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Florio D, Luciano P, Di Natale C, Marasco D. The effects of histidine substitution of aromatic residues on the amyloidogenic properties of the fragment 264-277 of nucleophosmin 1. Bioorg Chem 2024; 147:107404. [PMID: 38678777 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107404] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Histidine (His) plays a key role in mediating protein interactions and its unique side chain determines pH responsive self-assembling processes and thus in the formation of nanostructures. In this study, To identify novel self-assembling bioinspired sequences, we analyzed a series of peptide sequences obtained through the point mutation of aromatic residues of 264-277 fragment of nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) with single and double histidines. Through several orthogonal biophysical techniques and under different pH and ionic strength conditions we evaluated the effects of these substitutions in the amyloidogenic features of derived peptides. The results clearly indicate that both the type of aromatic mutated residue and its position can have different effect on amyloid-like behaviors. They corroborate the crucial role exerted by Tyr271 in the self-assembling process of CTD of NPM1 in AML mutated form and add novel insights in the accurate investigation of how side chain orientations can determine successful design of innovative bioinspired materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Florio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Luciano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Concetta Di Natale
- Department of Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale (DICMAPI), Italy
| | - Daniela Marasco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
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Florio D, Marasco D. Could Targeting NPM1c+ Misfolding Be a Promising Strategy for Combating Acute Myeloid Leukemia? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:811. [PMID: 38255885 PMCID: PMC10815591 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020811] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of diseases classified into various types on the basis of distinct features concerning the morphology, cytochemistry and cytogenesis of leukemic cells. Among the different subtypes, the group "AML with gene mutations" includes the variations of the gene of the multifunctional protein nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1). These mutations are the most frequent (~30-35% of AML adult patients and less in pediatric ones) and occur predominantly in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of NPM1. The most important mutation is the insertion at W288, which determines the frame shift W288Cfs12/Ffs12/Lfs*12 and leads to the addition of 2-12 amino acids, which hamper the correct folding of NPM1. This mutation leads to the loss of the nuclear localization signal (NoLS) and to aberrant cytoplasmic localization, denoted as NPM1c+. Many investigations demonstrated that interfering with the cellular location and oligomerization status of NPM1 can influence its biological functions, including the proper buildup of the nucleolus, and therapeutic strategies have been proposed to target NPM1c+, particularly the use of drugs able to re-direct NPM1 localization. Our studies unveiled a direct link between AML mutations and the neat amyloidogenic character of the CTDs of NPM1c+. Herein, with the aim of exploiting these conformational features, novel therapeutic strategies are proposed that rely on the induction of the selective self-cytotoxicity of leukemic blasts by focusing on agents such as peptides, peptoids or small molecules able to enhance amyloid aggregation and targeting selectively AML-NPM1c+ mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniela Marasco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy;
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Wolfová K, Otevřelová P, Holoubek A, Brodská B. Nucleolar phosphoprotein modifications as a marker of apoptosis induced by RITA treatment. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119501. [PMID: 37276927 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119501] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Reactivating p53 and Inducing Tumor Apoptosis (RITA) has been reported to increase the p53 activity and to trigger p53-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells with wild-type p53. Tumor suppressor p53 interacts with nucleolar phosphoproteins nucleophosmin (NPM) and nucleolin (NCL), which have crucial role in many cellular processes. Specific NPM mutations associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cause aberrant localization of NPM and p53 in the cytoplasm with possible impact on the p53 function. We tested an effect of RITA on primary cells, and we found significant RITA-induced changes in NPM and NCL phosphorylation associated with apoptosis in cells of AML patients, but not that of healthy donors. Subsequent screening of several AML cell lines revealed heterogeneous response to RITA, and confirmed an association of the specific phosphorylation with apoptosis. While decreased NCL phosphorylation at Threonines T76 and T84 could be attributed to RITA-induced cell cycle arrest, enhanced NPM phosphorylation at Threonine T199 was not accompanied by the cell cycle changes and it correlated with sensitivity to RITA. Simultaneously, inverse changes occurred at Serine S4 of the NPM. These new findings of RITA mechanism of action could establish the NPM pT199/pS4 ratio as a marker for suitability of RITA treatment of AML cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Wolfová
- Department of Proteomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 12820 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Otevřelová
- Department of Proteomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 12820 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Holoubek
- Department of Proteomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 12820 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Brodská
- Department of Proteomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 1, 12820 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
