix of distinguishable infectious prion strains. Subsequently, we replaced brain homogenate, by different polyanionic cofactors that were able to drive the evolution of mixed prion populations toward specific strains. Thus, our results show that a variety of infectious recombinant prions can be generated in vitro and that their specific type of conformation, i.e., the strain, is dependent on the cofactors available during the propagation process. These observations have significant implications for understanding the pathogenesis of prion diseases and their ability to replicate in different tissues and hosts. Importantly, these considerations might apply to other neurodegenerative diseases for which different conformations of misfolded proteins have been described.
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14
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Neitzel J, Nuttall R, Sorg C. Perspectives on How Human Simultaneous Multi-Modal Imaging Adds Directionality to Spread Models of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurol 2018; 9:26. [PMID: 29434570 PMCID: PMC5790782 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous animal research suggests that the spread of pathological agents in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) follows the direction of signaling pathways. Specifically, tau pathology has been suggested to propagate in an infection-like mode along axons, from transentorhinal cortices to medial temporal lobe cortices and consequently to other cortical regions, while amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology seems to spread in an activity-dependent manner among and from isocortical regions into limbic and then subcortical regions. These directed connectivity-based spread models, however, have not been tested directly in AD patients due to the lack of an in vivo method to identify directed connectivity in humans. Recently, a new method—metabolic connectivity mapping (MCM)—has been developed and validated in healthy participants that uses simultaneous FDG-PET and resting-state fMRI data acquisition to identify directed intrinsic effective connectivity (EC). To this end, postsynaptic energy consumption (FDG-PET) is used to identify regions with afferent input from other functionally connected brain regions (resting-state fMRI). Here, we discuss how this multi-modal imaging approach allows quantitative, whole-brain mapping of signaling direction in AD patients, thereby pointing out some of the advantages it offers compared to other EC methods (i.e., Granger causality, dynamic causal modeling, Bayesian networks). Most importantly, MCM provides the basis on which models of pathology spread, derived from animal studies, can be tested in AD patients. In particular, future work should investigate whether tau and Aβ in humans propagate along the trajectories of directed connectivity in order to advance our understanding of the neuropathological mechanisms causing disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Neitzel
- Department of General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), München, Germany.,TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), München, Germany
| | - Rachel Nuttall
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), München, Germany.,Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), München, Germany
| | - Christian Sorg
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), München, Germany.,Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), München, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), München, Germany
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15
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Analysis of Small Critical Regions of Swi1 Conferring Prion Formation, Maintenance, and Transmission. Mol Cell Biol 2017; 37:MCB.00206-17. [PMID: 28716950 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00206-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains several prion elements, which are epigenetically transmitted as self-perpetuating protein conformations. One such prion is [SWI+ ], whose protein determinant is Swi1, a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex. We previously reported that [SWI+ ] formation results in a partial loss-of-function phenotype of poor growth in nonglucose medium and abolishment of multicellular features. We also showed that the first 38 amino acids of Swi1 propagated [SWI+]. We show here that a region as small as the first 32 amino acids of Swi1 (Swi11-32) can decorate [SWI+] aggregation and stably maintain and transmit [SWI+] independently of full-length Swi1. Regions smaller than Swi11-32 are either incapable of aggregation or unstably propagate [SWI+]. When fused to Sup35MC, the [PSI+ ] determinant lacking its PrD, Swi11-31 and Swi11-32 can act as transferable prion domains (PrDs). The resulting fusions give rise to a novel chimeric prion, [SPS+], exhibiting [PSI+]-like nonsense suppression. Thus, an NH2-terminal region of ∼30 amino acids of Swi1 contains all the necessary information for in vivo prion formation, maintenance, and transmission. This PrD is unique in size and composition: glutamine free, asparagine rich, and the smallest defined to date. Our findings broaden our understanding of what features allow a protein region to serve as a PrD.
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Urrea L, Ferrer I, Gavín R, del Río JA. The cellular prion protein (PrP C) as neuronal receptor for α-synuclein. Prion 2017; 11:226-233. [PMID: 28759332 PMCID: PMC5553301 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2017.1334748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The term 'prion-like' is used to define some misfolded protein species that propagate intercellularly, triggering protein aggregation in recipient cells. For cell binding, both direct plasma membrane interaction and membrane receptors have been described for particular amyloids. In this respect, emerging evidence demonstrates that several β-sheet enriched proteins can bind to the cellular prion protein (PrPC). Among other interactions, the physiological relevance of the binding between β-amyloid and PrPC has been a relevant focus of numerous studies. At the molecular level, published data point to the second charged cluster domain of the PrPC molecule as the relevant binding domain of the β-amyloid/PrPC interaction. In addition to β-amyloid, participation of PrPC in binding α-synuclein, responsible for neurodegenerative synucleopathies, has been reported. Although results indicate relevant participation of PrPC in the spreading of α-synuclein in living mice, the physiological relevance of the interaction remains elusive. In this comment, we focus our attention on summarizing current knowledge of PrPC as a receptor for amyloid proteins and its physiological significance, with particular focus on α-synuclein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Urrea
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Senior Consultant Neuropathology, Service of Pathology, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Antonio del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Prabakaran R, Goel D, Kumar S, Gromiha MM. Aggregation prone regions in human proteome: Insights from large-scale data analyses. Proteins 2017; 85:1099-1118. [DOI: 10.1002/prot.25276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Prabakaran
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences; Indian Institute of Technology Madras; Chennai 600036 India
| | - Dhruv Goel
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering; Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology; Allahabad 211004 India
| | - Sandeep Kumar
- Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pfizer Inc; 700 Chesterfield Parkway West Chesterfield Missouri 63017, USA
| | - M. Michael Gromiha
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences; Indian Institute of Technology Madras; Chennai 600036 India
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Misery loves company - shared features of neurodegenerative disorders. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 483:979-980. [PMID: 28189152 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.01.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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