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La Manna S, Roviello V, Monaco V, Platts JA, Monti M, Gabano E, Ravera M, Marasco D. The inhibitory effects of platinum(II) complexes on amyloid aggregation: a theoretical and experimental approach. Dalton Trans 2023; 52:12677-12685. [PMID: 37655459 DOI: 10.1039/d3dt02187d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Platinum (Pt)(II) square planar complexes are well-known anticancer drugs whose Mechanism of Action (MOA) are finely tuned by the polar, hydrophobic and aromatic features of the ligands. In the attempt to translate this tunability to the identification of potential neurodrugs, herein, four Pt(II) complexes were investigated in their ability to modulate the self-aggregation processes of two amyloidogenic models: Sup35p7-13 and NPM1264-277 peptides. In particular, phenanthriplatin revealed the most efficient agent in the modulation of amyloid aggregation: through several biophysical assays, as Thioflavin T (ThT), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy, this complex revealed able to markedly suppress aggregation and to disassemble small soluble aggregates. This effect was due to a direct coordination of phenanthriplatin to the amyloid, with the loss of several ligands and different stoichiometries, by the formation of π-π and π-cation interactions as indicated from molecular dynamic simulations. Presented data support a growing and recent approach concerning the repurposing of metallodrugs as potential novel neurotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara La Manna
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Valentina Roviello
- Department of Chemical, Materials, and Industrial Production Engineering (DICMaPI), University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Vittoria Monaco
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate "Franco Salvatore" S.c.a r.l., 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - James A Platts
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Maria Monti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate "Franco Salvatore" S.c.a r.l., 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Gabano
- Dipartimento per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile e la Transizione Ecologica, University of Piemonte Orientale, Piazza S. Eusebio 5, 13100, Vercelli, Italy
| | - Mauro Ravera
- Department of Sciences and Technological Innovation, University of Piemonte Orientale, Viale Michel 11, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
| | - Daniela Marasco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131, Naples, Italy.
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Insights into Network of Hot Spots of Aggregation in Nucleophosmin 1. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314704. [PMID: 36499032 PMCID: PMC9736328 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In a protein, point mutations associated with diseases can alter the native structure and provide loss or alteration of functional levels, and an internal structural network defines the connectivity among domains, as well as aggregate/soluble states' equilibria. Nucleophosmin (NPM)1 is an abundant nucleolar protein, which becomes mutated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. NPM1-dependent leukemogenesis, which leads to its aggregation in the cytoplasm (NPMc+), is still obscure, but the investigations have outlined a direct link between AML mutations and amyloid aggregation. Protein aggregation can be due to the cooperation among several hot spots located within the aggregation-prone regions (APR), often predictable with bioinformatic tools. In the present study, we investigated potential APRs in the entire NPM1 not yet investigated. On the basis of bioinformatic predictions and experimental structures, we designed several protein fragments and analyzed them through typical aggrsegation experiments, such as Thioflavin T (ThT), fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments, carried out at different times; in addition, their biocompatibility in SHSY5 cells was also evaluated. The presented data clearly demonstrate the existence of hot spots of aggregation located in different regions, mostly in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the entire NPM1 protein, and provide a more comprehensive view of the molecular details potentially at the basis of NPMc+-dependent AML.
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La Manna S, Florio D, Panzetta V, Roviello V, Netti PA, Di Natale C, Marasco D. Hydrogelation tunability of bioinspired short peptides. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:8418-8426. [PMID: 36300826 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01385a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Supramolecular assemblies of short peptides are experiencing a stimulating flowering. Herein, we report a novel class of bioinspired pentapeptides, not bearing Phe, that form hydrogels with fibrillar structures. The inherent sequence comes from the fragment 269-273 of nucleophosmin 1 protein, that is normally involved in liquid-liquid phase separation processes into the nucleolus. By means of rheology, spectroscopy, and scanning microscopy the crucial roles of the extremities in the modulation of the mechanical properties of hydrogels were elucidated. Three of four peptide showed a typical shear-thinning profile and a self-assembly into hierarchical nanostructures fibers and two of them resulted biocompatible in MCF7 cells. The presence of an amide group at C-terminal extremity caused the fastest aggregation and the major content of structured intermediates during gelling process. The tunable mechanical and structural features of this class of hydrogels render derived supramolecular systems versatile and suitable for future biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara La Manna
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Daniele Florio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Valeria Panzetta
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), University of Naples "Federico II", 80125, Naples, Italy
- Department of Ingegneria Chimica del Materiali e della Produzione Industriale (DICMAPI), University of Naples "Federico II", 80125, Naples, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125, Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Roviello
- Department of Ingegneria Chimica del Materiali e della Produzione Industriale (DICMAPI), University of Naples "Federico II", 80125, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Antonio Netti
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), University of Naples "Federico II", 80125, Naples, Italy
- Department of Ingegneria Chimica del Materiali e della Produzione Industriale (DICMAPI), University of Naples "Federico II", 80125, Naples, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125, Naples, Italy
| | - Concetta Di Natale
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), University of Naples "Federico II", 80125, Naples, Italy
- Department of Ingegneria Chimica del Materiali e della Produzione Industriale (DICMAPI), University of Naples "Federico II", 80125, Naples, Italy
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Marasco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131, Naples, Italy.
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